Why Do We Suffer? (ritual, reincarnation, beliefs, hell, experience)

[Willamena]

Originally Posted by Cynic

What is the cause of suffering, and it's purpose (if we assume there is one)?

It's cause is misbelief, and it's purpose is self-destruction.

[cardero]

I would speculate it is for the experience. I can’t put in the category of growth because not everyone learns from it. With an experience viewpoint we could explain why people continue to suffer and sometimes seek the experience out. For those that do not enjoy the experience this could also be the reason that they avoid it. I do not believe that suffering is a “good or bad” experience but I do believe it is something that is humanly designed if not for the purpose to realize that we are humans.

[Jaiket]

Originally Posted by Cynic

What is the cause of suffering, and it's purpose (if we assume there is one)?

It's the many unpleasant sensations that our body treats itself to when conditions are not in the best interest of passing on the genes that built it. The effect is that the body decides to try something else.

[capslockf9]

Knowledge and wisdom are vital to human lifes. Sunami's can be predicted. Huricanes can be predicted. Famines can be avoided. Wars can be avoided. Floods can be prepared for. Approaching metiorites can be deflected, blown-up, or something. Our own ignorance causes suffering. God does not bless or punish.

[wayfaring]

From spiritualminded.blogspot.com


An extract from the 'Song of Simon' mystical journal....


God is indeed the Author of suffering’ said the head Master. Without God nothing can exist. In contracting to distinct and separate expressions, with the ignorance that arises from such contraction, God is indeed the Author of suffering and division. You have been considering why moral effort is necessary or even of value. Moral effort is part of the return of God to the Absolute by overcoming the intrinsic division and separateness of this present level of God’s expression and unfolding.’.

[michel]

Originally Posted by Djamila

Bad things happen to good people because only good people can take bad situations and turn them into something great.

I think the more you suffer, the more you're able to truly feel happiness and other positive emotions. It expands your existence, and makes you - emotionally, intellectually - a bigger person than those without comparable experiences.

You have a point there, but there are times when I would gladly forgo being an emotionally (I am not sure about the Intellectuality), bigger person. Suffering is suffering..............

[jhavali]

When the first human pair willfully disobeyed God they were expelled from the garden of Eden. They thus lost for themselves and their descendants the special protection and blessing of their Creator. Therefore, except for special instances involving the accomplishment of God’s own purpose, what happened to mankind from day to day was governed by chance and not by God’s direction. So it is "because time and unforeseen occurrence befall them all" that good people and bad suffer similarly from natural disasters, accidents, fires, and so forth.—Eccl. 9:11.

[roli]

Originally Posted by Seraph

What is the cause of suffering, and it's purpose (if we assume there is one)?
Please share your concept, whether personal or mainstream in theology.

Again like one already said,man's nature is warped and wicked through the power of and presence of sin by breaking God's law's,causing suffering and decay in this world,among other things.
We don't have to speculate too much on that, as we see that wickedness everywhere around us.
And regardless of the the good intentions one has of trying to do good and to be good through a variety of religious protocols and intellectual mindsets, we fall short.



What purpose does suffering have in this world?
More then some wany to admit ,I feel it is the thing that causes man to turn to a source of help and strength outside themselves,very humbling and to some almost gives the appearance of weakness.
Suffering tends to show mankind their vulnerability and mortality and causes them to look to a particular means for help or refuge.
Until this suffering takes place,not that it is God's intention to inflict suffering,but he certainly uses it to get our attention.
Mankind somehow feels impenetrable,untouchable and virtually a free moral agent with a relative minset until tradgedy and suffering hits,how ironic.

It's interesting when you hear people who never believed in God ,when they go through a terrible situation for them to call on God ,or the Pastor or even a christian freind for prayer.or for that matter other faiths for guidance,direction and comfort.
I mean these people never believed in anything before,what caused them to reach out .
911 was a perfect example to illustrate my point ,the churches in North America were shocked when their pews started filling to capacity after this terrible ordeal of 911.but after a couple of months the threat was not as evident,people returned back to their lifestyles,the churches are now running back at noraml capacity.

It would almost seem as if something inherently was triggered inside many people when they felt the threat of impending danger,but when the storm was over,back to playing freely on the highway of life.
It reminds me of a child who plays vicariously and freely, unrestrained and outside the confines of his fathers authority,until impending danger is sensed by the child then he runs to his father for security and comfort.
I think we are much like that in many regards,but some of us run to strangers rather then our father.

[PureX]

Originally Posted by Djamila

Bad things happen to good people because only good people can take bad situations and turn them into something great.

I think the more you suffer, the more you're able to truly feel happiness and other positive emotions. It expands your existence, and makes you - emotionally, intellectually - a bigger person than those without comparable experiences.

What a great answer.

I believe this is true as well. I don't know if it's the "reason" for suffering, but I do know that people who have suffered much, tend to be the most kind and joyful in the end.

[UnTheist]

Suffering is the cause of an event, image, sound, feeling, or thought we do not appeal to. We either adapt to it, try to change