Why Do We Suffer? Part 2

If, God wants us to grow and have more compassion it seems that he could determine a better way than to have others suffer so terribly and for us to want to grow from such consequences is very egotistical. Personally, I find it difficult to believe in God if his lessons to me involve the suffering of others, no matter how one wants to rationalize.

I agree with the avoidable v. unavoidable only to a small degree. In many instances even the “unavoidable” has its roots in choices made by man. For example, the changing weather patterns and often the resulting “natural” disasters are now accepted by many to have had a genisis in how man has treated the environment, using mother earth to his uninformed gain and the mother’s imbalance.

Also, many “unavoidable” physical problems, for example cancer, have been discovered to be linked to choices we have made much earlier in life, such as how well we choose to nutrure or neglect our bodies and minds based upon the foods we eat, the toxins to which we subject ourselves, the exercise we do or don’t do and the loveing kindness and care we may or may not practice.

Perhaps there is a 20% gap of “things that happen to us” unavoidably healthwise or through nature, that can be said to come solely from random events or strictly from genetics, but even with that premise there are those schools that advocate that our souls have chosen that particular path or predeliction before becoming incarnate. Much of how one may view things as “avoidable” or “unavoidable” thus stems from whether we look at the world though an individual close up lense or a wide-angle view from 30,000 feet.

Without getting too far out on the metaphysical limb, I believe that responsibility of the individual and the collective indeed reaches perhaps 80% (or more) of the “unavoidable” suffering in the world. I don’t view God as “choosing” or “letting” suffering happen or not happen. To me, God (or whatever one calls the higher power) instead has provided humankind with an incredible planet containing everything that is needed to nurture and create abundance and wonder for all sentieint beings. God then left humans with free will to do the rest. We still have some growing and knowing to do in that regard to prevenet the suffering and to share the resources, but responsibility for self and for our choices in this life is where it all begins.

I was left speechless, albeit temporarily, by the sentence “…what if unavoidable suffering happens to some to give the rest of us a chance to be compassionate?” To ask this as a serious question implies the belief in a deity who chooses which people get to suffer in order to teach others how to be noble. It also implies the belief that people are not equal - that some are put here specifically to serve as a lesson to others with no regard for them or their growth. Excuse me?

Who would want to follow a deity like that? Would the person suffering feel better knowing that they were specially chosen so that others could learn to be better people? What about the sufferer’s life? What great noble lesson are they to learn?

I have run into this attitude before and my response is still the same. This is mean spirited and narrow minded. I realize there is the question of “why did something bad happen to me or to someone I love?” floating out there - but to suggest that the bad thing happened to teach others? Awful things happen - sometimes random, sometimes due to another person’s behavior (intentional or not). Sometimes there are no lessons to be learned except that life just is. It is what it is and how we deal with that is what is important.

Bravo Will! You have such an uncanny ability to connect with the “infinite intelligence” of the universe and magically put it into masterful words. These messages you put out are such a treat! Thank you for sharing your infinite wisdom…please keep it coming!

A word for Molly…have you ever tried to grapple with the theory behind why it is some of us suffer our entire life? Is the child who’s born with Leukemia, who suffers their entire, short life, nothing more than a victim of circumstance? Do you believe that this human has only one shot at life, which is one of complete misery… and when they die – it’s completely over for them? I cannot and will not accept this premise.

Lets look at it this way…who do you believe appreciates wealth more – the child born into a rich family, never having to work a day in their life, or, the person who started with nothing and had to work very hard for every dime they earned? I think you know the answer to that one!

Its my theory that we don’t live just one life and then its off to heaven or, as some believe, nothingness. There’s a big ‘ol universe out there and our souls (life energy) are part of some cosmic equation that we’ll never understand…that is until we’ve been around this circle a few times and gain the knowledge (and feel what its like to suffer, to have the life of “Riley,” to experience hardship and to experience gratitude, etc…) then become all-knowing and worthy of what we perceive as paradise (or perhaps paradise is all about gaining constant knowledge and experiences).

I think Will has been around this circle a few times and is sharing some of the “infinite wisdom” he’s acquired. Now its up to you to either filter it out or to open your mind to the possibilities of “infinite intelligence.”

I believe in God and Jesus. It is the most challenging thing I do. Accepting suffering as part of life is a form of surrender. I cannot fight the wind or the tide. My ability to accept things gives me strength to face the next crisis with grace and humility. I am a speck of star dust. Who am I to judge? Maybe I am only to witness.

Hey Will,
Glad to hear that your daughter is ok. Like James I also believe you must have been “around the loop” a few more times than most of us. Your list of six conclusions about life is really though provoking.

If I were a betting man, I would guess you like reading Ecclesiastes. I discovered it while reading the bible cover to cover after a bitter divorce a decade ago. I was questioning everything I was taught, everything around me, the big questions does God exist? Why do bad things happen? etc.

I found the book comforting for a very selfish reason. Although it is debatable who the author of Ecclesiastes might be, I was always taught that it was Solomon. Further, as a child in Sunday school I was always taught that Solomon was the wisest man that ever lived.

Here’s the selfish part - the message I get form Ecclesiastes (the entire book not just a few verses) is that the author doesn’t get it. He looks around the world and just doesn’t get it! The wisest man in the world shared something in common with me in that moment.

If you have not done so already, I would recommend reading the entire book in one sitting. I am not a religous man, I am not sure God exists. But I do agree with most of your conclusions about life..especially the line - life does matter and we are responsible.

Keep searching and sharing Will. Thank you for your thought provoking work.

Stan

As always, I find your posts engaging and very important.

I’m in my late forties and still believe there is a GOD. However, what my religious, educational (Catholic grade school and Jesuit college), and life experiences have taught me is simply that no one religion is infinitely better than another and that religion is just a way to form community whereby people feeling part of this group adhere to spiritual and moral beliefs to live their lives by. The problem I find with my religion and most others is that a lot of people who think they are GOD loving people are generally one or a combination of the following: hypocrites, liars, cheaters, zealots. ALL IN THE NAME OF GOD!

What’s important to me is to be a good person (have integrity), do good works (help others), and be honest both to yourself and others). Every one of us will have good and bad experiences in life yet these experiences make us stronger and better people.

What role GOD plays in our lives remains a mystery! But let’s not forget, we have an important hand in it too. Don’t you think?

Life, like the stuff immortalized on the bumper sticker, happens. The Bible says that it rains on the just and the unjust; that causes me to believe that sometimes suffering is indeed unavoidable regardless of the merit in the victim. Much more important than what happens to us is how we react to what happens to us. To me this represents the greatest opportunity. Let’s make wise ones today and better ones tomorrow and teach our children and others to do the same.

I believe the Bible to be the Word of God and thus the ultimate truth. All my answers can be found there. It tells me that I am saved through Jesus Christ … It informs me there is a spiritual battle for my soul and I must chose Jesus …