What is Suffering?

Posted by our Chronicler, Jaron B.

Is suffering something we physically feel such as pain or is it something that we feel mentally, or spiritually?

 

Well let’s break it down with Socrates' four causes that we learned about a couple of weeks ago.

1. Formal:  What is it?

 2. Material: What's it made of?

3. Efficient:  Where did it come from?  Who made it?

4. Final:  What purpose does it serve?

Let’s start, so what is suffering? The definition of suffering is bad or unnecessary and unpleasant.

What is it made of what’s in it, or what is the content of it? Well suffering is something that we feel when were hurt in a couple different areas physical, mental, spiritual, or emotional.

Where did it come from? Who made it? Well, some people think God made suffering for all the reasons above.  Many of us agreed that God did not create suffering but allows it.  We create our own suffering.  When we hurt others, we hurt ourselves in the process.

What is it for? Some think it is to bring us closer to God, it makes us stronger and is what makes us who we are in this present moment.  It makes us strive to do better.

So the question becomes:  "How can you believe in a loving God with all the suffering that there is in the world?" Some people say the following.

If God is all-powerful, He could do something to prevent or end suffering.

If God is all-loving, He would want to prevent or end suffering.

There is a tremendous amount of suffering in the world.

Therefore, God either is not all-loving or not all-powerful.

Of course, as we are theists (people who believe in a Being Who exists beyond or outside the natural world, yet who is able to be involved in the course of human events), we do not agree with these statements. We acknowledge that God is all-loving and all-powerful and that he allows suffering in the world and makes all things good.

There are those who are deists so believe that God created all things but then left it alone.  They do not believe that God has a plan for us or interacts with us in any way.

Viktor Frankl, concentration camp survivor, once said "Suffering ceases to be suffering at the moment it finds meaning, such as the meaning of sacrifice."

This week's philosopher was St. Augustine.  He had a powerful conversion later in his life through the prayers of his mother, St. Monica, was a prolific writer and was eventually named Doctor of the Church.  He believed in the perfect connection between faith and reason.