Suffering - what to make of it from different religious view-points

[zulubump]

I have the cheery theme of suffering to look at for a house-group study, in particular looking at Phillipians 1:29, with the idea that sharing in Christ's suffering is a gift and privilege. I am having vastly differing emotions as I read and think about this! On the one hand I can look back and see moments when I have suffered and as a consequence found God. But also feeling angry, why should we have to suffer to find God?! Some people suffer so much more than I have and perhaps never find God! And I started to wonder how other religions make sense of suffering?

I found this website helpful in my reading matthiasmedia.com/briefing/2013/04/gods-gifts-in-suffering-1-introduction/

I'd appreciate any points of view on this.

I think the thing to remember is that Paul was not just finding solace and joy in his faith at this time. He was finding it in people. Indeed he thanks god for the Phillipians at the start.

Of course god is there when we suffer, but god is there anyway. We do not need suffering to find god. Nor is it difficult to say "god I am suffering, please help me". What is difficult is saying the same thing to another person. And yet the quickest and most effective way to alleviate suffering is to reach out to people.

So why is it difficult to do this? Asking for help from people involves admitting our mistakes and weaknesses. It involves swallowing our pride. It is a time for reflecting on our failings and the barriers we construct to keep people out. All of this can bring us closer to god, ourselves and others.

The Buddha said that Life is Suffering. I agree. The hard times in my life have made me smarter, stronger, kinder and more understanding. They have also made me more appreciative of the good times. They have given me the kick up the arse that I have needed to make the big, scary changes that will ultimately benefit me and those around me.

During Holy Week, when I contemplate Christ's suffering, i find myself thinking of all the people over the world who are tortured, imprisoned and killed because of their beliefs. I think of the pain that is felt by their friends and family and most poignantly, their mothers. I come away re-energized in my efforts to do something.

Anyway, I don't think that people have to suffer to find god. God is there anyway. I think that life is suffering, there can be no meaningful life or love without suffering, but it is in the alleviation of suffering that we become better and closer to god, people and get to know ourselves.

I hope this makes some sense to Zulu.

If you want to understand the Buddhist concept of suffering google Dukkha. It is really interesting in that it sees suffering neither as good or bad and is central to Buddhist belief.

I should point out that I am not a Buddhist and although I attend mass, I cannot say that I am properly Christian/Catholic either. I am a deist who was formerly an Athiest.

I think that verse is quite specifically talking about suffering for your faith not general suffering. You kind of acknowledged that at the beginning of your post but your thoughts and questions are all about general suffering which is a really different issue I think.

In terms of Jesus suffering, his suffering is a symptom of his huge love/faith/obedience. Hi takes on suffering willingly because he loves the Father (and us!) so much. Jesus refuses to bow to the logic of sin which would suggest he should assert his power/ respond with violence to others rather than be crucified unjustly. Jesus loves them instead.

So for Christians who suffer for their faith the suffering is still horrendous but Paul is saying it is a consequence of their 'standing firm' (v27) and their refusal to be afraid (v28). Their suffering is not good in itself but, just like with Jesus, it signifies that the love of God in them is winning out. So in that sense, in suffering for their faith, they are sharing in the same glory of Christ, they are standing firm in faith and love refusing to be afraid, give up on God or respond to others in sinful ways.

The point is really that these people have been blessed with such huge faith they will be prepared to suffer for it. That suffering is therefore a testament to the power of their relationship with God.

Does that make sense? (or is it a bit much!)

Dione and fizzoclock, thank you for your thoughtful replies. I agree Dione that we don't need to suffer to find God. I guess I started to get confused about what the point of all the suffering was! I will look up Dukkha. I have a friend who is Buddhist and vaguely remember her saying something about things being neither good nor bad.

And fizz, thank you for pointing out that the verse I'm looking at is about suffering for faith. I'd kind of lost that in the confusion of my thoughts! You write very clearly, a big help!