Religion And Its Effects On Human Beings

I believe suffering results from our separation from God. He is holy, all-powerful, all-loving, all that is good. Each day I find myself doing things that move me away from Him. Every time I sin, the world becomes a little bit worse. I can do no good thing apart from God. The more I separate myself from Him, the more likely I am to cause someone else harm or pain.

Religions affect the lives of its followers greatly because if you're a Muslim you have to pray five times a day, if you're a Jew you can't have any other gods, and if you believe in Buddhism you have to follow the middle path to stop suffering. All these rules you have to follow can take away time from you and can make you give up stuff you have, even make you leave money behind.

Suffering is happening all over the world at this very moment, it’s something we as people cannot escape or get rid. Years ago Bethany Hamilton was surfing in Hawaii when she was attacked by a great white shark. Her arm was removed instantly and she had to undergo surgery. After she was released from the hospital she assumed she would suffer the rest of her life, but she proved everyone wrong. Niebuhr says, “It is in the response to suffering that many and perhaps all men individually, and their groups, define themselves, take on character, develop their ethos.” Niebuhr is correct because suffering shows how you deal with situations, it reveals who you are as a person, and it proves how strong you are.

In many cases, there are people who live their lives on autopilot. They don't subscribe to a particular belief system. They're not faithful to a religion or spiritual practice. This is the case until a tragedy happens and they're forced to reckon with their own humanity. When suffering brings a person to their lowest state, they tend to grasp for anything that can give a sense of hope. This is the time when beliefs tend to be formed and embraced. Suffering can show a person more about what they want to believe in to get through life.

I have seen patients die in peace while others have held on by a thread for days breathing like a fish out of water; while their families are tortured by the sight. Why? Is God a malice God? Does he wish to inflict pain? On good days I stand rooted in my faith and on others I trust in God while I simultaneously ask those three letters, WHY? Going back to those parents and family members, I have seen the strongest people not instinctively question God, but trust in his promises and blindly, without understanding, lean on his purpose. This then goes into God using evil for his purposes (Allen). I believe sometimes God has to allow suffering and pain for his purpose. I say this with a heavy heart and without clear understanding. An example in the bible is when Joseph’s brothers plot to kill him but then sell him into slavery. Joseph was enslaved and suffered for many years. He was a good son and loved the Lord but evil fell upon him. “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.” (Genesis 50:20) I believe sometimes God has to allow such evil to show his power. In a sermon I heard awhile back the pastor stated “sometimes we have to go through the trials to know the only thing that delivered us from it was God”. At a recent church conference I was asked to close my eyes and think about the one situation in my life

This is not a perfect world suffering is an inherent part of life in this world, both for human beings and for the earth itself sometimes because of human beings. The earth groan in labor pains even now waiting for its promised redemption. In the Book of Genesis chapters 2-3 the story of the fall, as we’ve come to call it attributes at least some of the suffering of the world to the original disobedience of Adam and Eve. Romans 8:18-23 also speaks of the creation’s bondage to decay and its groaning in labor pains suffering, it seems, is part of the fabric of creation itself, though it will not always be so. But suffering is not the end of the matter. God is among mortals. He will dwell with us he will wipe every tear from our eyes. death

Why does the good God allow suffering to exist? This is a very old problem. In more than four thousand years ago, a man had in their own, family and property tragic misfortune, facing the silent heaven shouting: “I will say to God, Do not put me down as a sinner; make clear to me what you have against me. What profit is it to you to be cruel, to give up the work of your hands, looking kindly on the design of evil-doers?” (Job 10:2-3)

Further, we are all to take our sufferings with an attitude that is not demeaning, but with a positive mindset. In Hebrews 12:4-7 we can see this. Through our suffering, God disciplines to further use us as instruments. Thus, we shall take suffering as a gift and persevere with patience (James 5:7-12). This is also repeated in James

The presence of evil and suffering in the world often leads people to question the power, and sometimes even the existence, of God. If he is a loving God, why would he allow crime, death, war, pain, and evil in the world? Little do people know that suffering is actually a blessing. It offers growth and learning and can actually lead to goodness in the world. Through looking at the book of Exodus, the ideology of Thomas Aquinas, and the life and teachings of Francis Chan, suffering will be seen in a different light.

There are many different perspectives on suffering with regard to its meaning, significance and purposes. Pope John Paul II (1984) wrote "On the Christian Meaning of Human Suffering", that it centres on the notion of redemptive suffering - to remit one’s sins in order to save the soul from eternal suffering (damnation). Personally, I believe suffering can have a purpose. It can enrich life by giving us knowledge of both the good and the bad, arguably making us more appreciative of what we have . Indeed, James Stewart (2005) purports, "If there were no suffering, would there be compassion? If there were no discipline and hardship, would we ever learn patience and endurance? Construct a universe with no trouble in it and immediately you banish some of the finest qualities in the world."

As stated by Spirago, all suffering comes from God and this is a sign of His love and favor. Sufferings are a precious gift, which will avail us to eternity. In 1 Corinthians 10:13, Paul said: “God is faithful; who will not permit you to suffer above that which you are able”. The peasant knows how much his beast of burden can carry, and does not load him beyond his strength. The Lord said to Ananias in 2 Corinthians 11:22-28: “Go, for Paul is a chosen vessel of mine to bear My name before the Gentiles; for I will show him how many things he must suffer for My name’s sake in”.

God created the world, a place free from suffering and pain where humankind could live in peace and harmony,however when man chose the way of Satan by eating the forbidden fruit, this was the beginning of sin in the world. God makes it clear to Adam and Eve the consequences of sinning, and from this moment on suffering was declared. Since dying on the cross, through the letter of St Paul to the Colossians, Christ expects us to bind our sufferings with his. As a result of sin, God allows us to suffer because he loves us and wants us to have free will and the choice whether to love/not love. With this freedom, mankind has broken laws which result in pain and suffering which act as an early warning system when we exercise wrong decisions. Catholics believe that suffering is a test of faith and this is exampled in the book of Job where God lets good people suffer: Job loosing everything he owned, the death of his childer etc. Job examples the reaction to our own suffering. Instead of asking why, the Church teaches us to endure through our suffering and remember that God loves us and no matter the situation will lead us back home. In Pope John Paul’s apostolic

Its impossible to reflect on the origins of evil without bringing up the concept of free will. God created man with this idea of choice; the choice to believe and obey, or the choice to disobey. It was this free will that allowed Adam and Eve to fall from their initial glory and introduce evil and suffering into the world. We can justify a large amount of sustained suffering by acknowledging that it actually benefits us and is not incompatible with God's loving nature. We learn lessons both physically and spiritually that allows us to grow and mature according to God. Some suffering is used to spark revival or for a great advancement in his kingdom, cause after all we're

Each experience is unique to each individual, therefore answers to what is suffering, why people suffer, and why people should suffer, varies from person to person and is not limited to one answer. Jesus emphasizes suffering as a way to gain spiritual salvation. Gita emphasizes suffering as a consequence of attachment. The television show, Rookie Blue, emphasizes suffering as a consequence of selfishness. However, human suffering encompasses attachment, selfishness, and the need to attain spiritual salvation. The media today and different religious texts attempt to find answers to suffering. All three works agree that there is some form of suffering that people experience. Each one emphasizes an aspect of suffering, but the answers to the nature of suffering is various for many different people, therefore suffering includes a combination of these three things. It is evident that suffering is part of God’s plan for one’s spiritual growth, where some suffer because they are overcome by evil, while for others it is to be even closer to God and fulfill His mission on earth. The discussion of suffering questioned whether suffering is avoidable, but it can be concluded that suffering will always be existent in a life with success and defeat. However, suffering can be minimized by acting selfless, not being attached to worldly matters, and keeping strong faith. Nevertheless, it can be understood from the analysis that suffering is for the better, because it results in your own transformation, growing in perseverance, noticing your weaknesses, and follow the righteous path with God to attain eternal life. Therefore, it is important to face suffering with courage, keep unwavering faith, learn from suffering, and move on from it, because there is a purpose for the present suffering and a better future lays

Two theodicies have been created with religion at the forefront in order to explain the existence of suffering within humanity and how the believers of Christianity should respond to it. It is essential to maintain religious faith in the face of suffering and with some understanding through the theodicies created by Irenaeus and St Augustine this can be done. Although, these theodicies are unable to explain the existence of suffering without heavily relying on Christianity, throughout history there have been many instances to explain why one should always maintain religious faith.