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Suffering

            "Why Is There So Much Evil In The World" and "Why Does God Tolerate Suffering?" by Pope John Paul II in "Crossing over threshold of Hope" are two chapters centered around the issues of evil and suffering. The chapters express man's questionable faith in God's existence for the reason that there is endless suffering in the world.
             Paul begins with evil in the world," How to continue to trust in a God who is supposed to be merciful Father, in a God who --- as the New Testament reveals --- is meant to be Love itself, when suffering, injustice, sickness and death seem to dominate the larger history of the worlds as well as our smaller daily lives?" . (Page 60) He poses this question of doubt because he does not understand how any God could permit wars, concentration camps, Holocaust, and other horrific events.
             Paul wonders if God is love by asking questions that wonders why God allows evilness in the world. For example "Doesn't God place too many burdens on the shoulders of individuals?" and "Doesn't He leave man alone with these burdens, condemning him to a life without hope?".
             (Both from pages 61). Paul points other problems leading to a dreary picture of the world, including issues of illness, handicapped children, and humans denied ordinary happiness on earth. He declares that others have expressed same questions in there literatures, such as Fyodor Dostoyevsky, Franz Kafka, and Albert Camus.
             Paul states that God created man as rational and free, thereby placing Himself under man's judgments (page 61). However, man continually attempts to judge God throughout history. The Old Testament Book of Job is the example of these judgments. .
             The crucifixion of Christ for humanity's salvation with the was a big issue. Was it truly necessary to place his son, Christ to death? Paul ask "Could it have been different" and "Could God have justified Himself before human history, so full suffering, without placing Christ's Cross at the center of that history?(page 62) Paul stated that many could say that God does not need to justify Himself to man.


Essays Related to Suffering

1. Suffering

... of a consciousness containing the seeds of good and evil deeds. Judaism. Jewish tradition insists that there is a relationship between one's suffering and one's actions, that suffering is self-inflicted. Judaism states that evil acts bring about evil consequences. In late biblical and post biblical Judaism, the doctrine of ... to stress that even though the retribution of the evil has been delayed, it would eventually take place. A more positive view of suffering was the view that suffering is a test of faith. This is certainly beyond man's understanding, let alone his control. Life appe...

  • Word Count: 3813
  • Approx Pages: 15
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2. Suffering and Evil in Christianity and Judiasm

... are types of sins that include murder, aggression, terrorism, violence, theft, greed, bribery, hatred, racism, discrimination, revenge, lying, deceit, slander, gossip, adultery, rape and other sexual immortality. These sins cause suffering to others and therefore is frowned upon by Christians. Christians have defined another type of evil; physical evil. Illness, pain, earthquakes, floods, and other natural disasters are examples of physical ... however, acknowledges evil as an ever present threat and has even divided it into two categories 'moral' and 'physical'. Another differe...

  • Word Count: 2219
  • Approx Pages: 9
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3. Suffering Described By Dunn

... what he means by these two words. One can easily get the definition of compassion and forgiveness out of a dictionary. But relating them to suffering is something that must be looked at more closely. Dunne makes it very clear that everyone suffers and it can be viewed as a personal hell ... standpoint and to a new understanding of one's own life" (Dunne, p. 53). If you are experiencing bliss and passes over to another individual who is suffering, you can learn to show compassion for the other individual. However, just by passing over to another man's life does not necessarily mean one wi...

  • Word Count: 1908
  • Approx Pages: 8
  • Has Bibliography
  • Grade Level: High School

4. Suffering In "Crime And Punishment"

... "extraordinary man" theory. This point is best described by Svidrigailov when he says to Dounia that Raskolnikov, "has suffered a great deal and is still suffering from the idea that he could make a theory, but was incapable of boldly overstepping the law, and so is not a genius. And that's humiliating ... Bible and going to the "crossroads", kissing the ground and confessing his sins. Katerina Ivanovna Marmeladov is also a character that goes through periods of suffering and personal anguish. Her childhood, from what we know, is one of prosperity and joy. Her life took a different turn a...

  • Word Count: 1141
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5. the suffering

... to cure her, but this was not possible and he felt guilty and useless. The story line for The Plague alternates from physical to mental suffering throughout the duration of the novel. M. Michel was the first to suffer physically. The descriptions of the deaths of both M. Michel and the ... rats --bloody and painful --show that the plague is a source of great physical suffering for those who are infected. Rieux found his patient leaning over the edge of the bed, one hand pressed against his belly and the other to ... But every country priest who visits his parishioners and has heard a ...

  • Word Count: 1505
  • Approx Pages: 6
  • Has Bibliography
  • Grade Level: High School

6. Themes of Suffering in King Lear

... over again. The frustration of depending on other people and learning how to navigate your surroundings, with all the grace of a child. This kind of suffering could lead to suicide, and it would have, except Gloucester was blind and couldn't see that there was no cliff to throw himself off of. ... His enemies didn't want to kill him, but they already did, internally. The internal death is the final stage of mental suffering, but there are many stages before the one must go through to get to that last stage. Many of these stages are shown in King Lear ... process of taking away, or stripp...

  • Word Count: 1506
  • Approx Pages: 6
  • Grade Level: High School

7. Living and Suffering

... in common. In these teachings, Buddhism has three very distinctive ways of viewing the world. One of these ways is called dukkha, which means suffering. Siddhartha came to the conclusion that dukkha is inevitable, and everyone in life will experience some form of dukkha. Although experiencing dukkha is in every ... material objects far out way the results from not using them. When Siddhartha created the Eightfold Path as steps for people to use to rid themselves of suffering he was along the right steps. The one step I have a hard time to understand is the Right Effort. This step states ...

  • Word Count: 1765
  • Approx Pages: 7
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  • Grade Level: High School

8. Religion and Life Suffering

... satisfaction and lots of disappointment when we don't end up with what one sought out or more. The basis of most Indian religion is that life is suffering. Religions must have appeal to a large group and solve many individual's problems. When the majority of society feels the same way about life – bad ... the immaturity to not believe what is told, and when they don't believe what is told it is impossible to be relieved from a life of suffering. In Buddhism there is no supreme ruler or God which created the existence of all or watches over. Therefore, each individual is in charge of t...

  • Word Count: 826
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9. Suffering and Redemption

... produces character, and character produces hope"" (Romans 5:3). In addition, some people may forget sanctification is an ongoing process where Christians learn how to become more like Christ. In times of suffering, Christians must look to God for answers and learn more about him. Lastly, people may be unaware true transformation comes only after accepting salvation. when people are aware of the ... futility of their independent efforts, they begin to appreciate the wonder of God's mercy. Everyone will endure suffering, and suffering causes people to look for hope. When Katerina Ivanovna...

  • Word Count: 931
  • Approx Pages: 4
  • Grade Level: High School

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