Is suffering good?

[OzymandiAsh]

A question that's been on my mind.

I think if you believe in God (and I do) then you must accept that suffering is somehow good, at least most or some of the time, even if one does not directly understand how. That is an aspect of 'faith'. I consider suffering an existential privilege to some degree and something that is often beneficial. The exception, I suppose, is when one's dignity and pride are brought down and robbed. Humiliation is a fate worse than other kinds of suffering, and at the same time it is an inherent aspect of human existence.

If you do not believe in God, you will likely argue that suffering is bad - common sense, full stop. You are free to think that if you will, but I do not agree.

I think this question is really at the crux of whether or not one has belief or faith in God. It is the hidden question underlying theology and many other existential problems. Is suffering bad? Yes and no, I think. Is suffering good? Often, yes, and it can be tolerated, endured, and even enjoyed, but only up to a limit. And everyone has their limit.

 

[DarkRange55]

 

[Forever Sleep]

I'm not actually very religious. In fact, I'd prefer there not to be a God. I still think suffering can sometimes be good though. If we are able to overcome it. Would it feel more satisfying to climb Everest or be transported to the top? Are honorary degrees as useful as a degree someone spent 3 years studying for? Would finding a medal in a charity shop be the same as having run a marathon that earned you the medal? Are playing games on sandbox mode as fulfilling as achieving the accomplishments and skills bit by bit?

I'd argue that we struggle when we find things a challenge. But, without no challenge, life can feel boring and pointless. We seem to need some challenge to feel like we've achieved something.

Also pain itself would seem to be a necessary evil. If you cut yourself and don't realise- you may not take proper care of the wound and it may become infected. Life threatening illnesses and accidents need to hurt a whole lot more because again- if we don't attend to them immediately- some of them can kill us.

Where of course it isn't so helpful is when there isn't a cure for the pain we are suffering. Either that we can't seem to achieve the thing we so long for or, our illness is uncurable. Then, it sucks.

As to why a God should either want us to suffer horribly or admire us when we do- again- that's why I hope there isn't one, because that points to them being a sadist. Why even write suffering into the design of a world?

 

[Captive_Mind515]

If you're going to ask if suffering is good in the context of there being a god, then you would also have to ask the bigger question about whether god is good if they permit suffering. Or are they some kind of cruel psychopath?

Why do we need to prove our worth through suffering, to a being who hides from us in a cowardly manner and deliberately created us with serious inherent flaws? They deliberately created sin and evilness too btw, as they are apparently all powerful and all knowing etc.

 

[doomedbynarrative]

In a theistic or spiritual context, suffering can PRODUCE or be a CATLYST for things that are good.

But not always. It is random and influenced by a whole host of things.

In and of itself, suffering is not good. That's why we avoid it or try to ease it.

 

[OzymandiAsh]

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I'm not a Christian but thanks for sharing

If you're going to ask if suffering is good in the context of there being a god, then you would also have to ask the bigger question about whether god is good if they permit suffering. Or are they some kind of cruel psychopath?

Why do we need to prove our worth through suffering, to a being who hides from us in a cowardly manner and deliberately created us with serious inherent flaws? They deliberately created sin and evilness too btw, as they are apparently all powerful and all knowing etc.

It doesn't take much of my imagination for me to wonder about other possibilities. It might not be that we need to "prove our worth through suffering". Maybe suffering exists so that we can appreciate perfect happiness and joy somewhere else, some kind of heaven or home, in the same way that light and dark both depend on one another for their definition and meaning. If the universe was without suffering, maybe it would also be without beauty or the ultimate pleasure and joy found in freedom and relief from suffering.

Also it is possible that the suffering we experience here on earth is our fault due to some sort of original sin. Or maybe suffering is part of a contract that we agreed to beforehand.

I don't see any contradiction between a universe with suffering and a good God. It just suggests to me that I don't know and understand everything, which I'm aware of and accept. In my view God is far too great and smart for me to totally comprehend while I am living as a human being.

In a theistic or spiritual context, suffering can PRODUCE or be a CATLYST for things that are good.

But not always. It is random and influenced by a whole host of things.

In and of itself, suffering is not good. That's why we avoid it or try to ease it.

Good point succinctly made. Most of human and animal activity is spent avoiding and alleviating suffering, although there are many exceptions, and some amount of suffering remains unavoidable.

 

[Oreki]

we have to distinguish between healthy suffering that pushes us beyond our comfort zone and suffering that only drains us without leading anywhere. We shouldn't overglorify suffering.

I would say that suffering is neither entirely good nor entirely bad. It depends on how much of it there is and what kind of suffering it is.