#13

In class we said that the reason for all human suffering is ultimately a mystery. Are you satisfied with an answer like this? Please explain.

The two sources of suffering are natural and moral. Examples of natural is a hurricane, earthquake, tornado, fire, floods, death from old age, etc. Examples of moral choices are rape, suicide, homicide, child abuse, pollution, etc. A mix of both types of suffering is stealing out of a house that was recently hit by a hurricane.

Two main ways that people attempt to explain suffering is that they thought they did something to deserve it, or that they were being tested or taught a lesson by God, or that it was happening for a greater good. The explanation of deserving it doesn't work in the case of innocent suffering, such as a child dying, or someone that never smokes getting lung cancer from second-hand smoke. God testing you or teaching you a lesson doesn't work because it portrays God as cold, mean, and sadistic, and is not comforting to the sufferer.

I agree that the explanation for suffering is a mystery because nobody truly understands why anyone in the world suffers. Some people might think they do, such as using the explanations that they are being tested or that they deserved it, but there are always counter-examples to cut that explanation short. Since the explanation for suffering is in the "Private Self" block of God's Johari Window, I don't think we will ever understand why there is suffering.