suffering can be beneficial

CATHOLICS

Catholics would agree with this statement. they would base their belief on how it can build virtues. Catholics believe that virtue take practice and they can get better though life experience. One way to grow in virtue is through suffering. Catholics believe that virtues are a good way of helping us to understand how suffering can help people to become better. In addition, Pope John Paul II wrote Salvifici Doloris to show that good things can come out of suffering. The letter states that we should ‘look to the revelation of divine.' The only way that human beings can grasps the ‘why’ of suffering is to try and understand the depth of God’s love for human beings, which Jesus shows through his willingness to die on the cross. Also, in the letter, it states that if we try and bear our suffering patiently and offer it to God in prayer, God will be able to give us it to bring about good for others. This is a strong argument because virtues can be seen as something that makes you stronger. For example, our instinct to keep ourselves safe has to be overcome in order to become more courageous.

CATHOLICS

Furthermore, in Isaiah 53, Catholics believe it is a description of Jesus and believe that Jesus models how suffering can be beneficial as it provides salvation. It states that ‘he was pierced for our transgressions … by his wounds, we are healed.’ Therefore, there is a saving power. Our suffering could also save us through a change of heart of character. Catholics believe that suffering can be beneficial as it is a part of love. Love is impossible without suffering, loving someone means that you would do anything for them, even if it meant sacrificing own comforts. John states, ‘greater love has no one than this. Lay down one’s life for one’s friend.’ Also, suffering can be seen as a blessing as Jesus points out that people who are lowest in the world’s eyes are often closest to God. In the Beatitudes, it states ‘blessed are the poor in spirit’.

JEWISH

Jewish people would agree to an extent with this statement. They would base their belief on the fact that suffering is a mystery and we shouldn’t question suffering or question why God sent it. This is where their ambivalence come in. In the Ethics of the Fathers, it states ‘ It is not in our power to explain either the wellbeing of the wicked or the suffering of the righteous’

ATHEISTS

Atheists would disagree with this statement. They base their belief on how there is too much suffering in the world. Mackie believes we only need a bit of suffering to appreciate the good in the world. Mackie also believes that suffering can make people worse rather than better. This is known as moral degradation. Examples of this is suicide due to mental health issues. This is a strong argument as the suffering that people have outweigh the outcome of it

The most compelling argument is the Catholic argument as it shows there is always a good outcome in something that may seem impossible to come out of.