Pain and suffering are inevitable in our lives and are integral to our humanity. Tal Ben-Shahar, an American and Israeli author and Professor at Harvard University, states in an excerpt from his book, ‘Being Happy: You Don’t Have to Be Perfect to Lead a Happier, Richer Life,’ posted on his organization’s website Whole Being Institute.com, that pain and suffering are important for humanity. He says, “While it is part of our universal nature to seek pleasure and avoid pain, culture plays a central role in how we deal with suffering. We in the West generally reject suffering. We see it as an unwelcome interruption of our pursuit of happiness. So, we fight it, repress it, medicate it or search for quick fix solutions to get rid of it. In some cultures, especially in the East, suffering is acknowledged for the important role it plays in people’s lives in the meandering path towards enlightenment.”
What is the theology of pain and suffering in the Christian perspective? We as Christians believe that human pain and suffering are transformed from something negative into something positive that becomes a source of life because it is redemptive. Each person in his or her suffering is united with the suffering of Christ and thus this suffering mysteriously becomes a source of life and resurrection. St. Paul in his Letter to the Romans Chapter 5: 3-5 says: “Not only that, we also boast even in trials, knowing that trials produce patience, from patience comes merit, merit is the source of hope and hope does not disappoint us because the Holy Spirit has been given to us, pouring into our hearts the love of God”.
Janina Gomes
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