Questions tagged [suffering]
Questions regarding emotional or physical pain, distress, or hardship. Its relation to Theology, Christian Life and practice.
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How to answer "Why do evil and suffering exist?" [closed]
I believe that evil exists because God gave us free will. Adam and Eve disobeyed God. Because of this The Fall of man happened and drew us away from God. Suffering exists not only because God can ...
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Why are some people born into famine and starvation? [closed]
I was raised Christadelphian, and after 17 years of education and reading the bible, I dismissed my faith and left the church. One of my main reasons for turning my back on God was this.
Why is it ...
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Why was Jesus afraid/agonizing in the Garden of Gethsemane if the Spirit of God isn't one of fear but of power?
The scene of Jesus praying in the Garden of Gethsemane has confused me for a time. How could Jesus be overcome with fear or anguish or what-have-you when his Spirit is one of power and self-control, ...
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Why is there such an emphasis on Jesus's suffering - particularly by the Catholic Church? [duplicate]
It seems too me that the suffering of Jesus is exaggerated. I mean so many people have suffered tremendously for years. For example, handicapped/sick people, prisoners, holocaust victims etc.
I don'...
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How does Jesus show love by suffering?
I wonder, how does the suffering of Jesus/God show love?
I do not believe that Jesus suffered to forgive our sins. If God is love, God doesn't need to make a terrible sacrifice to forgive our sins. ...
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What do Christians mean by "Jesus took our illnesses upon himself on the cross" and why? [closed]
Having a bit of holiday over Christmas and New Year I'm going over some notes I've made of topics I want to look at.
One such question regards the use of terminology such as "Jesus took our illnesses ...
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Does Orthodox theology emphasize "redemptive suffering" as much as Catholicism does?
Growing up Catholic I've been taught that "my suffering completes what is lacking" in Christ's sacrifice. Any time that I encounter suffering I should "offer it up." St. Bernadette, Francis of Assisi, ...
user5286
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Who was the target audience of the Book of Job?
The Book of Job is one of my favourite books in the Bible, especially for its lesson that even in suffering, you can still persevere and be a victor for Christ.
So I'm wondering, was the Book of Job ...
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Are Christians supposed to suffer? [closed]
Consider the following scriptures:
James 1:2 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, 3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. 4 And let ...
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What is the Biblical basis for mankind being morally required to treat animals well?
In the modern day, humanity farms animals to such a degree that rampant animal suffering is present across the board. From our egg and milk industry to our meat industry conditions are appalling and ...
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How does Reformed Theology consider passages that may imply that God is the "subject of sufferings"?
In A Dissertation Concerning the End for which God Created the World, John Edwards makes the following statement,
Because it is evident, by both Scripture and reason, that God is infinitely, ...
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How does Christianity explain suffering that ends in death?
Does suffering in this life really matter?
How can suffering from natural causes be reconciled with an omnimax god?
Both answers above contain the major theme of God refining us, making us more like ...
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Where in the Bible does it mention that God mourns with us when we mourn?
Where in the Bible does it mention that God mourns with us when we mourn? I have heard this from the philosopher Peter Kreeft, and some others as well. I would like to be pointed to the biblical ...
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Protestants, why do some Christians suffer so much more than others?
Yes, we all have our own trials, but there are a few Christians who, very obviously, suffer so much more and much more often too (I am not talking about "bad choices" either, so please do ...
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According to the Catholic Church, if God is just and loving why is Nature so needlessly brutal and cruel sometimes?
This question was brought about after reading a quote from Charles Darwin saying he couldn't believe in a benevolent creator due to the existence of parasitic wasps (which paralyze insects so that ...
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How can suffering from natural causes be reconciled with an omnimax god? [closed]
The christian god is omnipotent, omniscient and omnibenevolent according to all christian denominations I know of. These attributes seem to be contradicted by all the suffering we observe here on ...
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Does suffering in this life really matter? [closed]
So, recently I had the thought: suffering is irrelevant. I arrived at this conclusion using the idea of limits in Math.
Say that suffering could be measured in units as a function of time (frowns per ...
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According to Catholicism must we all suffer in life?
In the Catholic Church there is a certain mystic aspect regarding to the suffering of Jesus Christ in which often faithful who go trough sufferings, especially for the faith, see their suffering as ...
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Are there philosophical explanations for why God would allow animals to suffer due to non-human causes?
I just finished watching CosmicSkeptic's video titled Christianity's Biggest Problem, in which Alex O'Connor, the owner of the channel, presents the problem of animal suffering as the biggest ...
user50422
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Does God feel and appreciate the resiliency of our suffering?
First of all, this is not meant to be a personal posting. I just want to know how God feels about the intense suffering of others who really love and care for Him in the midst of their utmost ...
user42447
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Did the metaphor of ' cup of suffering' as used by Jesus derive from OT?
At John 18:11 (NRSVCE) we see Jesus foretelling His passion and death on the cross :
".. Jesus said to Peter, “Put your sword back into its sheath. Am I not to drink the cup that the Father has ...
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According to evangelicalism, did Jesus' divine nature suffer on the cross?
From the evangelical perspective, considering that Jesus has both human and divine natures in one person, did His divine nature suffer on the cross along with his human nature?
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From a Jehovah's Witness perspective, why don't we have the option to choose whether or not to come to this world?
I was one of Jehovah's witnesses and would still be one of them, but a question always disturbs me.
Sometimes I think about how life and all the pain and suffering we pass through from childbirth ...
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How do you know if you are under a trial or if you are just suffering?
Hypothetically, if you are going through a painful situation:
Is it because God is trying to grow you/redirect you?
Or is it a result of sinful actions?
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Are good and evil in Christianity ultimately based on maximizing wellbeing and minimizing suffering? [closed]
Let me illustrate with a few examples.
Examples of good in Christianity:
Love: it's evident that love feels good and promotes behaviors that make others feel good. Therefore, love ranks very high on ...
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Do Evangelical Christians interpret James 1:2 and Romans 5:3 to mean that we should enjoy our problems?
Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds,
James 1:2 (NIV)
We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for
we know that they help ...
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The nature and extent of the atonement of Jesus during the crucifixion
Biblical examples of God's wrath against damned men and angels are graphic:
Revelation 14:10-11: “He also will drink the wine of God’s wrath, poured full strength into the cup of his anger, and he ...
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Did Jesus suffer on the Cross in all possible senses?
I have read that it's more or less accepted that Jesus did suffer on the cross.
What I do not understand is whether or not He suffered all possible sufferings.
Imagine a war hero captured and ...
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Why sleep put apostles into temptation?
Matthew 26:40-41 NIV
Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. “Couldn’t
you men keep watch with me for one hour?” he asked Peter. 41 “Watch
and pray so that you will not fall ...
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Jesus' sacrifice covers our eternal hell? [duplicate]
I believe that Jesus' death (his punishment) is a substitute for our death (our punishment) which allows us into heaven--Jesus paid the price for our sins. I also believe that this substitutionary ...
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Is suffering a proof against intelligent design? [closed]
An atheist has argued with me that suffering is going against "intelligent design" in humans and animals.
He would agree that pain is vital for our nature to indicate when something is wrong,...
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Does Malachi 4:1 and Jude 7 prove that hell is temporary? [closed]
Does Malachi 4:1 and Jude 7 prove that hell is temporary?
I'm studying the bible and I found a few verses that seem to challenge the idea of an eternal hell forever and ever. Even though the bible ...
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How can a theistic evolutionist account for the origin of suffering and death?
Young-Earth creationists have an easy answer in Genesis 3: it’s all man’s fault, but this conflicts with the overwhelming consensus in several scientific fields.
Theistic evolutionists can accept ...
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Has "angels walking among men" been invoked to solve theological problems?
Hebrews 13:2
Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it.
This passage states that one reason to be nice to "...
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How does uniting to Christ's suffering work?
What is the Catholic teaching on uniting with Christ's suffering?
Specifically when we go through some kind of suffering and we acknowledge it as God's will and converse it with Christ. It reminds us ...
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What is christian suffering like in a 1st world country [closed]
In 1 Peter 1:6-7 he talks about suffering being necessary in a Christian's life which at the time, I believe, was prison or death and in the time of Nero suffering for being a Christian was a very ...
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Why did Jesus need to suffer? [duplicate]
What is the purpose of Jesus suffering? If Jesus represents God, why does God need to suffer?
It doesn't make sense to me that it is for the sake of forgiving us, because I hope God forgives us ...
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The uniqueness of Christ's suffering
I volunteer at a soup kitchen which is run by a pastor with a Born Again style. Each meal is preceded by a sermon and attendees are encouraged to come to Jesus.
I had a come-to-Jesus conversation ...
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Does Luke 13:24 give us a more vivid picture of how many people will be saved? [closed]
I mean how many times have we said 'let me see' or 'let me try'. Or how many times have we felt like - I'm trying to be a Christian. Seems like trying is not good enough according to Luke 13:24:
...
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How Are Trials Supposed to Build Faith? [closed]
As Christians go through trials, the trials are supposed to strengthen the faith the the Believers.
One example is Romans 5:3-5 (NIV):
Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we ...
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What is an overview of Christian viewpoints on the 'animal cruelty' argument for veganism?
One of the most popular and strongest arguments for veganism is what I would call the 'animal cruelty' argument, namely, that non-vegan diets--including vegetarian ones that tolerate dairy and egg ...
user50422
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Does spiritual death mean loss of faith or doing a deadly sin (or sins) or separation from God?
According to Word-of-Faith movement, Jesus suffered both physical and spiritual death. They mean by spiritual death that he suffered in hell after dying, before resurrection. And suffering in hell ...
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Why did God the Father choose suffering for Christ and not the lucrative reigning power of an emperor of this world?
My witness to suffering can be elaborated by the following poem written by me. I am attaching this poem because I believe this poem a witness to my long journey with my cross assures me that I am ...
user42447
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In Catholicism, is "offering it up" more aligned to the concept of merit or penance/satisfaction?
What is "offering it up"
As a Protestant, the Catholic practice of "offering it up" is new to me, although once I am acquainted with it, it seems very Biblical; see
this article ...
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How do Christians respond to this claim in the Qur'an? [closed]
How do Christians respond to a claim in the Qur'an that God can not be the father of Christians because God gives them bad things in life to endure?
Here is the quote in question set into context:
We ...
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Why doesn't God stop suffering? [duplicate]
Unarguably God could prevent any type of suffering, pain, and sadness. We see from the Bible accounts that he has the power to part great bodies of water, heal the sick and infirm. He can feed many ...
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Apologetic on suffering using a reference to Jesus [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
How to answer “Why does evil and suffering exist?”
Doing some study at the moment, one of the questions has provoked a few thoughts between me and my wife but we have no ...
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I feel really guilty killing insects, even though it isn’t a sin [closed]
As a catholic, recently I’ve been feeling very guilty and anxious. The reason being is that because, during the course of my life, I’ve probably taken the lives of so many insects unintentionally and ...
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