Is suffering absolutely necessary for a moral life?

Question

I would prefer to hear your honest opinion, instead of getting inundated with Bible quotes. This won't stop people from quoting from the Bible, of course, but I want your own take on this issue, as lame as you may THINK your opinions are, and not a canned sermon.

To darkhairedbeauty: No, the F doesn't stand for Federline LOL :D
That's a good one, though...

I should clarify something here: I fully agree that suffering EXISTS. Any world in which mortality--the fact that we are all actually going to DIE--exists must include suffering. The point of my question is not the existence of suffering, but the NECESSITY of it.
Again, I have a hidden agenda behind the question: Some people believe that if you don't suffer, you'll become an insufferable butthole, and that only through suffering will we ever learn anything or become decent people.
rain, I like your answer in that you emphasize challenge and not the need for pain.
Victor ious, I appreciate the fact that you gave your own opinion on the subject. It was a very thoughtful answer.

Answer 1

I don't think so.....the spirit, whatever it is, loves us therefore it doesn't want us to suffer. Plus, there are plenty of people who suffer and are vicious and mean. The only requirement for leading a moral life is to be a moral person.

Answer 2

I think it's necessary unfortunately. I think that you can't fully appreciate something wonderful until it's taken from you. Is it fair? No. Is it right? No. Should it be that way? No. It's one of the big questions I'd like to ask God when I get there, although I think I know the answer. I'm ungrateful. We all are. And we'll continue to take good things for granted unless we are taken down a notch every once in a while. It sucks, but that's life, I guess.

Answer 3

Suffering is just part of life, moral or immoral. Unfortunately, personal comfort has become one of the highest values (some believe it is a right), which is exactly opposite of the truth that all people will suffer in life. If you have a chance to visit other cultures, you will see how some people just simply accept suffering as a part of life.

Hope you figure it out.

Answer 4

I believe that suffering is absolutely necessary for joy. You can't have one without the other. All of the really bad things I've experienced in my life have made the good that much sweeter. I truly believe that I have a better appreciation for everything having gone through difficult times. I believe that everything happens to either teach us something, or bring us closer to our true purpose on earth. Unfortunately, that sometimes means we suffer.

Answer 5

No. You see, some people misunderstand the concept of the suffering a Christian goes through. Some people in certain countries actually flog their own backs to bloody ribbons.

A Christian who lives a moral life faces suffering by those who mock them and abuse them because of their different life. Not in the same way say.., some guy calls himself a Christian and goes to a gay club and starts yelling they are all going to hell. Thats kind of asking for a butt kicking and not worthy of Christ's suffering.

Jesus didn't go to start riots or try to get people to hit him - it just came with the territory.

Answer 6

Yes. Suffering is important. To suffer is to share in the suffering of Christ in the Crucifixion. Humans will suffer while on Earth because of original sin and trying to live out a Christian lifestyle. Suffering is something that always goes on.

Answer 7

You have to define what you mean by suffering. Do you mean agonizing torture, or difficult timea and situations, or maybe little irritations?

A moral life does not require suffering, but it requires self control. It requires us to reject whatever is bad even though it might appear to be fun at the time. It requires giving up sins that we enjoy. It really is not suffering.

Each one of us will face difficult times, but we don't have to suffer through it. It is possible to go through hard times and still be happy. Drs. Frank Minrith and Paul Meyers have published a book titled "Happiness is a Choice".

If the choices that I make in life bring suffering to me then so be it. When I make a bad choice, I should be able to accept the consequences, i.e. if I smoke, i should not complain when I get cancer.

Also consider that when we go through hard times, God is trying to develope our character; he wants to purify us and prepare us for heaven. I want to be able to accept suffering like the appostle Paul, endure the hard times for now, and look forward to eternal happiness with God in Heaven.

Answer 8

nope! suffering only makes your life harder.

For the girls out there, this is NOT Kevin Federline, K Fed has had his own Yahoo! Answers account since the "Ask the Planet" campaign began.

Answer 9

How could we know and appreciate Joy if at no time in our lives we do not know saddness or struggle--- I think that it makes the "Good times" that much better.

It is the same to me as: "How would we see the light if there was no darkness?"

There have been plenty of times that I have asked, WHY?--- I have grown to appreciate anything full of joy and laughter in my life, now. It has made me a more compassionate person, thus a little bit more moral.

Answer 10

Suffering is a part of life period. From cradle to grave there are things out of our control about our physical, social and emotional well being. The only difference is in how you react to it!