Why is Catholicism the only religion that focuses on suffering?

Question

If you notice, they're all about how you were born into sin, their crucifix always has Jesus hanging on it, suffering, ect.

All the other religions are usually just the cross itself, and focus more on hope and faith.

It almost seems to me that Catholicism is negative and depressing.

Answer 1

I'm sorry, but I have to challenge your assertion.
-Buddhism is based on the idea that life is agony. (Although Buddhist themselves tend to be quite mellow in my experience).
-Judaism is often seen as a long attonement and suffering of the chosen people to repay, through generations for how their forefathers have foresaken what was given them. Oy!

Catholicism is also the Church that has stayed truest to its medieval tradition. Man did not see the world as we see it now. A lot of people thought the bubonic plague was a punishment from God, very few thought to themselves: Gee, I wonder if there's a way to alleviate this suffering? It's partly why the scientific revolution took place.

Answer 2

I've always seen Catholicism as Inspiring, and positive. The themes of redemption, and doing good works sounds positive to me.
Many religions focus on suffering by the way. Many Buddhists believe that all life is suffering, and the common goal must be extinction from the cycle of rebirth.

Answer 3

interesting question.

since the Roman Catholic religion dectates it, they are responsible.

But, its up to the individual, and how they interpret it.
It is a powerful visual representation, and could trigger either the negative and depressing realization that took place.
That in itself could be seen as gruesome.
However, if youre not as shallow, and take everything in its context, hopefully one mans sacrifice will inspire you, and remind you of what took place, not only the suffering inflicted, but the resurrection that took place afterwards.

Everyone likes to think when you talk of GOD, it should be happy and upbeat that GOD loves you unconditionally. But isnt that very far from the truth?

Sine didnt GOD promise punishment to sinners for generations to come?
I dont think everything is suppose to be so upbeat and cheery, where every person who does whatever they chooses uses the justification that GOD loves me unconditionally, let HIM judge me, and only someone who hasnt committed a sin cast their first stone.

It only shows a neurotic belief in something that isnt there, when people talk like that. GOD did send HIS only begotten Son as a sacrificial lamb, to deliver us from the laws of that day, and the oppressing religious leaders of that time.
Well, here we are evolving full circle back to a time where people lost all insight on what GOD wants from HIS people.
And make no mistake about it.....there will be a reckoning when the time comes. People will see its not hw they want to make it appear.

Ask 50 people to cross the same bridge, and you will have 50 different paths taken. Well, ask 50 different people to look at the same crucifix and youll get about 50 different answers.

Hopefully youres reminds you of the harsh reality that took place, and then motivates you as you realize someone died horribly only to rise again in sacrifice for your sins.

To me, thats a beautiful thing that shapes how I live my life.
Hope it does the same for you

Answer 4

We suffer for those who will not take up their cross
Then we have a drink to help the pain.
Then we are happy again.

Nono, that's not it. Sry to burst your bubble. I've been around Catholics all my life, and they are the most amazing people I know. To be cheerful in the face of adversity is the greatest gift anyone can recieve. Sure, there are morose people in every religion, and sour-puss people too, who grudgingly do their "duty", not realizing the powerhouse of noble love it truly is. "To pray always" is to understand the meaning of suffering and take it, make it into a gift, and be happy, not confused.

The next most cheerful group of people I've met has been Buddhists. Maybe I'm the only one that sees their gentle peaceful expressions?

The crucifix represents suffering of Christ, and is the key to His triumph over death. Triumph! (Hear the crowds roar!) There is a deeper meaning to all this, that is not easily understood nor explained.

Answer 5

Given the time zones around the world, the Catholic Mass is being celebrrated every hour of every day around the clock. The Mass represents Christ's suffering and death, rather than the wonderous victory over sin and death accomplished at the Resurrection.

Generally speaking, Catholics focus on Good Friday; Protestants focus on Resurrection Sunday.

Answer 6

Catholicism, yes.
One of the major tenants of Buddhism is that life is suffering, it's just that the message is a transcendence of suffering and not wallowing in it.
Lenny Bruce told a joke that if Jesus was subjected to capital punishment in our time Catholics would be walking around with little golden electric chairs dangling off of their necks.

Answer 7

I dont feel that way. Catholicism is more focussed on what happend after Jesus died on the Cross. Not the actual event of him being nailed to a peice of tree. He rose from the dead. That is the real focus of the church.

Answer 8

Protestantism leader, Luther, wrote about the Theology of the Cross, and the thought the Catholics were using the Theology of Glory! My, how things have changed!

Anyway, in Buddhism, there's the truth that "all life is suffering."

Answer 9

Sounds like you need a new religion. Lds religion is based on Christ's life and the amazing things he has done. If you come to the church there are no crosses hanging anywhere, because we believe in celebrating his life and not totally focusing on his death like catholics do.

Answer 10

I feel that the Catholic Church lost its way and is in drastic need of reform.

Back in the days of the Spanish Inquisition, the Catholic Church had power to rival that of kings and Queens. That's basically what morality/guilt is all about... the POWER to impose one majority group's/person's will upon any other minority group/person.

Look at the Salem Witch trials.

You have to suffer because you DESERVE it!!! SINNER!!!

It ties right in with the bogus concept of "original sin".

If the Catholics would have had their way, we'd still believe that the Earth was the center of the entire Universe. They placed Galileo under house arrest until the day that he died for saying otherwise.

Matthew 25:40
And the King shall answer
and say unto them, Verily I say
unto you, Inasmuch as ye have
done it unto the least of these my
brethren, ye have done it unto me.

Matthew 25:41
Then shall he say also unto
them on the left hand, Depart from
me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire,
prepared for the devil and his angels: