Grow, Learn, Suffer: Human Experience as a Community of Pain

Abstract

Over the past few decades, images of suffering have been slashed across our newspapers and TV screens and have become everyday symbols in our society. Despite feeling a desperate need to protect ourselves and those we love from experiencing pain, we have developed a fascination with watching these spectacles of horror played out across the news, and the line between fact and fiction has become blurred. By looking at the teachings of the major religions alongside early philosophical thought, it is possible to trace the foundations of ideas surrounding suffering. Whilst claiming that suffering is a terrible experience that must be overcome, many religions praise the humbling aspects of suffering as ways to cleanse the soul and become righteous, charitable and strong of faith. It is this mindset that is present in society today and encourages us to facilitate suffering as a means of character building and social control.