Did you grow up with the belief that suffering and evil were our crosses to bear?

[AriBasil]

Suffering and evil can be one's cross to bear but it is not necessarily true in all situations. Generalizing it does not seem ideal.

[Shanesha Sammerson]

I grew up in a Catholic family. I was told that suffering and evil were our crosses to bear. We must accept these crosses as part of life. In other words:" What doesn't kill us makes us stronger." What are your thoughts on this way of thinking and does this make you doubt that God is a loving God? Personally, I need to believe both; that evil and suffering are our crosses to bear and that God is a loving God.

The belief that suffering and evil are crosses to bear, while maintaining that God is loving, reflects a nuanced view of faith. Suffering can be seen as a way to build resilience and character, aligning with the idea that trials can strengthen us. At the same time, it raises the question of why a loving God allows such suffering. Many religious traditions reconcile this by emphasizing free will, the fallen nature of the world, or that suffering has a purpose beyond our understanding. Balancing these beliefs—trusting both God's love and the role of suffering—can provide comfort and meaning.

Your desire to hold both beliefs seems to echo this complex faith journey, finding strength in suffering while also trusting in divine love.

[Alicia Howell-Munson]

I did not grow up with this belief (I grew up in an agnostic household for the most part). I learned that suffering was a normal part of life and sometimes preventable, sometimes not. However, it wasn't ever implied that suffering was important or needed and was generally framed as a way of being able to compare the good times to see just how nice they were. I think this can support that God is a loving God because they give the contrast for humans to experience good as really good compared to the suffering.

[Santosh Behera]

Yes, I believe it. The author was taught that suffering and evil were our crosses to bear. It makes us stronger and more loving. This belief does not make me doubt God's love. While suffering can be avoided, it is important to strive for excellence and live a life devoid of suffering. I believe that life is beautiful and that the author tried to convince.

[Mr Benj]

God still loves us in all life struggles and conditions. Web must realize that w still have challenges and burdens to bear; we must believe with His help, these burdens become lighter.

[Abril Zacca]

Yes, I grew up with the belief that suffering and evil were crosses we each had to bear. This perspective often came with the understanding that hardship and challenges could bring growth, resilience, or even a deeper sense of purpose. It was seen as a way to participate in a shared human experience and develop empathy, aligning us with others' struggles. Embracing suffering in this way also helped foster a sense of hope—that through perseverance, we could overcome or find meaning, no matter the hardship.

[D-řẹäł Odinakachukwu]

I grew up believing that suffering and evil are crosses we bear, following Christ’s example of endurance and faith.

[Anthony Ekemezie]

Growing up, I usually hear that suffering and evil were simply parts of the human experience. This perspective can feel both heavy and enlightening. It suggests that adversity shapes our character and deepens our empathy. However, I also learned that while suffering is inevitable, our response to it defines us. It can push us to seek justice, offer compassion, or spark change. So, rather than seeing suffering as an unavoidable burden, I came to view it as a trigger for growth and resilience.

[Anthony Ekemezie]

Growing up, I usually hear that suffering and evil were simply parts of the human experience. This perspective can feel both heavy and enlightening. It suggests that adversity shapes our character and deepens our empathy. However, I also learned that while suffering is inevitable, our response to it defines us. It can push us to seek justice, offer compassion, or spark change. So, rather than seeing suffering as an unavoidable burden, I came to view it as a trigger for growth and resilience.

[Neha Panikar]

I'm a Hindu, but we do have a strong sense ot karma and Mahabharat and Ramayan have been the dominant epics of every Hindu religion. I have grown up listening to the stories and most of what it alludes to is, what goes around comes around. If you give good, you'll receive good and vice versa. However, there have been some characters who have had it harder because of being at the wrong place at the wrong time. For example, with the character named "Karna", he is of high moral character and idealistically ethical and full of integrity. But, he's on the side of bad or evil and that goes against him. He does gain worldwide respect and recognition mostly after this death, but his life is full of struggles. Mahabharat is a beautiful narrated epic which narrates the story through characters, but each character represents a quality inside us, and a conscience.
Having said that, and coming back to the question in this forum, I strongly believe that struggles and trials and tribulations are a part of life and important to make us value it, live it well, and emerge victorious at the end. If everything was good and hunky-dory, life wouldn't be interesting,yes, but not at all inspiring either.

[Keturah Larai Gana]

I agree that hardship only makes us stronger since I was raised with the belief that no soul is burdened with more than it can handle. I like to draw a comparison between the love of a mother and the love of God.

[Uchenna Precious]

I didn't grow up with that mindset. However, as I got older, I realised it is impossible to escape suffering and other crosses to bear. In my opinion, I feel it is unfair.

[Irene Kana]

Though I didn't grow up in a belief that suffering and evil was our cross to bear, however God was portrayed as a very hush ruler, who tolerated no mistake and suffering was commended a good thing to please him as part of the faith journey, I grew up in a belief that God was watching our every move and at the end of our time, we are all going to be judged, it's either hell or heaven. So I struggled with the issue of understanding sin, suffering and evil for a long time. The book did help me in answering some of the questions I had with regards to the fall and how much sin affected the human race in general.

[Goodness Richman]

What I believe is that the sufferings of mankind was as a result of the act of disobedience portrayed by it's first Lord at the beginning of the age of man. I didn't take is as what God created for us but what our first Lord created for us.

[Isaac Chiso]

Like any other Christian, I believe that suffering and evil are events that make us grow spiritually or gain more knowledge.