Haley Athens, Campus Carrier Opinions Editor

In Meditation XVII, John Donne says, “…For affliction is a treasure, and scarce any man who hath enough of it.” There has been a copious amount of “interruptions” in this world that lead people to question the confidence and faith in a higher power. By “interruptions”, I most precisely mean the disasters or horrific events that can change a person’s mind about the existence of good in the world. Since these catastrophic occurrences and events disrupt our view any other religions are real, we must face the question: if God exists and is real, why does suffering exist? Why is suffering necessary to attain enlightenment? Why must we go on in a world filled with desire that leads to a life filled with suffering?

Many people argue that suffering creates hesitance on whether a higher power exists and diminishes faith, regardless of the religion it roots from. But without this suffering, there is no wisdom. Without suffering, there is no faith. By saying this, I am most definitely not implying or trying to state that the travesties are right or okay by any means. But with this suffering, it helps people to be able to connect with the higher power that they look upon in their religion. Acknowledging and accepting suffering seems to benefit people because of the relationship it creates with a person and their higher power since that god is a part of our suffering as well. This also means that the concept of free will most likely exists, and without the faith and wisdom from suffering, most religions fall apart, along with the idea of gods of pathos.

Not only is suffering beneficial for those in Christianity, but it also is for those in Taoism who are on journey to attain the Tao and enlightenment. Acknowledging and accepting suffering benefits those in Buddhism because through this acknowledgement of desire and suffering, they can find a way out of samsara (the endless cycle of death and rebirth). Hardships and suffering are inevitable and we must accept and acknowledge them.