Suffering and happy?

[ninerbuff]

Clear this up for me. From my understanding when I used to go to church back in the day, god's people would suffer on Earth till they are with him in heaven. That's the christian perspective that I was taught.
Now, can you really be "happy" at all if you are suffering? If there is no true happiness, is it the purpose of god to make sure you suffer till you're dead? And of course if you're a heathen like me, there will be more suffering?

 

[sojourner]

No wonder you discontinued going to church...
Dear God! What a messed-up perspective!

 

[ninerbuff]

No wonder you discontinued going to church...
Dear God! What a messed-up perspective!

According to some scriptures in the bible, which I assume you take to be true, suffering is part of god's will. Yes or no?

 

[linwood]

Clear this up for me. From my understanding when I used to go to church back in the day, god's people would suffer on Earth till they are with him in heaven. That's the christian perspective that I was taught.
Now, can you really be "happy" at all if you are suffering? If there is no true happiness, is it the purpose of god to make sure you suffer till you're dead? And of course if you're a heathen like me, there will be more suffering?

The only religion I know of that sees suffering as a pillar of their theology is Catholicism.

It`s a depressing scriptural outlook.

 

[ninerbuff]

The only religion I know of that sees suffering as a pillar of their theology is Catholicism.

It`s a depressing scriptural outlook.

But don't all christians believe they are suffering in some way? The outlook of some denominations claim that their Earth time is nothing but suffering before going to heaven.

 

[sojourner]

According to some scriptures in the bible, which I assume you take to be true, suffering is part of god's will. Yes or no?

No. Not "God's will."

 

[sojourner]

But don't all christians believe they are suffering in some way? The outlook of some denominations claim that their Earth time is nothing but suffering before going to heaven.

Yes, we all suffer. But that doesn't mean that it's either "God's will," or that there is nothing but suffering.

 

[linwood]

But don't all christians believe they are suffering in some way? The outlook of some denominations claim that their Earth time is nothing but suffering before going to heaven.

Yes there is a serious martyr complex within Christianity in general.

However it`s only the Catholic religion I know of that romanticizes suffering to the point of making it actually desirable and praiseworthy.

 

[ninerbuff]

Yes there is a serious martyr complex within Christianity in general.

However it`s only the Catholic religion I know of that romanticizes suffering to the point of making it actually desirable and praiseworthy.

I'll agree here. When you have people nailing themselves to crosses in the Philippines to "suffer" like jesus supposedly did, that does show a desire.

 

[tomato1236]

Not so much suffering to the end as enduring to the end. Not so much enduring pain and suffering to the end as enduring temptation and adversity to the end. Not so much giving into temptation and being hopeless in the face of adversity to the end as overcoming them to the end, or in the end.

Different people interpret the Bible in different ways. Anyone who says differently is awesome. I don't plan on crucifying myself anytime soon.