Why do humans allow suffering?

[Vee]

Many people tell me they don’t believe in God because if he existed he wouldn’t allow suffering. Since there is plenty of suffering in the world, that must mean that God doesn’t exist. I tell them the account in the Bible: God’s authority was challenged and instead of imposing his authority he decided to give humans a chance to prove their point for a certain period of time. He gave us the right to rule ourselves without his intervention.
At the moment, governments are formed by people who have in their hands the power to do plenty of things. These governments rule over people who individually might not feel very powerful, but collectively, as a society, can get many things done, things that could ultimately completely change the tragic course we’ve trapped ourselves in, but yet, what I see is indifference, numbness, lack of empathy, lack of kindness and generosity, etc. I don't see many people committed to end suffering.
With all our freedom, technology, enlightenment, whatever else, shouldn't we have been able to do something about that already? If God is out of the picture and humans are in charge, why do humans allow suffering then?

 

[Sunstone]

I agree with you that humans haven't done enough to end -- or more likely, ameliorate -- suffering. But I don't think we've done virtually nothing on that heading. In fact, if you compare things today with, say, a hundred or two hundred years ago, you see a vast difference in how far we've come.

 

[YmirGF]

Modern medicine has alleviated a huge amount of suffering. The sad reality is that the vast majority of human animals don't really pay attention until life smacks them on the back of the head with a 2x4, and even then some fail to connect their actions to possible outcomes. Suffering can never be neutralized and it probably isn't an especially great idea to attempt to do so as it is one of our most useful life experiences. It's not that suffering is great. Suffering sucks, however it does tend to make most people reach out to end their suffering.

In effect, it should be an empowering experience and maybe that is the key to mitigating suffering. Educate people to understand that when they are suffering it is life's way of showing them that things can possibly be changed to make their life experience better.

 

[bobhikes]

Many people tell me they don’t believe in God because if he existed he wouldn’t allow suffering. Since there is plenty of suffering in the world, that must mean that God doesn’t exist. I tell them the account in the Bible: God’s authority was challenged and instead of imposing his authority he decided to give humans a chance to prove their point for a certain period of time. He gave us the right to rule ourselves without his intervention.
At the moment, governments are formed by people who have in their hands the power to do plenty of things. These governments rule over people who individually might not feel very powerful, but collectively, as a society, can get many things done, things that could ultimately completely change the tragic course we’ve trapped ourselves in, but yet, what I see is indifference, numbness, lack of empathy, lack of kindness and generosity, etc. I don't see many people committed to end suffering.
With all our freedom, technology, enlightenment, whatever else, shouldn't we have been able to do something about that already? If God is out of the picture and humans are in charge, why do humans allow suffering then?

Suffering is based on your perception. People don't have to suffer, they can be poor, be in pain or be mistreated and still be happy. People like to wear their suffering on their sleeves to attract empathy. It is not easy to live a life without perceiving yourself to be suffering but it can be done. Only the individual can end their suffering and their perception of others suffering.

Many disabled people do not see themselves as suffering, many people in poor countries or without freedom's do not see themselves as suffering.

 

[YmirGF]

Suffering is based on your perception. People don't have to suffer, they can be poor, be in pain or be mistreated and still be happy. People like to wear their suffering on their sleeves to attract empathy. It is not easy to live a life without perceiving yourself to be suffering but it can be done. Only the individual can end their suffering and their perception of others suffering.

Many disabled people do not see themselves as suffering, many people in poor countries or without freedom's do not see themselves as suffering.

A neighbor of mine is both mentally and physically disabled and yet he has a wonderfully positive outlook on things. He is always busy doing something on his property and has a quick and ready smile. He doesn't let his disabilities hold back his abundant imagination for landscaping.

 

[Quintessence]

I like @YmirGF 's take on the topic - suffering in itself is not something to be eliminated. One of the things I really enjoyed about contemporary Paganism when first learning about it was how many of the traditions treat aspects of reality that are widely regarded as adversarial to the human condition. Death, decay, and suffering are as sacred as life, growth, and happiness. Each has their place and their role, each necessary to the persistence of the other. Ecology teaches many of these lessons too - there is no biological community without both decay and growth.

On the whole, I don't really frame the question as about suffering. I think about it more broadly as about relationships - of give and of take - that encompass the entire biosphere. Then I think about what values I want to uphold and how they inform those relationships. No matter what values I have and what relationships I'm involved in, there is sacrifice and suffering. My job is to ensure that the ground I plant my flag on is ground I'm willing to witness suffering for. Put another way, make sure you're willing to pay the costs of your way of life. For better or worse, much of the time we pay those costs by forcing them on to someone else... especially non-human someone's.

 

[shunyadragon]

Many people tell me they don’t believe in God because if he existed he wouldn’t allow suffering. Since there is plenty of suffering in the world, that must mean that God doesn’t exist. I tell them the account in the Bible: God’s authority was challenged and instead of imposing his authority he decided to give humans a chance to prove their point for a certain period of time. He gave us the right to rule ourselves without his intervention.
At the moment, governments are formed by people who have in their hands the power to do plenty of things. These governments rule over people who individually might not feel very powerful, but collectively, as a society, can get many things done, things that could ultimately completely change the tragic course we’ve trapped ourselves in, but yet, what I see is indifference, numbness, lack of empathy, lack of kindness and generosity, etc. I don't see many people committed to end suffering.
With all our freedom, technology, enlightenment, whatever else, shouldn't we have been able to do something about that already? If God is out of the picture and humans are in charge, why do humans allow suffering then?

What is called suffering is a natural product of our fallible human existence. There is no reason nor evidence humans would have any control over 'suffering.' The historical and paleontological evidence demonstrates that suffering and death has been a natural part of the human journey and evolution for over 100,000 years at least, and further back for our ancestors.

If God exists, than this is all this is a natural part of Creation. God would have control and intent of Creation and humanity from the beginning, and humans would have no influence over the course of events that lead to human suffering.

 

[jonathan180iq]

I agree with you that humans haven't done enough to end -- or more likely, ameliorate -- suffering. But I don't think we've done virtually nothing on that heading. In fact, if you compare things today with, say, a hundred or two hundred years ago, you see a vast difference in how far we've come.

This.
As societies progress away from fundamentalist and/or dogmatic beliefs, they progress towards more egalitarian behaviors. It takes forever, it seems, because there is always a facet of said society that tends to actively work against change. But, for most of our history, we've tended to swing this way.

 

[Nakosis]

Many people tell me they don’t believe in God because if he existed he wouldn’t allow suffering. Since there is plenty of suffering in the world, that must mean that God doesn’t exist. I tell them the account in the Bible: God’s authority was challenged and instead of imposing his authority he decided to give humans a chance to prove their point for a certain period of time. He gave us the right to rule ourselves without his intervention.
At the moment, governments are formed by people who have in their hands the power to do plenty of things. These governments rule over people who individually might not feel very powerful, but collectively, as a society, can get many things done, things that could ultimately completely change the tragic course we’ve trapped ourselves in, but yet, what I see is indifference, numbness, lack of empathy, lack of kindness and generosity, etc. I don't see many people committed to end suffering.
With all our freedom, technology, enlightenment, whatever else, shouldn't we have been able to do something about that already? If God is out of the picture and humans are in charge, why do humans allow suffering then?

This would be true whether God exists or not. I agree, humans can act to lessen suffering. I just find the God narrative unnecessary. Has really nothing to do with the idea of God allowing suffering.

Humans act on their feelings in most cases. Something people don't have a lot of control over. And, our feelings are pretty easily manipulated. Often our feelings cause us to act in ways that cause others to suffer. Feelings originate in our subconscious mind so while we can't directly control them we can learn to consciously manipulate them. I doubt this would eliminate all suffering but it would certainly limit the suffering caused by our emotions running amok.

 

[Vee]

This.
As societies progress away from fundamentalist and/or dogmatic beliefs, they progress towards more egalitarian behaviors.

Does the fact that eight men now control as much wealth as the world's poorest 3.6 billion people seem more egalitarian to you?
I'm having trouble seeing how getting rid of dogmatic beliefs is doing substantial good for the most vulnerable people in the world.

 

[David1967]

Many people tell me they don’t believe in God because if he existed he wouldn’t allow suffering. Since there is plenty of suffering in the world, that must mean that God doesn’t exist. I tell them the account in the Bible: God’s authority was challenged and instead of imposing his authority he decided to give humans a chance to prove their point for a certain period of time. He gave us the right to rule ourselves without his intervention.
At the moment, governments are formed by people who have in their hands the power to do plenty of things. These governments rule over people who individually might not feel very powerful, but collectively, as a society, can get many things done, things that could ultimately completely change the tragic course we’ve trapped ourselves in, but yet, what I see is indifference, numbness, lack of empathy, lack of kindness and generosity, etc. I don't see many people committed to end suffering.
With all our freedom, technology, enlightenment, whatever else, shouldn't we have been able to do something about that already? If God is out of the picture and humans are in charge, why do humans allow suffering then?

I'm a believer in free will. I believe that for the biggest part God plays the part of observer, letting us make of things what we will. When we mess things up its our own darn fault.
But to answer the OP, "Why do humans allow suffering"? (A) Because as a species, by nature, we're just not very nice. IMHO of course.

 

[YmirGF]

Does the fact that eight men now control as much wealth as the world's poorest 3.6 billion people seem more egalitarian to you?
I'm having trouble seeing how getting rid of dogmatic beliefs is doing substantial good for the most vulnerable people in the world.

Would you think it is helpful if all of them sent $100 to each of those 3.6 billion folks? Would it help if these titans were brought as low as the lowest?

 

[shunyadragon]

Suffering is based on your perception. People don't have to suffer, they can be poor, be in pain or be mistreated and still be happy. People like to wear their suffering on their sleeves to attract empathy. It is not easy to live a life without perceiving yourself to be suffering but it can be done. Only the individual can end their suffering and their perception of others suffering.

Many disabled people do not see themselves as suffering, many people in poor countries or without freedom's do not see themselves as suffering.

II have been around the world and back again and lived in the third world. This is not only wrong big time, it is unbelievably naive and idealistic.

 

[bobhikes]

II have been around the world and back again and lived in the third world. This is not only wrong big time, it is unbelievably naive and idealistic.

Define suffering as an absolute, not an opinion. There are masochists that seek pain for happiness.

 

[Skwim]

And god is just fine with all the suffering that ensues because it's better that people suffer than not. If this wasn't so, as an omnipotent and omnibenevolent god he'd make sure there would be no suffering. Unless . . . . . . . that is . . . he enjoys watching mankind suffer. Hmmm. You don't suppose, do you, that god is a sa. . . . . . . . . .

.

 

[David1967]

And god is just fine with all the suffering that ensues because it's better that people suffer than not. If this wasn't so, as an omnipotent god he'd make sure there would be no suffering. Unless . . . . . . . that is . . . he enjoys watching mankind suffer. Hmmm. You don't suppose, do you, that god is a sa. . . . . . . . . .

.

I won't pretend to have an answer for you there Skwim. Of course if He's God, it wouldn't really change anything no matter what I thought. But yeah, life ,even at its best, sucks sometimes.

 

[Spiderman]

Human beings are not often programed to be compassionate and unselfish.

This is God's fault.

God could give people new minds and hearts that are rational and compassionate and he refuses to.

God could easily heal quadriplegics or give tortured souls and those in agony relief from their suffering.

God could speak clearly to confused people and he refuses to. He harms the whole world with his cruel silence.

God could protect children from rapists and take away a person's desire to rape children. God has the power and he refuses to use it, making God partially responsible, if not nearly completely responsible.

God refuses to strengthen people who are fighting for social justice and the relief of suffering, and he often leaves them full of weaknesses to make much of a change at all.

God could guide police to catch rapists, serial killers, and murderers, and he refuses to.

So, quite frankly, either God is pathetic and lacking omnipotence, or God is cruel, apathetic, and doesn't care about those in agony!

 

[Unveiled Artist]

Many people tell me they don’t believe in God because if he existed he wouldn’t allow suffering. Since there is plenty of suffering in the world, that must mean that God doesn’t exist. I tell them the account in the Bible: God’s authority was challenged and instead of imposing his authority he decided to give humans a chance to prove their point for a certain period of time. He gave us the right to rule ourselves without his intervention.

At the moment, governments are formed by people who have in their hands the power to do plenty of things. These governments rule over people who individually might not feel very powerful, but collectively, as a society, can get many things done, things that could ultimately completely change the tragic course we’ve trapped ourselves in, but yet, what I see is indifference, numbness, lack of empathy, lack of kindness and generosity, etc. I don't see many people committed to end suffering.

With all our freedom, technology, enlightenment, whatever else, shouldn't we have been able to do something about that already?

If God is out of the picture and humans are in charge, why do humans allow suffering then?

Suffering will always exists. Its how we handle suffering is the key. We will die. People believe in god for comfort; but, life just doesnt work that way. I believe we suffer because we are so attached to ourselves, others, and our evironment we miss the point of learning to understand suffering (death) and develop a healthier life by changing ones relationship with self, others and enviroment.

It doesnt disappear, just when we see it differently, we wouldnt need god to answer questions. The cure is in our own noggin'

 

[nPeace]

Modern medicine has alleviated a huge amount of suffering. The sad reality is that the vast majority of human animals don't really pay attention until life smacks them on the back of the head with a 2x4, and even then some fail to connect their actions to possible outcomes. Suffering can never be neutralized and it probably isn't an especially great idea to attempt to do so as it is one of our most useful life experiences. It's not that suffering is great. Suffering sucks, however it does tend to make most people reach out to end their suffering.

In effect, it should be an empowering experience and maybe that is the key to mitigating suffering. Educate people to understand that when they are suffering it is life's way of showing them that things can possibly be changed to make their life experience better.

Okay. So it seems you have turned the blame from the powerful, and pinned it on the less powerful.
Hmmmmm. I wonder if that would work, were God in the picture.
Just wondering. Any thoughts?

 

[nPeace]

What is called suffering is a natural product of our fallible human existence. There is no reason nor evidence humans would have any control over 'suffering.'

I agree with that.
Because of the inferiority of man's wisdom, he will always bring harm to humankind even when he does what he thinks is good.
New Studies Link Cell Phone Radiation with Cancer

There seems to be an obvious reason for this - he fails to give proper attention to his spiritual need, and focuses only on his physical, or material needs - his "naturalism".