My Argument with the Universe

[Jassy Melson]

Be it physical, mental, emotional, or spiritual, everybody knows there is no escape from experiencing living life; for life is made up of pleasure and pain. Just as we enjoy the pleasure when it comes, we must endure the pain. For some the bad outweighs the good and misery ensues, but for most of us the pain and pleasure are equal in their intensity.

I have no answer to the question of why the good suffer and the wicked prosper. All I can say is that everyone experiences pain and pleasure in varying degrees. But it seems that some suffer for no reason; and that is my argument with the universe.

[sawkid]

Besides the circumstances that lead to suffering, does there have to be an underlying reason for suffering to ensue? I mean, does the universe really have the conscious and emotional faculties that a human being possesses for it to make judgements upon its 'hurt' towards us? If so, are we talking of God here? If not, then why question it?

I like your post and I'm sure it's something most of us have asked ourselves at some point of time in our lives. The truth is, I don't think any of us who've asked ourselves this question have come any closer to finding the answer than anyone before us - and this includes some really brilliant people. Perhaps it's best to let the universe just run along as it does, and for us to do the same? Of course, this is coming from an atheist. There's definitely theologians out there like St. Thomas Aquinas and St. Augustine who've elucidated solutions in text. They both offer different explanations, but it's interesting nonetheless if you want to check it out.

P.S. I don't know if this is the response you were looking for, but this is what your post stimulated me to write..

[free]

The universe is an enormous organism whose part are we. As every normal organism, it has a need for pleasures of any kind (within the limits of sanity, i.e. not destructive) and it does not need suffering. To accept suffering as something natural is a sign of mental disturbances, is not normal. To have a need for suffering is a sign of even worse abnormality.

[The Atheist]

Be it physical, mental, emotional, or spiritual, everybody knows there is no escape from experiencing living life; for life is made up of pleasure and pain. Just as we enjoy the pleasure when it comes, we must endure the pain. For some the bad outweighs the good and misery ensues, but for most of us the pain and pleasure are equal in their intensity.

It's quite sad that you think that way, because I would say that a majority of people are reasonably happy with their lives and experience far more joy than sorrow and pleasure than pain.


I have no answer to the question of why the good suffer and the wicked prosper. All I can say is that everyone experiences pain and pleasure in varying degrees. But it seems that some suffer for no reason; and that is my argument with the universe.

There doesn't need to be a reason for bad things happening, sometimes they just do. A child born in poverty in Bangladesh or India has no choice and is 50/50 whether it lives or dies in screaming pain from malnutrition or diarrhoea. It isn't the child's fault, it isn't the universe's fault, it just happens.

We can beat ourselves up about it, try to do something about it, or ignore it. I like the second option myself.


The universe is an enormous organism whose part are we.

Nope. An organism is a living thing or system. The universe is not.


To accept suffering as something natural is a sign of mental disturbances, is not normal.

I couldn't disagree with you more. Many natural things cause suffering - flood, tempest, earthquake, landslide or volcano, and saying it's a sign of mental illness to see them as natural really does display either extreme naivety or a disconnect with the real world.

[free]

Go to work, get married, have some kids, pay your taxes, pay your bills, watch your tv, follow fashion, act normal, obey the law and repeat after me: "I am free."

Anon




I am free. :banana: