Consider this...

[polygone]

Let's play a little "game". This is not meant to mock any belief system or start a flame war. Before we start, I must ask you to leave your Religious Biases behind.

Assume that you are suffering in some way. Maybe you are a destitute, or you're deaf, dumb and blind, or perhaps you are a 7 year old with Leukemia, or you are dying of cancer at a young age, or something worse...

Now, 4 people approach you, an Atheist, a Muslim, a Christian and a Hindu. You ask each of them to explain your "condition" to them, as in why you are in such a state. And here is how they would respond...

Atheist : I have no answer. (if the person is scientific/logical, he/she would probably try to explain your situation in a scientific/logical way and would fail in most cases).

Muslim : I have no answer.

Christian : God works in mysterious ways, but everything is for the good.

Hindu : According to the Karma Theory, you did something bad in your past life, and that is why you are suffering now. I cannot give you any explanation beyond this, but you probably would be in a better condition if you hadn't done something bad.

Now you tell me which of these responses would help you find the most solace? And also, which would help you (and the society overall) to refrain from doing bad deeds?

I am not arguing about the correctness of the Karma Theory or whether you should believe in it or not. You could take the Karma Theory and apply it to any such situation, and you would see that it would help a person in finding solace, since there is always a point in one's life where logical reasoning would be useless. Hence, this is one Hindu belief I truely appreciate.

 

[onikirimaru777]

I suppose I'm weird, but I think I would find meaning in all of the answers, save maybe the Muslim one (however, I think a true muslim would say something according to his or her faith instead of "no answer"). However, if I had no religious background, I think I would find the most compassion in the Christian response. If I was suffering, hearing that my situation was for a greater good would help me more then hearing that it was for something I did wrong, even in a past life. *shrug* Thats just me.

 

[Lignoba]

It seems to me like you are almost trying to start a flame war by making the other religions look stupid.

 

[polygone]

It seems to me like you are almost trying to start a flame war by making the other religions look stupid.

That is your point of view, not mine . Nowhere did I say anything about any religion being stupid. Besides, I don't ascribe to the Karma Theory, I was simply appreciating it !

 

[polygone]

I suppose I'm weird, but I think I would find meaning in all of the answers, save maybe the Muslim one (however, I think a true muslim would say something according to his or her faith instead of "no answer"). However, if I had no religious background, I think I would find the most compassion in the Christian response. If I was suffering, hearing that my situation was for a greater good would help me more then hearing that it was for something I did wrong, even in a past life. *shrug* Thats just me.

I honestly respect your answer.

But consider this... you see a 7 year old child suffering from Leukemia and she has only a couple of days to live. Do you think telling her "your death is for the greater good" would mean anything to her? She would be too young to understand some abstract "greater good" .

Or would telling a criminal who has, say, killed somebody and hence been sentenced to death, that everything will be for the good, set an example that would help other potential criminals to refrain from doing bad things?

 

[xAtheistx]

And here is how they would respond...

Atheist : I have no answer. (if the person is scientific/logical, he/she would probably try to explain your situation in a scientific/logical way and would fail in most cases).

Muslim : I have no answer.

Christian : God works in mysterious ways, but everything is for the good.

Hindu : According to the Karma Theory, you did something bad in your past life, and that is why you are suffering now. I cannot give you any explanation beyond this, but you probably would be in a better condition if you hadn't done something bad.

Now you tell me which of these responses would help you find the most solace? And also, which would help you (and the society overall) to refrain from doing bad deeds?

You're generalizing people with their religion--since that is the only basis of your knowledge of them, you're clearly not "leave [sic] your Religious Biases behind" ... but using your examples:

Telling me I did something bad in the past that I have no recollection of, no certainty of whether I did it or not... is not very comforting. It is something to put the blame on (your former self) so in that regard it's got the other responses beat--but these are from what you said they'd say.

Which one causes the most grief? You would simply ignore a "no answer" as if they'd said nothing (because as far as your answer is concerned, they have). Telling me that everything is for the good is not very reassuring, but it causes no distress-- the Karma Theory makes you take responsibility, put the blame on yourself for what it (KT) says you've done. So this 7 year old dying of Leukemia now hates herself, with nothing coming out of it except that she's answered her question (she's dying, you wouldn't want to explain how life works, you'd console her--which the Christian perspective [through your words] does). Good going.

Since you basically rendered the Muslim and atheistic viewpoints irrelevant with your summations of what they'd contribute, I'm can only contrast what's left:

Which satisfies your curiosity on your ailment: Hinduism
Which leaves you the happiest: Christianity
Which is really important when you're on your deathbed: { You decide. }

I personally don't think this is a fair analogy. But based on your tale, I've come to the conclusion that karma is too slow to act--punish her former life for its bad deed--she's but a child (in this life).

Just a thought.

 

[polygone]

Those are valid points. So tell me, being an Atheist, what would your response to that question be? But how would the Christian response leave the person "Happiest"? It's done nothing to improve her condition by providing an answer.

 

[polygone]

You're generalizing people with their religion--since that is the only basis of your knowledge of them, you're clearly not "leave [sic] your Religious Biases behind"

Actually, I don't believe in any of those religions, so I'm generalizing my thoughts on what I know. Of course, I can't write 6 billion responses for all the humans out there, so I have to generalize .

 

[ebia]

I don't think your suggested answers represent their respective religions particularly well, but of them, the only one that seems to offer any compassion and hope is the Christian one. At least it speaks of the future, if only in the most vague terms.

 

[peepnklown]

I would tell the person that Zeus didn’t like them.

 

[Bookofknowledge]

Let's play a little "game".

Game? NO

I find that you are a "seeker of truth" after reading your posts.

I must ask you to leave your Religious Biases behind.

why are you asking people to leave religious belief behind and yourself sharing your own understanding of a perticualr religion.

 

[polygone]

Please read carefully, I said Religious "Biases", not beliefs .

 

[BruceDLimber]

Assume that you are suffering in some way. Maybe you are a destitute, or you're deaf, dumb and blind, or perhaps you are a 7 year old with Leukemia, or you are dying of cancer at a young age, or something worse...

Now, 4 people approach you, [atheist, Muslim, Christian, Himdu . . .

I think you may need a rather larger sample size!

I suggest a Baha'i, for example, in additon to offering what assistance and comfort he or she can, would probably also offer both several healing prayers and the one we call the Remover of Difficulties....

For example, the latter is:

"Is there any remover of difficulties save God? Say: Praised be God; He is God! All are His servants, and all abide by His bidding."

And just one of the healing prayers is:

"Thy Name is my healing, O my God, and remembrance of Thee is my remedy! Nearness to Thee is my hope, and love for Thee is my companion.
"Thy mercy to me is my healing and my succor in both this world and in the world to come!
"Thou art, verily, the All-bountiful, and All-knowing, the All-wise."

Definitely good stuff.

Peace,

Bruce

 

[vedickings]

Let's play a little "game". This is not meant to mock any belief system or start a flame war. Before we start, I must ask you to leave your Religious Biases behind.

ok.

Assume that you are suffering in some way. Maybe you are a destitute, or you're deaf, dumb and blind, or perhaps you are a 7 year old with Leukemia, or you are dying of cancer at a young age, or something worse...

i'm deaf. only 70%

Now, 4 people approach you, an Atheist, a Muslim, a Christian and a Hindu. You ask each of them to explain your "condition" to them, as in why you are in such a state. And here is how they would respond...

ok.

Atheist : I have no answer. (if the person is scientific/logical, he/she would probably try to explain your situation in a scientific/logical way and would fail in most cases).

This is true.

Muslim : I have no answer.

Don't know much about Muslim.

Christian : God works in mysterious ways, but everything is for the good.

True. And this answer goes for most qusetions

Hindu : According to the Karma Theory, you did something bad in your past life, and that is why you are suffering now. I cannot give you any explanation beyond this, but you probably would be in a better condition if you hadn't done something bad.

True.

Now you tell me which of these responses would help you find the most solace? And also, which would help you (and the society overall) to refrain from doing bad deeds?

Karma

Let say you in your past life your freind lost a leg because of you. And this life its your karma to lose your leg. But by doing good, like giving to the poor, helping the sick etc. You will make up for some of the bad karma if not all of it. When your time comes, you may just break your leg

 

[polygone]

I thank all of you for your replies .

 

[vedickings]

I think you may need a rather larger sample size!

I suggest a Baha'i, for example, in additon to offering what assistance and comfort he or she can, would probably also offer both several healing prayers and the one we call the Remover of Difficulties....

For example, the latter is:

"Is there any remover of difficulties save God? Say: Praised be God; He is God! All are His servants, and all abide by His bidding."

And just one of the healing prayers is:

"Thy Name is my healing, O my God, and remembrance of Thee is my remedy! Nearness to Thee is my hope, and love for Thee is my companion.
"Thy mercy to me is my healing and my succor in both this world and in the world to come!
"Thou art, verily, the All-bountiful, and All-knowing, the All-wise."

Definitely good stuff.

Peace,

Bruce

The qusetion is why are they sick, not how to heal the sick.

So from a Baha'i view, why are people suffering and diying?

 

[Osiris]

polygone, your post would make sense if the response of all religions were the best answer possible for that religion...

I don't think muslims would answer 'I don't know' in such situation...

and although not a religion there is a better answer than just 'I don't know' for atheism...

 

[polygone]

Please feel free to discuss what an Atheist would say in such a situation .

 

[Cassiopeia]

Let's play a little "game". This is not meant to mock any belief system or start a flame war. Before we start, I must ask you to leave your Religious Biases behind.

Assume that you are suffering in some way. Maybe you are a destitute, or you're deaf, dumb and blind, or perhaps you are a 7 year old with Leukemia, or you are dying of cancer at a young age, or something worse...

Now, 4 people approach you, an Atheist, a Muslim, a Christian and a Hindu. You ask each of them to explain your "condition" to them, as in why you are in such a state. And here is how they would respond...

Atheist : I have no answer. (if the person is scientific/logical, he/she would probably try to explain your situation in a scientific/logical way and would fail in most cases).

Muslim : I have no answer.

Christian : God works in mysterious ways, but everything is for the good.

Hindu : According to the Karma Theory, you did something bad in your past life, and that is why you are suffering now. I cannot give you any explanation beyond this, but you probably would be in a better condition if you hadn't done something bad.

Now you tell me which of these responses would help you find the most solace? And also, which would help you (and the society overall) to refrain from doing bad deeds?

I am not arguing about the correctness of the Karma Theory or whether you should believe in it or not. You could take the Karma Theory and apply it to any such situation, and you would see that it would help a person in finding solace, since there is always a point in one's life where logical reasoning would be useless. Hence, this is one Hindu belief I truely appreciate.

You have set up your OP to give you the answers you have already predetermined for yourself. Sorry, I think I will just play on through.

 

[Arthra]

Vedickings wrote:

So from a Baha'i view, why are people suffering and diying?

Reply:

In the Baha'i Faith we acknowledge that suffering and death occur...just as there is birth and happiness and joy in life there is also suffering and death... We do not blame God for this or say because you suffer you did something bad in a previous life.

To be truly human we must respond to those who suffer... We must lighten their burden and provide from what we have for them. The community (meaning all of us) also should provide for people who are less fortunate than we are and are homeless, disabled or ill and unable to protect themselves.

Death also is a release from this life and not seen by us as something that is a result of punishment, rather we are released like a captive bird and the cage of the body is of no further use to us..

So these are some of the Baha'i views.

- Art