3 ms·

I'm catholic, jewish & a hitch fan so I'll second that. We do not need a new theological motivation for suffering, deification of poverty or anything like that

I'm catholic, jewish & a hitch fan so I'll second that. We do not need a new theological motivation for suffering, deification of poverty or anything like that. I'm definitely not comfortable with "pain is the route of all blessings" talk. That said, there is an interesting, secular argument in here. We've been saying "whatever doesn't kill you makes you stronger" for a while. Its not true. Some things make you weaker, but it's not all things. Psychological "post trauma" is almost defined as painful experiences leading to bad things. But, we can probably find the opposite too, if we look in to non pathological cases. Either direction count as transformation. Blathering nonsense about beauty (or worse, holiness) of suffering is a bad road. Understanding the non pathological (bad) results from suffering... that might be worthwhile. I agree though, lets not put clerics in charge of the language.

zaarn 8y ago
The phrase "what does not kill me makes me strong" comes from Nietzsche in the book "Twilight of the Idols". A book in which he criticizes christianity, going as far as comparing it to alcohol as the great narcotic of Europe. Nietzsche, IMO, was the sort that believed that suffering was sort of part of human experience. But not necessarily suffering as in pain, just any form of hardship you might encounter. A lack of suffering would be exemplified by the last men, a group of humans that eliminated all suffering, hardship or negativity in their lives, who take no risks and only seek comfort. (It's a fictional society made up by Zarathustra, a fictional character in Nietzsche's books, as the most disgusting example of the goals of western civilization)
- dalbasal 8y ago
  Oh wow. Thats totally tangental, but I will look up that chapter. Interesting.

3 ms·

I'm catholic, jewish & a hitch fan so I'll second that. We do not need a new theological motivation for suffering, deification of poverty or anything like that

by dalbasal 8y ago

zaarn 8y ago
The phrase "what does not kill me makes me strong" comes from Nietzsche in the book "Twilight of the Idols". A book in which he criticizes christianity, going as far as comparing it to alcohol as the great narcotic of Europe. Nietzsche, IMO, was the sort that believed that suffering was sort of part of human experience. But not necessarily suffering as in pain, just any form of hardship you might encounter. A lack of suffering would be exemplified by the last men, a group of humans that eliminated all suffering, hardship or negativity in their lives, who take no risks and only seek comfort. (It's a fictional society made up by Zarathustra, a fictional character in Nietzsche's books, as the most disgusting example of the goals of western civilization)
- dalbasal 8y ago
  Oh wow. Thats totally tangental, but I will look up that chapter. Interesting.