[Author’s Name]
[Institution’s Name]
Essay on Suffering
This is an experience that cannot be finally defined. To “define” means that we can neatly summarize something in a well-rounded sentence by saying, “Suffering is…” and by the end of the sentence, we know what it is. But suffering is much too deep, much too mysterious, to be contained in a mere definition. First, suffering on earth. We are, therefore, distinguishing here from that suffering which is beyond this world. It is good to remind ourselves that there is suffering beyond this world, and in fact, that is not a bad motive for putting up with suffering in this world.
Suffering on earth is a uniquely human experience. Only human beings suffer. Animals have pain; but in the sense in which we are using the term, and in the way in which revelation and the Church talk about it, animals do not suffer. (William, 1985) In other words, they have pain; but it is because we don’t have enough vocabulary that we say, “The poor dog is suffering”. Not quite, as will be clear before we finish the analysis.Second, suffering always involves the whole person—body, spirit, and emotions—even though the pain may be centered or may begin in only one part of our being. The pain may be in our hand or foot or head, but “we” suffer. Saint Paul uses this frequently: “When one part of the body is in pain, the whole body suffers.
Third, suffering is therefore “psychosomatic”. It necessarily includes spiritual faculties, which is of course the reason why an animal does not really suffer, because the animal has no mind. (Kvanvig, Jonathan, 1993)Fourth, suffering may be classified, and by now psychologists of suffering have made all sorts of categories. One classification is mainly based on where the suffering begins. According to this grouping, it may be physical suffering—when the origin is in the body; or emotional—when the origin is in the feelings......
