Hinduism has the law of karma which explains suffering in the following; whatever evil you do in this life is paid back to you in the way you are reborn. If a person if suffering in this life it may be because in there past life they committed a sin which is being paid back to them in this life. According to Hinduism, all life in the samsara (the cycle of death and rebirth) is born with suffering until we attain moksha which is the release from suffering.
If a Hindu practices their faith and follows their dharma (their duties) they are reborn in a higher stage of the samsara and are closer to reaching moksha. In their next life they would have a better karma which means they will have less suffering in their life.
Hindus also believe that there are Gods and Goddesses who are the avatars and help fight evil and overcome suffering by killing the wicked demons that exist to bring about the greater good. Avatars are descents from God in and animal or human form. Hindu Gods such as Shiva and Kali show that Hindus have an acceptance of destruction and chaos. In this case these forces are not evil; they are just part of life in the samsara.
Christianity believes in original sin, it is in human nature to sin and go against Gods will because of “The Fall”. Therefore we can not be fully blamed for our faults as it’s in our nature to have them.
People who are suffering should consider this but can also refer to the story of Job in the Old Testament. It explains how Job endured the suffering and kept his faith in God, and even though he questioned God for the suffering that was put upon him, he never went against God. Because of this Job ended up twice as rich due to his faith. People who are suffering should consider their suffering as a test from God, to test their endurance and faith in God; after the pain and suffering is over they will be rewarded.
Christians would also say that suffering is part of life; humans have to find the inner-good to make the world a better place. People who are suffering will come out as a better person than before, light and hope will come out of darkness and evil. Christians believe that when you die you go to heave where there is eternal happiness, so you may suffer now on earth but when you die, as long as you’re a good person, you will have eternal happiness.
Some Christians would also say that it is only through suffering that we learn to grow as human beings, because suffering is caused by ignorance, not knowing the right thing to do. The only way to learn is by doing wrong first. Doing wrong and suffering can lead to good. And when you suffer God suffers too, you are not going through it alone. Suffering can also be seen as punishment for your sins and would give you the chance to redeem yourself and make you a better person.
Overall, I would say that evil and suffering exist in the world as a part of life and it can only lead to good and happiness. Without evil there would be no good.
“When we die we go to heaven. There is no more suffering”
As a Hindu, I do not believe in heaven or hell and therefore would not agree with this statement. Hindus believe in the law of karma and the cycle of rebirth (samsara). The law of karma explains that the evil you do is paid back to you in the way you are reborn. When you die you do not go to heaven or hell, as they are not believed to exist. Hinduism believes in reincarnation. They believe that all living things have a soul (atman) which survives death and returns to live in a new body. If you are a good person in this life, you will have a good karma (puniya), and you will be born in the higher stage of ‘the hierarchy of samsara in your next life’. If you are an evil person (papa) in this life, in your next life you will be born at a lower stage of the samsara.
According to Hindus if you’re evil, when you die, you will have more suffering, because you have committed a crime which has to be paid back to you. All life in the samsara is born with suffering and dies with suffering, until we attain moksha. Which is also called ananda (pure joy), Samadhi (emptiness), this is the release from suffering and the liberation to join God (Brahman).
However, Christians believe that when we die we go to heaven if we have lived a morally good life on earth. But, if you have leaded a sinful life, you will be judged and will go to hell, where there is eternal suffering. Heaven is an end to all suffering. Some Christians say that you have to believe in Jesus and be a good Christian to go to heaven. Others would say that it is how you live your life that matters. Overall, Christians would say that suffering is only temporary on earth, after death you have eternal happiness in heaven. Christians would not totally agree with the statement because there will only be an end to the suffering when you die if you are a good person. This statement would not apply to all people.
In conclusion, Hinduism would not believe this statement to be true as they do not believe in heaven and hell but in reincarnation. Christians would say this is true but only to and extent, it would only apply to those who have leaded a good life.
