Zoroastrianism is a philosophy and a religion based on the teachings of Zarathustra. Zarathustra believe there was a god who created the universe and he, as well as other Zoroastrians, worshiped fire because he believed that fire purifies the soul. He is also the one who first asked, no verbatim, "If there is a good, righteous God, why is there so much pain and suffering in the world?" Correlating with this is the philosophy Zarathustra had of the origin of evil and suffering. He explained two spirits that were created by his creator god, Ahura Mazda, would battle on the earth. One spirit being good and the other was bad. Because of the wars between the two spirits, our suffering takes place as aftermath. A human's free will is another problem since this would allow us to take side to either the good spirit or the bad spirit; however there is an outcome to the alliance taken to either side of the two spirits at the end of the world. Zarathustra did believe that those who united with the good spirit will go to an afterlife that is similar to what we today would consider Heaven.
Now that we all understand more about Zarathustra and his teachings, and not just about the piece of musical composition he might have been named after (Also Sprach Zarathustra), this is what our group discussed:
There is alot of evil in the world. We concluded that majority of the evil and suffering in the world is rooted to greed. Jared brought up an interesting experiment on money and apes. Researchers taught apes the value of a currency, in which they taught the apes that they could purchase food for the currency. During this experiment, female apes resulted in prostitution for the money and theft occurred often. Another example of this is the suffering endured by restaurant and retail employees during the holidays. In most retail establishments, stores are open earlier and close later during the holiday season and employees not only work 40 or more hours a week, most of these retailers submit what is known as a blackout. A blackout is a time period in which employees of a company are expected to an open availability and cannot ask off during that time period, ever. Beginning this year, toy stores opened as early as 10:30pm Thanksgiving NIGHT, electronic stores opened at midnight and clothing stores continued to open at 3-5am for Black Friday shoppers. Most employees worked 12 hour days with a one hour break. Many retailers and restaurants are also open on Thanksgiving and Christmas day --the two major holidays that are sacred to majority of American citizens. These retailers and restaurants are cutting into the common man's time with his family and friends just to increase the profits of their business.
We also believed that God has a very hands-off approach on pain and suffering.
Questions:
Who was the god Zarathustra created? Ahura Mazda (zoom zoom lol)
Why do you think there is so much pain and suffering in the world? Do you believe that if there is a god(s) that they allow suffering for positive reasons later on?
Pain and suffering is derived from evil. We all know of Satan's story. He was the fallen angel, Lucifer, who betrayed God. In fact, Satan's name was not Satan until God had banished him from heaven. God then casted Satan and Satan's followers to rule Hell forever. When God first created the world, he made it to be good; however Adam and Eve were tempted and brought upon original sin. Because there is sin mixed in with us, we are mortals. We are no longer perfect. Since we are no longer perfect, evil can now hold a place in the world. When God discovered that Satan had tempted Adam and Eve, he was disappointed. And just like Satan, he exiled Adam and Eve from the Garden of Eden because they had betrayed him and they were now tainted by evil. Even though God had made them, he still loved them like a father would his own children. Even though it has been ages since that day, we are still making up for their mistake by doing righteous acts and proving our obedience to God. But also since that day, Satan has lurked in the shadows for the right moment to unleash his chaos.
ReplyDeleteGod did bestow to us free will, which is the most important tool for us to prove to him that we choose to follow Him and not Satan. God also guides us to the people that need our help the most. Sometimes we help them and don't even realize it. Other times we are sent to places for some reason and then by the gift of our free will, we do righteous acts to those who are in need or we choose to ignore them.
I believe that suffering does lead to a positive outcome even if it is a pandemic and it is effecting more people than us. Aren't we supposed to try and make a better tomorrow or better future? Not just for us but for all of us? All the disease and illness in this world has alot of attention from the medical field. Many deadly diseases and viruses have a vaccine now, like Polio, Mumps, Meningococcal, etc. Some have not been cured and they are trying to find one. One good thing about these vaccines is that in a few decades, we might not have to take it anymore. When was the last time you had to get a Bubonic Plague vaccine? Never. As for poverty and/or the American economy, I have many personal beliefs for that; however, I do believe we are supposed to help those in poverty. There will be a positive outcome for both. I don't know how and I don't know when, but it will happen eventually.
Here's an example of a positive outcome:
About 12 years ago, an 11 year old girl was shot in the head while she was playing outside her house. While examining the x-rays at the local hospital, doctors found that the bullet not only was extractable, but the bullet had also stopped before this large mass sitting atop the brain. That large mass turned out to be a tumor. If that little girl had not been shot in the head, by the time medical practices had naturally found it, it might have been too late. This is the story of an old friend of mine. It's always darkest before the dawn...every time, all the time.
My view on the discussion question:
ReplyDeleteAssuming there is a god, I believe that he sets everything on this earth for good. We may not enjoy our role we play in his story, but he is running the world and we must play our part. Of course there is evil too, and it does disrupt the good. However, if god is truly all powerful he does not let bad simply happen for the joy of seeing us suffer. He takes joy in seeing us grow in virtue. Why would he create every single atom on this earth just to see it perish? Well he wouldn't.
Questions for Passion reading:
ReplyDeleteFactual:
Socrates' tradition was compared to what religious figure?
(Jesus)PW p.35
Discussion:
Do you believe Socrates really corrupted the minds of the Athenians, or were those in power simply scared of what open thinking might do to their democracy?
I believe that there is pain and suffering in order to maintain a universal "balance." If there wasn't any bad, how would you appreciate or understand the good? I think the point is to all to try and achieve good and there is bad so that we can learn from the situations we find ourselves in.
ReplyDeleteFor next Class...
Factual--
Define Anatman: Buddhism teaching that there is no "self" rather, we exist, but the way we have come to understand our existence is seemingly from a singular point of view.
Discussion--
Do you think meditation/prayer reveals more emotional or physical results?
I believe reason there is so much pain and suffering is not because of God. I think that God set up the universe in the very beginning and now has a hands off approach concerning governing the worlds. For example, back in the day when an earthquake occures they thought the gods were angry at something. But now, we are able to know for a fact that these earthquakes are simply tectonic plates sliding into each otter and colliding. God didn't cause those people to die the forces of nature did.
ReplyDeleteNext class question:
1. Who was Socrates' student? (Plato)
2. Do you agree with Socrates that there is an answer to the basic questions about life?
The question as to why we have pain and suffering comes up all the time, especially if you are talking to someone who doubts that there is a God, because if there was one there wouldnt be any pain or suffering.I however believe that God has given us the choice to live however we want, which in return is going to create pain and suffering. I also believe that going through the worst will make you appreciate the best. I also believe that if the world didnt have pain and suddering than in a sense if would be a perfect world.. right? who wants to live in that?! I think that while pain and suffering may cause us to feel sad and going through things we maybe wouldnt want to experience, that in the end its there to teach us lessons and to help us figure out our purpose and what life it all about!
ReplyDeleteElizabeth Barnard
ReplyDeleteI think there is so much pain and suffering in the world because we have lack of knowledge about the origins or origin of many things and when we come together it is difficult to fit all the pieces together when they do not exactly fit right. We have to live and learn at the same time in order to progress as a human race. Maybe, one day all the pieces will fit and we can have the knowledge to decrease the high numbers of pain and suffering. I think it is good we are living in such a diverse world but at the same time it can cause just as must injustice as it can cause justice to use a human race.
Discussion Question: The book discusses how one way of avoiding evil is to introduce a second powerful being such as the devil and how this creates suffering between two twin spirits. Do you agree by introducing the twin spirit it is only a reflection in the form of a reaction to the first spirit? In what ways do you think battle could have been avoided?
Factual Question: True or False? Did the Zoroastrians make Persia one of the most powerful empires in the world? TRUE.