Pulse of the World on Pain and Suffering

Watch the global perspective on pain and suffering.

Questions for Discussion and Personal Reflection

  1. Did you identify with anyone’s expressed views in the film? If so, who and what resonated with you?
  2. Was it surprising to learn that the top question people would ask God is, “Why is there pain and suffering in the world?” What would be some of the questions you’d ask God?

Pain, pain's a part of life. You know, it's, it leaves a sour taste in your mouth. It's— you just have to learn from it.
I think some people believe it's a test of your faith, but if you don't have a faith to believe in, it kind of makes you wonder why, why is there suffering in this world, and famine, and death? That sort of thing.

It was a reason why he took them. Uh, maybe he needed some angels up there to protect, protect— to help him in the fight against the devil.

A baby is a beautiful, wonderful thing. Why doesn't he want me to have this?

I think that bad things are just the way that you see them. I think God's in everything we do.

I don't think God does these things to people. I think he has a way of getting us through it.

Why would anybody want to create people who do horrible things to each other each and every day? It doesn't make any sense.

People suffer because sometimes they put themselves into it. And others, just, it just happens to them.

When my grandma died— she died of cancer, like, six years ago— and I remember, like, when she was, like, a few days before she passed away, she was like, No one would ever want to, no one would ever want to inflict this pain.

Some of the best lessons I've learned in life and the best, um, feelings in my heart came from very painful times.

I don't think God's sitting there and saying, "These people are hurting, and maybe I should help them," or... or "I'm gonna pray to this, you know, being, and he's gonna save me." I don't think that happens. Um, I think he's just there. I guess.

I'm constantly struggling— I suppose I'll be brutally honest— with, uh, suicidal ideation, and I find it very miserable, often— despite the beauty of the world— to be made conscious in this form.

Why? Why, why is there pain? Why was, why were the little kids shot the other day?

I wanna know why this happened, but... he's showing me that he's here with me, so... I suppose the answers will come. It's just... I'm going through a journey right now that's painful.