The existence of a supreme being is an issue that till the end of time will keep generating an unending controversy among different races and people. Though I’ve got no intention to delve into that, I can only advise that it’s smarter to live and assume that a God exists somewhere, so as not to die and shockingly discover that He truly does. And if perhaps he truly doesn’t exist, shouldn’t your gentle soul just rest in peace like family, friends, and enemies repeatedly prayed, while you speechlessly watch from another world.
Those of us who agree and confess to believe in the existence of God also acknowledge that He’s so loving, caring, and perfect; reason that He’s made provision for all that man needs to govern over the entire planet earth amongst other reasons.
Though some are too religious to ever nurse the thought that God created pain, but before you rebuke me or the devil that isnt anywhere in me, think about those critical times, when you or someone dear to you went through pains and excruciating experiences that doesn’t match the traditional belief of a good and loving God, though we don’t ventilate it. We just want to think that probably He must have goofed in this area. If not. Why did God create pain? What was the pain mechanism suppose to achieve? This has been my major source of headache from time and I think the quest to know and understand might just be a lifelong assignment.
Great philosophers have posed questions like ‘why hadn’t God designed a nervous system that protect us without the unpleasant aspect of pain. So many conflicting believes even amongst people of faith. Some are of the opinion that man must have stepped out of God’s will and that God uses circumstances to bring us back to normalcy.
The reason why we cherish pleasure is because of the reality of pain. So from a perspective, pain is essential to normal life. Although to one suffering from cancer and the miserable pain of chemotherapy, pain to such is far greater than misery. But to anyone with a reasonable health, pain is a communicator that protects.
Ok let’s take the oldest recorded and the most dreaded disease, Hansen’s disease-(leprosy) for instance. It’s the only one I can think of for now and it’s vital for this discuss. Leprosy is a disease of the nervous system. The bacteria practically attacks the pain cells of the skin, peripheral nerves in the hands, feets, and mucous membranes of the nose, throat, and eyes to numbness.
If we fear disease because of the pain and misery it brings, then what is so horrible about diseases that cost no pain? A woman whose infant was suffering from “congenital indifference” told a horrifying story of how she heard her child cooing and laughing loud all alone as if she’s discovered something new. Only for her to amazingly discover that her daughter had bitten off the tip of her fingers with her newly grown four teeth and was playing in the blood, making patterns with the drips. Could pain be created as a quality that saves us from destruction?
We have at certain points made God lesser than he is over the issue of pain and suffering ignoring that even man has brought more pain to man. Many of the things we derive satisfaction from we don’t complain or lament over. Things such as our ability to perceive, eat and drink, pleasure derived from scratching when the skin hitches and also the wild fire pleasure of orgasm.
Lanre Olagunju is a regular contributor on www.omojuwa.com
He blogs @www.larigold.blogspot.com.
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