double standards

I can't sleep, so I'm going to pose a question.  A question that only 2 or 3 people will respond to, but 2 or 3 people with whom I have not spoken to or seen in ages.  Anyhow, here's the question or observation:

We, as a society, seem to have a double standard when it comes to justifiably boasting/marketing our accomplishments, why do you think that is?  For example, we're allowed to boast/pride ourselves for achieving scholastic endeavours or celebrating a great job.  However, we are categorically labelled if we boast about physical appearance, money, inherent talents, etc.  Since, we are all composed of intrinsic and extrinsic facets that comprise our identity, why then the double standard? 

I find it utterly laughable....

purpose of suffering

I  have often questioned why God created suffering.  The question is often posed in some permutation of the form: if God is just then why is there suffering on earth? 

In my ignorance I failed to recognize the answer that was infront of me all along: gratitude.  The purpose of suffering is gratitude.  As in my case, we tend to look at things from a very ignorant perspective: only focusing on the narrow self-centered picture without taking a look from afar.

I almost lost my eye yesterday....and I suppose that is what triggered my train of thought.  While I was overwhelmed with the stunning pain of being speared in the eye by a chopstick; I was also presented with the gratitude of retaining my eye, eye sight, and all that jazz.  Without pain I would not realize what it is that I have.  And I believe that is why life, in general, is predominantly filled with pain, sorrow, hardship, etc. 

Too often, especially in today's entitled world, we are left with the feeling of wanting more: looking to tomorrow without appreciating today and its blessings, however, minute.  We aspire to maintain the status quo, we push and shove our way to the top, we become inhumane in our attempt to attain glory in whatever manifesation (i.e. $, power, sex, image, popularity, etc.). 

But it is in this striking revelation that I understand a quote from scripture that has been ringing in my head far too long misunderstood:

"7To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. 8Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. 9But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. 10That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong."

Life is meant to be pain-filled to the extent that you are able to appreciate the times when pain is not present.  But more than that, life is pain-filled to the extent that you are able to appreciate pain for pain's sake when you are experiencing it.  Interestingly, it is only by virtue of pain that we appreciate the pleasant.  And to prove the point, how often do we take our health and quality of life for granted, only to realize the gift bestowed upon us in times of failing health? 

An interesting thought:

God is defined as all-knowing and all-powerful.

I argued before that God was NOT responsible for evil nor the cause of evil in spite of knowing everything, because He knows all combinations and permutations of outcomes without necessarily being the source of said evil. 

But here's the twist: 

• God thinks us into existence (i.e. He brought us into existence via His thought and ultimately His Will).

With this commonly accepted qualification...here's the question:

If God knows all, which includes knowing whether or not an individual WILL EVER believe in Him (i.e. Jesus Christ) in order to inherit everlasting life, and God thinks non-believers into existence...would it not be better for God to NEVER have conceived of non-believers instead of knowingly thinking them into existence, which will inevitably lead to damnation? 

In other words, if I knew person X (i.e. a person made in my image) would never achieve life's ultimate goal (i.e. God's Kingdom), and my thoughts were responsible for this person's existence.  It would be better for me to not think of this individual at all, thereby thwarting that person's existence and inevitable damnation.  I say "inevitable damnation" because as stated above God knows all. 

I know there's the response of "freedom of will", but it does NOT address the question WHY.  Why would God knowingly create people that He knows will NOT believe and experience eternal suffering. 

Freedom of will does NOT answer this question.  I mean could a non-believer ever convert without God's knowledge?  Of course not....It is all known.  Furthermore, arguing that freedom of choice gives us the option, and thus possibly alters what God already knows about person X is merely stating that God is NOT all-knowing.

Any thoughts? 

I found this to be an interesting question for Christians to ponder:

Christians are often heard giving the advice "have faith" when dealing with life's enigmatic questions (i.e. God's will, purpose of life, life's struggles, cruelty, injustic, etc.).  But I ask you, what happens when there is no more faith on which to rely?  In other words, when an individual reaches the end of his/her rope and feels completely hopeless and faithless what advice and ultimately comfort can a Christian, in terms of Christian doctrine, offer this individual?  Or when a Christian him/herself becomes so bombarded with hardships that he/she loses faith - can we say "have faith"? 

I qualify: in terms of Christian doctrine, b/c we are told to look beyond this world...to the next (i.e. heaven).  But if an individual truly has nothing (i.e. a literal beggar), feels depressed, hopeless, to make it simple this individual has nothing but his last remaining bit of health and his painfilled life.  How do you console this individual?  how do you reach this individual?  b/c ultimately, my point is, according to Christianity, it is only by faith and faith alone that humanity reaches heaven, but if an individual feels so disparaged that he/she has no more faith or hope etc...how then do you give them hope/faith?  Especially, when empirical evidence proves that you can only help an individual who wants to be helped, which in this case is to instill faith.

I was recently pondering this question when I realized that Christians presume the existence of an abundant and infinite supply/pool of "faith/hope" within each individual from which to tap.  But if that pool is not replenished, it inevitably, as with pools of water, dissapates and ceases to exist; upon which no amount of tapping can help. 

The reason I bring this question up is b/c as Christians people are told to spread the word, but if they don't address underlying issues or catalysts that drive people to rely or look elsewhere for help (i.e. money, idols, etc.) than how are they to effectively enlighten/save souls?   Because fact of the matter is the cliches is true: desperate times calls for desperate measures...and when an individual is desperate he/she will begin to believe and look for things (i.e. horoscopes, witchcraft, etc.) that will bring some form, however minute or irrational it may seem, of hope and/or happiness.