WHY SUFFERING? – PHILOSOPHICAL & CHRISTIAN REFLECTIONS Since: 1^st May 2003 Last Update on 30.5.2003

“Seeing much, suffering much, and studying much are the three pillars of learning” Benjamin Disraeli

Why This Site? Why such a morbid subject? Of all matters under the sun that can be meditated on, passionate about, be championed by, preached on, debated about, researched on etc… Why indeed such a morbid subject? Well, the joy, beauty and pleasure of the world is to be enjoyed, beheld, shared and lingered on. Yes, such blessings can indeed become deep-seated, sustained and life long experience. But rarely! Only individuals who have learned the disciplines and master oneself can such blessings become inherent in one’s character. For most mortals, such blessings are at best, fleeting moments. Pain, disappointment, grief, torture, persecution, sickness and suffering on the other hand often linger and leave indelible damages, brokenness and destruction along the way. Ask anyone who have suffered. He or she would gladly trade blessings for the removal of suffering. Ever heard of the saying that “absence of pain is already pleasure” Really, the reason for the site is far beyond what I have just said. C. S. Lewis, the famous Oxford Professor says in his book, The Problem of Pain, that “God whispers in our pleasure but shouts in our pain; it is His megaphone to arouse a deaf world.” And so the REAL reason for this web site is, as the title has suggested, philosophical and Christian reflections of the subject of suffering with a view of understanding God’s dealings with men. (henceforth, by that I mean also women). As a person struggle through the subject of suffering, one invariably face squarely all other subjects on the meaning of life, truth, evil, heaven, hell, Satan and God. This site is then really a site about the BIG issues of human existence. It is about the meaning of life, purpose, final destination, eternity, truth, evil, heaven, hell, Satan and God. Now a little about myself. I am a civil engineer by training. My technical orientation heavily influences my mindset. I impose rigorous standards of evidence, proof and verification before I believe anything; especially religious matters. You will soon notice that style as you progress along the web site. Truth, theology and apologetics have always been close to my heart. And as I pursue these relentlessly to satisfy my longing, I decided to put my findings in writing. What better medium of writing can there be if not the web. In addition, there are three other reasons. Firstly, my findings can be shared those who are taking similar journeys. Secondly, these findings may become “serendipity” to someone out there in the whole wide world who may chance upon the discovery of the story of Jesus Christ. Thirdly, these writing are to keep me honest to my own convictions. It is here that I will subject my own beliefs to intense examinations. “The man who does not do his own thinking is a slave, and is a traitor to himself and to his fellowmen.” Robert Ingersoll, “The Liberty of Man, Woman and Child” 1877 “Come with me and let us reason together.” (Isaiah 1:18) [Isaiah is the 23^rd Book of the Old Testament of the Bible]