There are two main types of suffering - Moral (man made) and Non-moral (Natural)
Moral - rape, murder, terrorism, theft, poverty
Non-moral - earthquakes, volcanoes, floods, hurricanes

There is also spiritual suffering (where suffering challenges belief - Why does God allow suffering? God seems powerless to stop the suffering.) and emotional suffering (effect of seeing people suffering, loss of loved ones, the effects of having nowhere to live).

• Suffering can also help us realise our mistakes and in this way we may become better people.
  
• Suffering seems to be a routine part of human life and many people would say that it is only through suffering that people can learn to grow as human beings.
  
• In a world where there is no suffering there is nothing to struggle against and nothing to strive for.
  
• If you do not know what it is like to be ill, starving or enslaved then such people feel it is not possible to fully understand or appreciate what it is like to be healthy, well fed or free.
  
• Suffering is a test of your faith - helps make your faith stronger

Christianity, also teach that there can also be a spiritual value in suffering which helps them become better people.

Christians maintain that when they suffer they are sharing in Jesus' suffering for the sins of the whole world (Colossians 1:24)
Jesus himself suffered, Christians believe that God understands human suffering and offers comfort and strength in times of suffering.

Christians also believe that in life after death there will be no suffering as, "God will wipe away all tears from their eyes. There will be no more death, no more grief or crying or pain…" (Revelation 21:3-4).

The Christian response to suffering is based on Jesus' example and teaching and on the idea that everyone in the world is part of the body of Christ (Ephesians 4:1-16) and that whatever people do for another person they are doing for Jesus himself (Matthew 25:40).

Jesus helped those who were suffering from emotional and physical illness, and he told his followers to 'Love God and your neighbour as yourself' (Matthew 22:34-40).

He also told a parable (the parable of the sheep and the goats - Matthew 25:31-46) which clearly states what his followers should do for those who are in need - they should feed the hungry, give a drink to the thirsty, visit the sick and those in prison and clothe the naked.

In the story of Lazarus and the rich man, Lazarus suffers on earth but is rewarded when his dies as he goes to heaven, the rich man is punished for all his sins.

You should make reference to three of the following: disasters, floods, hurricanes, droughts, earthquakes, war, murder, rape, hunger, cancer, child abuse, homelessness, crime, disease.

6 marks - excellent answer with very good, clear reference to three ideas. For full marks you MUST describe how people suffer in each case you mention.

(b) Explain why there is suffering in the world, according to the
religion(s) you have studied. (9 marks)

General comments - people are unhappy with life e.g. their job or an unhappy marriage; craving results in suffering; we live in a selfish world where people do not care for others; we no longer feel we have a moral duty to help others e.g. poor people, so suffering continues to exist; people have free will and choose to do wrong therefore causing suffering to others; people can be evil and do evil things e.g. murder; people do not obey the law and cause suffering e.g. drink driving; there is injustice and a lack of compassion; people no longer have faith in God, so have no idea of right and wrong.

Christianity - the story of Adam and Eve and their disobedience in the garden; idea of free will; life on earth is a period of testing; Jesus' death - his atonement for the sins of the people; through Jesus' death people should no longer be affected by evil and suffering; suffering is overcome by Resurrection; the world suffers but there is reconciliation with God.
Romans 5:6-8 - "It was while we were still sinners that Christ died for us".
Romans 8:18-21 - "I consider that what we suffer at this present time cannot be compared at all with the glory that is going to be revealed to us".

Islam - Allah gave Adam the world to look after, but gave him free will, so humans can sin; Ibis disobeyed Allah and was given the job of testing human faith; faith is tested; in Islam justice is important, but suffering is caused by injustice and a lack of compassion, so Muslims have to relieve suffering through e.g. Zakah; Ramadan is good because through it Muslims understand suffering, which gives impetus to relieving it - Surah 2:177 mentions giving wealth away to orphans, to the needy etc.
People have to find their own answers. Surah 2:155-6 says that people will be tested, but they have to persevere and realise that Allah is important to them. Muslims believe they are tempted to turn away from Allah, but they resist through prayer and the reading of the Qur'an.

8-9 marks - an excellent, fully developed answer where a good attempt has been made to link the importance of beliefs with religious teaching and religious ideas, and where a range of ideas have been explored in depth.

(c) "Any suffering is only what we deserve."
How far do you agree?Show that you have thought about different points of view and give reasons to support your answer. Your arguments should refer to religious teachings and beliefs. (5 marks)

E.g. one argument for:

'I agree with the statement because people can cause their own suffering. People who smoke can die of cancer. People who drink heavily can die of cirrhosis of the liver. However, suffering is not always deserved. People in Third World countries who die of hunger do not deserve to suffer because it is not their fault that they have so little food. Jesus predicted that the world in the future would suffer, so suffering should be expected, but not always deserved. Adam and Eve were disobedient to God in the garden and so they deserved to suffer…'

5 marks - excellent well balanced arguments are put forward with very sound reasoning and
good reference is made to religious teaching or religious ideas.