The fundamental role of religion is to help us understand why there is suffering

"What We Gain From Pain | Hidden Brain Media" 

We've all heard the saying, "What doesn't kill you makes you stronger." But is there any truth to this idea? This week, we explore the concept of post-traumatic growth with psychologist Eranda Jayawickreme. He finds that suffering can have benefits — but not necessarily the ones we expect. 

"The fundamental role of religion is to help us understand why there is suffering and trauma in the world. Why do people that we love get sick and leave us at some point. Why do we suffer unavoidable pain, undeserved suffering. These are fundamental existential questions that we can't immediately answer rationally."

"In the Buddhist tradition, there is this idea that it's important to understand that life is fundamentally about suffering. And once you accept that core truth about life, it opens up the possibility for you to obtain specific virtues like compassion that would enable you to lead a good life. Similarly, in the Christian tradition, one lesson that suffering can provide us is that we are vulnerable creatures; that we need other people, that were fundamentally interdependent, and that inside is a valuable lesson that suffering can teach you."