The Christian Experience of Suffering

The expectation and easy embrace of suffering is grounded in mimesis or imitation. In many ways, individual suffering is presented less as a problem and more as an opportunity to imitate Christ. Imitation was not only the way in which children learned, it was also the manner in which ethics were inculcated by art and literature. As for suffering, it was well established in the ancient world that Pidea or physical discipline was an effective means of instruction.