Re:Why Is Silicon Valley So Obsessed with the Virtue of Suff...
by pmoriarty on Tuesday March 26, 2019 @09:24PM
(#19497461)
"The practice of 'mortification of the flesh' is another example of Christians seeking out suffering, believing it will bring them closer to Christ."
Some Christians took it even further and sought out martyrdom to get closer to Christ or ensure themselves a place in heaven.
Even now, there are people (in Brazil, if I'm not mistaken) who crucify themselves for similar reasons.
As a ex-christian it seems distasteful for me to start quoting scripture, but I can if you demand it. There is ample scriptural evidence for Christians believing there is virtue in suffering, and ample historic evidence of Christians acting in accordance to this belief.
It's a pretty straight forward element of Christianity: Christ suffered, therefore you can bring yourself closer to him by doing the same.