An Analysis of the Approach of Facing Suffering in Persian Textbooks of Junior High Schools

The purpose of the present study was to analyze of the approach of facing suffering in persian textbooks of junior high school years (compiled in 2019-2020) which was addressed using the method of qualitative content analysis. For this purpose, the concept of suffering in these book was first analyzed. The findings showed that the concept of suffering in these books can be studied in five categories; these categories are: the nature (transience, purposefulness and intermingling of suffering and happiness), purpose (growth and construction), types (inevitable and escapable), factors of suffering (individual and social) and ways to wipe out suffering. By analyzing each of the characteristics, it was found that the nature of suffering portrayed in these books is a realistic and positive in a way that one has to deal with some of these sufferings such as social injustices and defense of the homeland, moreover the suffering resulting from such cases from should vanish. However, one must always keep in mind that some of these suffering cannot escaped from or capable of standing against but the essence of suffering is for the growth and exaltation of man, and in such circumstances, by patience, self-awareness, and consolation before the pleasure of God one can expands the scope of existence. Such is an evolutionary approach to the suffering.