In last couple of years I have contemplated a lot on the existence of GOD. I have tried to read a bit on it. Though the material available is so overwhelming that one has to be a dedicated theologists to actually go thorough most of it. So let me put a caveat at the beginning that these thoughts are based on own philosophy which I have developed over the years and in no manner I consider myself an expert in it.
First let me say that I have deep regard for religious literature but thats not true for religion itself. I think that literature was written in a particular time with particular ideas in mind and hence I see it more as a historical material than religious one.
One the other hand religion in my eyes, (any religion) has killed more people than it has saved. From the early struggles Hinduism and Buddhism to Rise of Christianity in Rome to Expansion of Islamic world to Spanish Inquisition, we find immense atrocities and humans behaving in most inhuman way in the name of religion. Hence I dislike any kind of organised religion.
Closest any religion comes to my thoughts on it is, 'Buddhism' and that is because like me even the Great Siddhartha (I am using his name instead of Gautama or Buddha because I want to think of him as a fantastic historical character, who was living breathing human being) had distrust in existence of GOD.
Its very easy to preach in the name of GOD, a lot of people have done that. Some even went ahead and told the world that either they had either seen GOD or they were given some kind of special gift to be that one and only Prophet that world should believe in. Siddhartha did none of that, he questioned GOD's existence and based his prophecy or philosophy on real human grounds.
But I still dislike the existence of Buddhism as a religion, I would rather see Sidhartha as a great philosopher in the mould of Socrates or Russell.
Now I am a big admirer of Buddha but unlike him my ways of conquering this life's pains and sadness comes from fighting inside the system. I find his idea of denouncing desires a bit escapist. I would rather have desires and try to achieve them. May be I still have to learn a lot about life, maybe one day I would admire Buddha more.
But in this blog I just want to cover my thoughts on existence of GOD.
Now if we look at religions, I think there are two kinds.
One who make GOD that Supreme being, which is beyond question. This GOD governs everything. This GOD treats all if us with same compassion and love. This GOD is omnipresent and omnipotent. These are mostly monotheistic western religions.
Second comes where GOD can be questioned, some of them even do despicable things. Humans can rise against them and if we are good enough we can beat them. Ultimately we can become GOD ourselves. This is more Hinduistic idea. Hinduism and its millions of tributaries have this notion.
In my eyes the problem with the second kind of GOD is that they are too human to be GODs. They could be some special characters who transcend history. In this other problem is of Faith. Faith doesn't play an important role. Only our idea of its existence.
The problem with the first kind of GOD is very simple. If the GOD is equal to all of us why is GOD is unfair to at least half of the humanity. If this GOD existed how come he (she/it) is sitting silent in when humans are killing other human beings, how come he (she/it) can see such cruelty on display as in Somalia right now. How come this GOD can create Hell? Where is he (she/it), when I need it? I can never believe in such a GOD.
I can never believe in any GOD which sits on its throne in heaven and tries to govern the world. I would rather consider a striving human as my GOD.
I really believe that the existence of GOD stems from our FEAR. We fear something, maybe its afterlife, maybe its fear of unknown, maybe its the omnipresence and we would go to hell if we do something wrong. Most people do religious things for the afterlife, isn't that weird.
But anything that rises from such a fear can never be a good thing. Our belief in GOD should rise not from fear but from love and compassion. But I have yet to meet a rational individual who believes in GOD because of that.
Here this fear makes Pundits, Maulvis and Church officials important. Organised religion has exploited such fears and hence have exploited humanity.
So if GOD exists it has to show me some sign, sign which tells me that he (she/it) exists. Cum-on GOD show me some compassion, I need you in this time of real need.
Am I praying in time of need?, am I just challenging GOD? or am I being selfish like a lot of other humans & asking it to show itself in my time of need? I myself can't answer this question. But like Siddhartha, I do question GOD's existence.
One thing that we should do is to never leave Scientific thought. Its the most important thought. Pursue of Science to assuage poverty, ignorance and sickness is the true form of praying.
So what should we do, I think all we should do is to treat each human that comes into our contact with honesty and respect. We should be compassionate to others. Sadly I believe that the world still is not literate enough or intelligent enough to do that and our aim should be to get there. I really believe that compassion is the highest form of intelligence because it requires to shed our thoughts and personality and try to put ourselves in someone else's shoes. It requires us to imagine what the other feels and once we achieve that we wouldn't be bad to anyone.
I think we can rise and create a better world ourselves.
And that is not an easy task......
Funnier Side of life: I have put Me instead the usual word because this is too close to my present circumstance:
I found myself in serious trouble. My business has gone bust and I am in dire financial straits. I was so desperate that I decided to ask God for help. I began to pray..."God, please help me. I've lost my business and if I don't get some money, I'm going to lose my house as well. Please let me win the Lotto."
Lotto night comes, and somebody else wins it. I again pray..."God, please let me win the Lotto! I've lost my business, my house and I'm going to loose my car as well."
Lotto night comes and I still had no luck. Once again, I prayed..."My God, why have You forsaken me? I've lost my business, my house, and my car. I am starving. I don't often ask You for help, and I have always been a good to You and other people. PLEASE let me win the Lotto just this one time so I can get my life back in order."
Suddenly there is a blinding flash of light as the heavens open. I was overwhelmed by the Voice of God Himself..."Dude, work with Me on this... Buy a ticket"
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