The god delusion of Richard Dawkins

Recently, I happened to watch a documentary film named "The root of all evil?(The god delusion)" by Richard Dawkins which provoked me to do some criticism on his views of God. I consider myself agnostic because of a fact that I couldn't completely agree with idea of evolution. It is hard to believe that everything we see around are created from some random events. I partially agree with Richard Dawkins for the fact that the today's concept of religion is somehow an evil. Richard Dawkins is actually talking a lot about what a religion has done to our society, but I looked into what a religion could have done to our society. I'm still not sure whether he has thought about what could have happened if there were no religions in this world. Let me take an example from your documentary itself. The example of the kid who accept what he is taught without logical reasoning. Even if we say that we are matured and smart enough to make logical decisions, there is an incompleteness in our knowledge and wisdom. You, me and most of our people might be generous enough to accept the truth that we are somehow ignorant and sometimes, we make illogical decisions. Compared to the ultimate knowledge, we are still ignorant like a child. Religion was trying to make some sense over the chaos of the world, by controlling the children(us). As these controls are implemented by humans, it might tend to have some human philosophies and views(issue of homosexuality can be taken as an example).

In this world, people are different. They have different IQ, attitude, behavior and dreams, but every one of us are supposed to be fair to the one another. We are supposed to have some rules to follow, some order to maintain. The ultimate aim of religions must be something like this. Richard Dawkins were trying too hard to find evidence from religious books. I guarantee you that you won't find any, because there is a possibility that there are much higher intentions for religions in this world. Actually, I want to ask a very simple question. Who are you afraid of the most? If I could live a life with my selfishness and ego, I am pretty sure that I wouldn't be caring anyone else in this world for sure. Religion was just a tool to bring a belief that we are not beyond everything. In my life, I wouldn't do a lot of things because of my belief of self-righteousness. I have faced some criticisms from my surroundings, but I believe that I've almost survived them and not everyone in this world can be like me. There is a huge possibility that my belief of 'self-righteousness' is simply a stupid idea. I might be hurting a lot of people which can't be a good thing. Sometimes, it is easier to hide truth than to explain the complex philosophies and teach what is fair and what is not fair. I support Richard Dawkins, but I couldn't unless all the people in this world start to act fair and logical.. That is why we need to trust in faith.

I'm a hindu by birth. I know hinduism better than any other religion. I haven't purposefully learned any books regarding Hinduism, but I had to hear them as my family is strictly religious. I do not oppose them, but I wish if they were extracting the essence rather than the story. I used to think about the origin of the religion. If I was born in a prehistoric period where there is no concept of god, there is a possibility that I could purposefully introduce the concept of god for a good purpose, which is not true though. I can live with that lie and my followers might forget the reality and slip into a made up story. But, my intention was good and genuine, which is not a bad thing so does the religions of our world. In my land, there were untouchability and many other rituals and beliefs. But, even the man who has learned this thing would accept the fact that those beliefs were implemented by the rulers of the countries.People are blind when it comes to god, so it is very simple to implement such rules. The beliefs and ideas have changed lately and at the present condition, I wouldn't say that they are healthy. The interesting thing is that those books in Hinduism would certainly outsmart my ideas of a religion. I mean, if I had to make up a story of my own to make a belief in people, I would never think of a god, who would loose his temper and do some unfair violence. There is a character called 'karna', who has lived a perfect life but had to suffer hard in his life. These are more like some puzzles. I might see people with the qualities of 'karna' and 'krishna' in my life and I believe that those writings were an almost failed attempt to implement a very vast, complex idea. Quite recently, I happened to see a report of a man,who is the best in teaching hinduism, has told that none of the events were happened in real. People are criticizing him and I believe that he is right!

Let me consider my own experience in my life. For the entire time, I tried to convince myself that I'm atheist, but at a moment, I was quite surprised to see an astrologer's note(printed material). I saw 3 facts of my life, which I thought no one other than me could know. I couldn't write it off as a coincidence for any reason. Sometimes, I feel like the logic of 'God' is not known to any human in this world and in some other time, I believe that there could be a scientific base for it. Till that time, I am going to stay agnostic. I am confused for sure. Richard Dawkins said that there were no evidence of god, but our inability to prove the existence of something doesn't mean that it is not there. It is possible that I would change my views about god in my future, but it is less probable that I would completely deny god's existence.

May be Richard Dawkins was right, but I'm still a man who believe that 'No one at his sane mind would think of being an atheist'. I saw the frustration when he is debating to people who accepts god. I admire the way you handled a muslim who consider women different from men(about wearing clothes).But, do you really think that they would change their mind and introduce equality just by your words? What we call 'wrong' is not 'wrong' in everywhere in this world.  I admire the idea that everybody have the right to choose his own religion, which I have said to some people in my life. You are never wrong, but sometimes, it is not all about what is wrong or what is right. It is rather a conflict between your 'right' and my 'right'.

I know, I am not a professional in this subject but it doesn't mean that I couldn't think about it. May be, you can find better justifications regarding this subject from others.

Sincerely,

Raghu

A mission to save the earth!!

There is a usual sequence in many hollywood movies. World will face a huge destruction (probably because of ourselves) and a hero rise from nowhere to save the world with his bare hands and intelligence! I watched the movie 2012 when it was on focus for a while but, the essence of that movie was also the same. I wonder, every single man in this world is expecting the end of the world some day. Not just the movies, our religions are also expecting the same! I'm expecting the same someday!! Yes, the world is going to end one day!! I've found a reason too. 'Our intelligence'!!!

I remember one fact which I have heard in my childhood "If we are creating a movie of 60 minutes with all the most important things happened on earth, humans own the last 3-4 seconds". If we compare the age of earth with that of the age of human existence, we lived only a very few years on earth(so far). Let's take the example of that movie, in 3-4 seconds, we made many animals disappear, we made most of our rain forests disappear, we built many buildings and increased the nature's average temperature, we drilled the earth and the list of achievements goes on. We almost changed the face of earth in comparatively very short time (milliseconds in comparison to earth's life). Please don't get bored of hearing the same news from the world around. I know, all of us are aware of what I'm talking and I need not waste my time in explaining this section.

What is our mistake? Mistake is not ours, it's our creator who almost made us responsible for the life of about 5 million species( it is estimated that the total number of animals in our planet comes to around 5 to 30 millions. Lets assume that it is about 5 million). Risking the life of about 5 million species just for the domination of 1 species seems to be insane. We got civilized and we built our own world by destroying the most beautiful 'beauty of randomness', the nature. We are considered as the brainiest animals on earth and we did all these insane activities. No one can skip from the responsibility of protecting the nature. I remember a dialog in the movie "The matrix" which explains that humans are not considered as mammals and that too by a program programmed by machines. We do not maintain a good ecological balance with the environment. We are getting outnumbered and we are exploiting as deep as we could. All that we are capable of doing is to dig our own (future generation's) grave by what the intelligent people call 'development'! What am I doing now? I'm sitting on a plastic chair (which won't destroy even after 1000 years) with a laptop(most of the components are going to be called as electronic waste in the near future) on a wooden table, that is made by destruction of forest wood!I'm also responsible for what I'm doing ! What shall I do? I'm also a member of 'intelligently insane creature's group' of the earth!!

I've seen people who advice everyone to reduce using fossil fuels. In my view, it is already time to 'stop' than 'reduce'. It is heard that fossil fuels are created by a lengthy processes of millions of years by our earth and certainly, no man had lived a million year on earth. We can't refuel it and our future generations are going to suffer for it. But, quite recently, I saw a comment in a facebook group which says that our oceans are going to get fished-off in 2048. I showed the comment to one of my friends and he replied like this " Why should I bother? I will get too old by 2048 and by that time our scientists will invent tablets instead of food". I do not believe that the existence of the entire world is for human domination and I do not have much trust in scientists as they can always invent some worse inventions! Today's meaning for 'life' almost resembles 'process of enjoyment' and our generations will follow us which makes things worse. We are well aware of what we are doing but, who is responsible? Who really care what we did? Who really enjoy what we did? Just ourselves!!

  

This topic has been inspiring me a lot for a long long time as I found a very simple solution for all the problems that can ever happen on earth. Get uncivilized(there is no spelling mistakes in this expression)!! Get back to the life of 'cave man' and try to maintain sense of the nature by making our acts sensible! I got really inspired when I watched the movie "In to the wild" in which a man who tried to lead a life in a jungle and ended up in the jungle itself because of accidental consumption of forest plant. It was a sad ending but, the nature has to maintain its balance. What we have invented or achieved or exploited will become meaningless if we can't even maintain the place where we are living. And just as the hollywood movies, there will be a hero to save and it need not always be just a hero it could be achieved by the combined effort of 6 billion heroes also!! 

NB: I do not have an idea of what I've written but, this topic is always relevant!!

Sincerely,

Raghu

When astrology defines your destiny...

Everybody is curious to know about the future! Social networking sites are fed up with applications for astrology and there are sites which can predict your time and day of your death! I do not know what they really mean by these sites. There are better businesses to be taken care about! I personally, hate astrology and that doesn’t mean that astrology is wrong. A year ago, I was really surprised by the three facts (damn true facts) of my life which is revealed by astrology (that too in a printed material). That single incident changed the way I look into astrologers! Really, they are dangerous! It made me feel that I’m not in control of myself and what is my role if the purpose of my life is pre-determined? What if they can dig out the hidden secrets in me? That is really dangerous because everybody is different from what they show in their life (A mask of what I am)!

I remember a real-life joke about the same subject. I and two of my close friends were roaming around in the town. We saw an astrologer with a parrot sitting in the footpath. One of my friends is an activist of the communist party and with a curious naughty intention; he went to the astrologer to know his future. Even he recorded what the astrologer was saying about him! I think, he never believed in any of the facts he heard but, he got so excited when he heard that he will get married at the age of 21 or 23! I think, that astrologer is just like an advertisement! That astrologer and advertisements are gripping on the most sentimental things in our lives! At last, the astrologer turned to me and asked “May I tell your future?” and I replied “No. I may get scared of my future.” I still do not know what made me say that but, it makes a lot of sense here! I know exactly what that astrologer was doing out there! He talks all the possible things which may happen in our lives and some of them may come true.

It feels like every human in this world is curious about their future. I do not know how many fictional stories are there in this world about the future of the world. The weirdest thing is that most of them are representations of world destruction! I think, world destruction is some sort of nightmare for the entire human beings and most of them are the result of our own inventions or the result of our activities! So ultimately, we believe that we are supposed to receive what we deserve by our activities! What is the point in believing astrologers if I stop doing what I’m supposed to do? I can think about suicide even if our astrologer predicts that I will survive 84 years on earth!

I’ve seen people who have left their life to fate. Whatever happens in their life is justified by the name of fate! I do not like that idea even if it is a truth. If I can’t change anything in my life, why should I have a brain? Robots can do better! I can dream of being the president of India and the others have the same right to dream the same! Unfortunately, the seat available is just one! No one should stop dreaming but remember that our president may also have the same zodiac sign as mine and the astrology report can also be the same!! In my view, life is just a hope that we will receive what we deserve and definition of the word ‘deserve’ depends on the people around you!

At the same time, there is a positive fact about astrology! When I’m disappointed or at chaos, an astrologer can easily motivate me by saying “Never mind, one day you are going to be the president of India”. Sometimes, it can be a bridge from death to life! Why should I care about whether it is right or wrong if it can do something good? How can I categorize such things? I don’t know but, I still believe in one thing “Astrologers cannot change my fate as I got a brain to define my destiny!”



Sincerely,

Raghu

Why should I believe in god?

I do not know why but, many people define me as a communist whenever I start speaking about god!! So, I think it is time to redefine god for the second time in this blog. I am a person born in a Brahmin family who never used to visit temples or do any rituals which are supposed to do by our community. Today, some people define a communist as a person who does not believe in god! I do not know much but, basically I do not like to hear that I am a communist just because I externally look like an atheist! I consider myself as agnostic instead! Yes, I really do not know whether a god exists or not.

Why do I look like an atheist? I look like an atheist because; I really hate to do meaningless activities. If I am going to a temple, I feel so artificial in the way I behave. I will worship as others are doing it there. I always used to feel that I never worshiped my god with my true heart! So, if a god really exists, it will be the hardest thing for him to accept. I have a lot of examples for people who used to do many meaningless things. I have seen a person who used to be a follower of god on his birthdays and leads an atheistic life afterwards. I really hate this way of worship! I am not going to a temple just to make my family or my native people aware that I am a follower of god! I am misguiding them but, I really do not like to do it. Today, I believe in one thing, today’s concept of religion is bundled with misguidance and business! The main problem of today’s religious beliefs is a fact that it is not properly described or derived so that the true meaning of religions are still unaware to its followers!!

Why there are religions in this world? Consider the condition before religions in this world! If I kill someone and nobody is aware that I am the culprit then, I will not be afraid of the consequences! If someone says that god is going to punish me for what I’ve done. I will get afraid of the consequences from god so that I will be a little kind in the way I am. It is really easy to be a bad man in this world but, religions have successfully controlled people to several extend!! Today, we can feel the change! Today, religious beliefs are getting weaker and weaker so that people in this world are forgetting many important facts like humanity, kindness etc. My father always used to talk about lessons from religious stories but, how many of our people are aware of the lessons from those stories? Today, TV and films have a great influence in people but, in olden times, it was stories which influenced people. So, the best way to influence and force people to lead a successful and meaningful life is through these stories. Even today, grand mothers used to narrate stories and morals to small children just because it is the best way to reach the minds of the people. I know a little about Hinduism as I am a Hindu. So, my father used to say that “you can read mahabharatha just as an action thriller or you can read it by learning its lessons or you can consider it as a puzzle where it includes a lot of wisdom, yoga and many things which are meant to motivate people to do the right thing!!”

I am also aware of a lot of sensible customs which are implemented for health, protection of nature etc. So, the aim of religions is to enlighten the people. In Europe and other western side, it started as Christianity..In Arabia, it may be started as islam…In India, it may be started in the form of Hindus. The reason for this discrimination is a fact that many of the rituals in these religions are suited to the climate of the region. In Arabia, people used to wear long dress which covers their entire body to survive in the huge wind blows! In west, people used to wear tie and coats to survive in the cold. But, these two costumes are inevitable parts of these two religions in India too!! I think, it represents their origin. It is not a matter now. I just wanted to say that there is no point in fighting against each other just because their implementation is started from different regions! All religions are built to make some better sense among people!
A god always made a better sense to us. It is an indisputable fact. In Hinduism there is a belief that the end of the world will be with a flood where we are hearing about over melting of ice in both poles our earth which may result in floods! It may happen!! We are already seeing a senseless world which is described as “kaliyug” in Hinduism. So, our problem in this world is our intelligence! We believed that we are intelligent but, really we are nearly sinking our own ship! We are well known about it but, still we are running behind money, power and entertainments. If religions were still strong in this world with its true sense, the world will certainly be a better place than this! It is a powerful weapon against ignorance and selfishness.

You have the right to choose whether to be a follower of god or not. If you are an atheist you have to make sure that you can make a better sense than a god! If you are with the god’s side you have to make sure that you are grasping what god is trying to implement! You can act like a man who is atheist or you can be an atheist itself and I can assure you one thing, a god will not punish you for not being a follower of him because, revenge is a human nature and it is not suited to him. If you are capable enough to say that you can always be a perfect man in this world, take a mirror and address yourself as the god! I know, no one can take that responsibility just because “perfection is just an illusion”. But, god is perfect!! I know I can’t make it. So, I will always be a lover of god in my inner mind even though I look like an atheist!!

Faithfully

Raghu

God And Me....

I do not know what is the interrelationship between god and me...Even though it is good or bad. There are something which I believe about god.. According to my concept god is created by humans..Actually what god is doing is that he makes the man's way right..He gave confidence to the people..He installed some good customs in people..He always said to make the people work in the perfect way..When there is no one to control ourselves it was god who made some beliefs, which can be said as a fear. Fear of the consequences for the works he have done.. I never believe that god will do magic if I believes in him, instead we can do magic if we believe in him...God is created in different regions as different manner and called them religions...I think we are in a misunderstanding here.We believe in god because of fear and it created this misunderstanding..I do not know how far our beliefs are strong and wide..Still there is no answer for a question 'Who created us?". The whole things in earth,including animals and humans, who have brilliant piece of 'engineering beauty' in their origin. At the same time why don't our god do not take action against the misunderstandings and wars of this worlds.. If he is the creator why do he stand aside and watch what is going around here? Is this powerful god have nothing to do for his creation's existence?? I do not know which side I should stand..

It will be pity if I say I don't believe in god.I do believe in god not the way others are seeing him.. Definitely he will be a good guide for us. I do remember my father's opinion as see god as a good friend, teacher or anybody who have good connection with you. Every point in every religion have a good thought or work.But the violence is created because of the lack of unity between the people.Different religions fought for themselves and destroyed their own religions. As many of the experts says that all religions are saying the same thing through them.Nobody listens to them nobody studies their own religions, but they fight for their religions..This is not what religion and god is aiming at.

A few months before I was watching TV one evening. A program came into my attention.. It was a phone in program. And the presenter of the program received a call from a woman and as usual she said some family matters and at last she said to presenter that she wanted to wish her husband "a happy journey". The place her husband was visiting is 'sabarimala'. which is a pilgrimage center. It may be a unique incident. But it made me think a lot...I was thinking why do we go to temple??As far as I see it is to worship..But what here we is that he is just going like vacation tour or something.I realized that if there is god..This incident will be a great piece pain to him.. People is coming to see him just for enjoying their vacation and enjoy the beauty of the place!!!. I think here what we could see is that, everyone is copying their ancestors and the way of new life does not actually allow them to do...But they do it as their ancestors have done..Every prayer will have a meaning. there is not a word which is meaningless in the prayers..If we see its depth we could know what is expected from them..

This same feelings of people is taken as a business trick to others. Actually many of those businesses made some people sleep without hunger,while many others made millions out of it..If you are spending money on any temple, I have a little advice to you..Think that let this money help the poor people and if you think that this money is for god.Actually god do not need that money because he is it's creator and owner..Nothing will be taken as your's after your death. What you own now is not yours if you die..Never decrease what you have done like those..Because still it helps some good people..

I do not know whether I am right or wrong but I want to assure you that I have never discouraged any religions or never said anything negative about god..I do want to say that purity of mind is the only thing you need to attain god..Never deviate from the way you believe..

"faithfully"


Raghu.