As a 3rd grader in a convent school, I had learnt a hymn that went something like this:
"...Is God dead?
No (16X)
God's not dead, He is alive (3X)
I can feel Him all over me.."
It had some super cute actions to go with as well. =)) Back then, being a staunch believer in the power of God, I would sing this song with all the rigor and passion my 8 year old heart could bring forth.
According to me, prayer is primarily a placebo effect and therefore, it needn't be done in a place of worship compulsarily. God is all around me, I have the ability to talk to God whenever I feel like doing so. And because I'm of this opinion, it irks me no end when people reprimand me for not going to the temple often enough to pray.
Then there is my stance on organized religion. Some may be all for it. I, for one, am not. Organized religion, in my opinion, has done nothing more than segregate all of us. Historically, some of the biggest wars have taken place in the name of religion. The Crusades were against the Arab Muslims. The Holocaust took place because of Nazi hatred towards the Jews. Let's not even get started with the perennial Hindu - Muslim mutual abhorrence. Granted, there are just some elements in each society that spew such venom. Unfortunately, venom spreads. Looking at things on a smaller scale, with religion come castes and sects. Haven't we all at some point heard of differences within a religion itself? Brahmins versus lower Hindu castes, Catholics versus Protestants, Shi'as versus Sunnis and on it goes...
Finally, there's the biggest battle of mankind's history. It's that of Science and Religion pitted against each other. Scientists state logic and facts, men of position in a religion preach faith and the power of the Supreme One and Theologians scuttle around trying to make sense of it all.
In April 1966, Time magazine came out with an issue that went on to become one of the most controversial cover stories ever. The cover itself (image above) made it to the "10 Magazine Covers That Shook the World" list released by the Los Angeles Times in 2008.
From what I've observed, my generation seems be divided very sharply into two groups. One side has the religious fanatics. This group uses the knowledge that technology has given them access to, to further enlarge the gap between one religion and the other. The other end of the spectrum has the sceptics. This lot comprises of athiests and the I-Don't-Give-Two-Hoots people. I find myself somewhat closer to the latter group.
My faith in God Himself keeps oscillating. Sometimes, looking at the ugliness and hatred all around me I'm convinced that the whole thing is just a sham. But then, there are certain miraculous phenomena that make me think otherwise. For instance, the love of a parent. Considering our vulnerable human nature, isn't it providential how parents willingly put aside everything for the sake of their child? What about when two people not related by blood connect spiritually and emotionally, whether in a platonic or romantic manner? Doesn't that make one wonder?
One man's food might very well be another man's poison. But despite our vast human intelligence, we're unable to live and let live. Why is this so? Perhaps if we were all of the opinion that there is just one unnamed entity that ensures the proper functioning of the cosmos, things would've been a lot simpler and a lot more peaceful.
I was born a Hindu and technically I still am one, but I was brought up to have faith in all Gods. But with age I've come to the conclusion that I'm really clueless about the existence of any God. I think there is a Power, an energy, out there that controls the working of the entire universe. I don't know by what name It goes or of what gender It is. I don't know Its polarity either. But It may very well be the reason things are the way they are. Maybe, it is this very Power that emanates from all of us and makes us who we are.
