Logic & Beliefs

Some situations can be really annoying, like the one I was in. Returning back from a function, I was in a car with a person thrice my age and ‘The Bhagvad Geeta’ by Anup Jalota playing in the background with my cell’s battery almost dead. What added to the pain was the length of the journey; three hours on a typical Madhya Pradesh road. Halfway through this drive, I was almost about to sleep when my Uncle started talking about what Jalota was singing, and what it really meant. I started listening carefully. That conversation and a few others in the past few days have made me think about God.

As stated by Wikipedia, God is conceived as a Supreme Being and an object of faith. Now, is there an object of faith? Of course there is, anything can be an object of faith. It can be a rock, a cloth or even a human. But for it to be considered as god, it needs to be a Supreme Being; a higher being with powers. Now that is something which cannot be proven and has been extensively debated upon it. The evidences of the miracles which happened or rather ‘ were made to happen’ on one hand and the hollowness of these on the other.

But that is not important, the beliefs of the people on both sides is what matters. Maybe that is what the problem is.

My uncle is one of the strongest believers I know. He talked a lot about God and how he frames your destiny, punishes and rewards you. The car had a spiritual atmosphere and he was really very convincing about what he said; maybe Jalota was also assisting him. It was alright up to the point when he told me about the story of the origin of man, as after that, contradictions began to intrigue me.

The story is that Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh gave birth to Manu and Sraddha (like Adam and Eve) and thus the human race originated. I bluntly asked, “Tauji, Charles Darwin ki evolution theory ki kya?”.”Arre, voh sab kya pata, shuruaat toh yahi se hui thi!” I was shocked to hear such a response from a doctor. “Ye toh blind faith ho gaya na?” On asking this, he replied in anger that our mere existence is a proof of the existence of god. Our success, our failure – it is all because of him, and thus the faith is not blind. And those who do not believe in this learn it at some point of time through the course of their lives. Be it car accidents, financial problems or anything, God saves them and truth dawns upon them.

He finally said, “You must learn from his sayings at least… if you do not believe in him.” This reminded me of a Vaishnav saying which prohibits the consumption of drugs. Now, Lord Shiva was also a Vaishnav, but he is known as The Lord of Bhang and it is said that he consumes weed. On inquiring upon this, a pandit replied, “He is Bholenath, wants you to learn from his mistakes.  Besides, one who can drink the entire ocean without being harmed is allowed to consume anything.”

Okay! So apparently God gives power to the doctors and accountants to save these people. Moreover, the rules and sayings do not apply on everyone

The problem with this entire thing was that people have no solid reasons. They have replies which do not seem logical to some like me while they completely make sense to another section of people. Maybe because their reason is blocked by the curtain of faith. The faith which makes them believe that all good that is happening to them is because of ‘Him’.

The examples in the article are nowhere near to what the beliefs of extremists are; but these are an example of where it starts. There is no real problem with it as it makes them happy, it gives them hope, determination and support. But it becomes a problem when their beliefs go too far. Women, children and animals are sacrificed. Wars are waged, man slays man; and some sections of society are considered superiors than the others, some fight back, and more people die.

All because of faith?

Maybe.

© Keshav Sharma

(B. Com. Programme 1st Year)