My religious views



A little background:

My family is religious. My dad is pious. Though he doesn't go to temples like a fanatic, he prays to God at home every day. If he is at home, you will find him either reading something or singing devotional songs (By the way, he has a gifted voice. I enjoy listening to his songs). My mom is a bit orthodox. She likes to go to the temple. My sisters, too, believe in God. I am the only odd man out.


I was religious until I was about 16 years old. But from the time I left my home for a college education, my religious views changed. (My dad sometimes reminds me that I used to be a very good boy reciting Bhagavad Gita Slokas when I was a kid.) 


I did not start off as a reasonable man. At first, I embraced atheism because I liked counters and encounters. I enjoyed the process of questioning and countering theists to get reasonable answers. The moment someone says a dogma/belief, I used to distance myself. I might be in the conversation physically but mentally disconnected. 


Later, I followed people who embraced atheism. Then, I started reading books about "reason" or "logic". Gradually, as I grew, I realised the significance of "reason" in society and saw, with my own eyes, the products of a reasoning mind all around me- from vehicles to buildings to medicine to technology.


My argument:


If there is a GOD/ Creator, there should be only one. But different groups with their own rules (sometimes contradicting each other) and hating each other is a deal-breaker for me. It's not the truth. 


Let's assume that one of the groups says their GOD is better. 

What are the metrics for saying that one GOD is better? 

First of all, how can one GOD be better? There should be only ONE if any. The very idea of "better" is wrong. 


If someone argues that only their GOD is the ultimate, then it implies that the other groups are worshipping the wrong GOD and atheists or agnostics (like me) are as good as the other groups. But that also means that the actual GOD does not care who you worship because every group has the same drama in their life.


Now, the group which argues that their GOD is ultimate, What are the metrics? Do they have more lifespans? Do they have better health than others? Does all of their wishes come true? Do they live in peace every day? If yes, I would joyfully join the group. I don't buy the after-death concepts of Heaven/Paradise/Moksha.


I believe that the GOD we talk about in our society is just a creation by society for society. It is not the true GOD. The creation surely must have started somewhere, but I am agnostic because I didn't understand it so far. 


Nevertheless, I like festivals because I get holidays and I can meet my family and friends. I don't have any problem with any religion because I believe "If some belief is helping someone, they should be free to choose it, but at the same time they should respect other's beliefs too. That's the best any society can give to its people."


Anyway, I've never found any reason to change my religious views so far. But I am open to change if something is reasonable. I like the vantage point of the below video. It summarizes my view.






Comments