Why we need God and Religion?
Atheism is in vogue in the west. Some fantasise that a disbelief or atleast the questioning in the existence of God may make them appear intelligent, smarter, revolutionary to the eYeS of the world. Some others imagine that humans of today are more advanced than ever in the past and progress is some kind of eternal upward movement. Let’s check the substance to these arguments.
As Christian missionaries go berserk converting other religions in developing countries, it’s a fact that they are simulataneously losing hold of their religion in the developed western world. Their inability to set an example of what they profess to others was the main incentive for many to turn back to Christianity. A huge rise in atheist numbers along with closure of churches in the west as well as heart ripping stories of rape and molestations by pedophile pastors, Jesuits and evangelists have wrecked havoc on the belief on the Holy Bible and on Lord Jesus Christ.
Though Islam is improving by numbers worldwide, the battles between its various sects, the unquestioning of Koran, the inhuman Jihadi concept that destroys the peace fabric of the world have created consternation and suffering unparalleled in human history in the form of destructions and injustices. The curse of Islam was its disability to accept criticism, be tolerant of other streams of faith and thoughts and adapt to other cultures while enjoying the huge perks those cultures provide. Ironically Islam was hailed as a religion of peace by some mullahs.
Threatened by these two religions, other religions too resort to violence of words and actions because of insecurity. Hinduism and Buddhism, the two most pacifist of all religions show some inclination towards violence. But these developments come handy especially to atheists who spread the propaganda that all religions were total evil especially the fundamental belief in the existence of God. Obviously because the violent nature of some practitioners of religions, the demand of pro activeness on their followers of these religions to spread the message of their Gods of those belonging to other religions, the world will see an increase in numbers of atheists. Reasoning out or applying reason on faith which was all about belief was the the unreasonable way to discredit religion. I propose to stand here for the need for religions in our planet going by their past achievements and the need for a personal God for sustaining mankind.
There appears to me, two major causes for the need for the existence of religion and the belief in the concept of God in a civilised world. One pertains to the individual and the other to the society. In an imperfect world, every creation and concept of man will be discredited by some who practice it. There is no perfect anything. Including benevolent monarchies, democracies , institutions that often fail. And detractors jumping to grab such failures to respond in spirit of holier than you, I said so, but fact remains alternatives to religions are worse. They are not even a shade of the strength of religions.
If there were no God, it would be necessary to invent him said Voltaire, the most radical thinker of his times. Humans need God or a belief in God was the meaning of his statement. Every human being goes through hard times, faces challenges, endures suffering and trauma, oscillates between different desires and has share of disappointments and frustrations. Though some rare strong characters quieten mind to wade through these swirling waters, humans need forces outside themselves to sustain. This is called a helping hand. “Hope” keeps humans going, overcome difficulties and the belief in hope is easier when it emanates from the belief in God who will do all good and help through troubled waters after experimenting with mettle of the believer. This all powerful God or the force of universe or Natural forces however you may call to describe it has proved to be a solace in difficult times for an individual by creating positivity and sustain through every day fire. Hindus and Buddhists go a little deeper to claim that this external manifestation of power is within every human and as much the humans belong to the universe, the universe lives within every life.
Belief in God has been found to give meaning and purpose to human life. Calm minds, help improve cheer and spread compassionation to others. William Nicholson said :” I pray because I can’t help myself. I pray because Iam helpless. I pray because the need flows out of me all the time - waking and sleeping. It doesn’t change God, it changes me “. Even Einstein was a great believer in God. A personal God comes handy to surmount personal difficulties in a calmer, smoother, positive, pleasant way. The poster boy of atheists, Thomas Alva Edison said : “I do not believe in the God of theologians but that there is supreme intelligence I do not doubt”.
The need for God in a society is more important than the personal omnipresent God. The belief unites the community and the society. The most outstanding achievements of Man are based on religion on the belief in God. Atheistic achievements pale into insignificance before singular religious achievements. The best of literature, architecture, music, sculpture, paintings, dances, etc of all mankind are all Religious or related to belief in God. The energy towards excellence emanates from an inspirational God. Excellence reached through strong belief in the existence of the Ultimate power.
Christianity without Leonardo da Vinci, Michael Angelo, Rembrandt, Titian, Raphael, etc will be bland like food without spices. To understand the enormity of the achievements that belief in Jesus Christ inspired, one ought to visit the Sistine Chapel, the city of Florence or the western museums that display their art. Metaphysical poetry is considered the best in English and without Beethoven, Strauss, Bach, Mozart, Brahms, Richard Wagner and the like, Europe and the Americas would appear like deserts despite so many rivers flowing within. The architecture of breathtaking churches inspired many palaces. English and the West would have remained poor without Jesus Christ.
The Hindu achievements were stunning. They had two wonderful two classical languages, Tamil and Sanskrit. These languages are home to a whole body of rich literature unparalleled by another civilisation. The Hindu Gods, an exuberant manifestation of beautiful families with children were not just human beings but gave respect and space to every other living things as much as possible. Respect for trees and plants and trust in Panch elements of land, water, sky, fire and air were worshipped too in their ecology respecting Hindu literature. The Ramayana, The Máhabharatha endured the test of time. The five Vedas belonging to many many centuries before Christ era survived by transfer from mouth to mouth. Between the world’s first grammatical work Tholkoppiyum and the ultimate spiritual work Tirumanthiram, there exists a weakth of literature vast and inspired by the Gods and Sakthi Goddesses. Madurai Meenakshi Temple with 30,000+ idols with many of them paintings in stone with subtle expressions was a high point of human civilisation. Hundreds of temples including the Ankhor Vat, sculptures, paintings were manifestations of the belief in a wonderful God. Carnatic music as well as hindusthani music were creations of Sanatan Dharma. Atheist literature is non existent and if they did had no standards to match the religious works. So attempts were made to convert Tirukkural as an atheist literature and worship of Sun God through harvest festival called Pongal as Secular festival as if other religions worship Sun God.
The culture of Buddhism, Shintoism Zoroastrians, Jains, Sikhs and Jews are all based on religious thoughts. In fact all sustaining cultures were built on the belief in omnipresent Gods, immortality, soul and life after death. Islam has her share of achievements that range from miniature paintings to lofty mosques to calligraphy to artistic carpets with intricate works. Buddhist achievements were unique too. The best of human achievements have been built by religions and on the belief in God. It’s the striving for the love of Gods that inspired civilisations. The imperfect flaw filled ego obsessed atheist and agnostic expect all religions to be perfect and pick holes at the social and cultural deficiencies to project themselves as superior to the believers. But they are flawed unable to contribute to mankind going beyond their criticism. Communism hence failed in being an alternate God.
It is interesting to note that Sanatana Dharma with varied and diverse schools of thought accommodated schools of atheism within its fold. The Mimasa school of thought of Sage Jaimini rejected the existence of independent Gods as propounded in the Vedas but accepted that the Vedic mantras had the power of Gods. Sage Kanada’s Vaisheshika thought speculated the existence of unseen Gods but like the force that binds atoms together but refused to give it human attributes. Sage Kapila’s Samkhya school of thought refuted the concept of a creator God. It held that primordial nature as the root from which everything originates. It’s relevant here the argument of Western Philosopher Spinoza who said a square or a triangle would imagine a God in its frame and so does man.
One of the last arguments against religion was that it didn’t contribute to science. India’s achievements were rooted in the religious people whom I would call as Spiritual people. By deep concentrations and without laboratories, their landmark achievements can not be fathomed even now. So atheists and antihindu Seculars question these achievements as fantasy.
Hindus many millennium ago, called geography as “Bookolam” meaning the study of globe. The ten avatars of Lord Vishnu are all about evolution of creations propounded many thousands of years but now hailed as a western discovery. They match with the modern theories of evolution. Ayurveda, yoga and siddha forms of health are relevant today as they were in the past were all the works of HIndu Sages. Hindu astronomy and astrology were far advanced without telescopes. The fact that the stars Arundhati known as Ursa Major and Alcor form double stars were discovered thousands of years ago. Strides in metallurgy, surgery by Hindus were no mean feat so does their architectural marvels like Thanjavur Bragadeeswarar Temple and Ellora Temple. To know that Chota kings conquered South Asia with a fleet of 750-1000 ships is mind boggling. Tamils had a iron processing methods and they were exported to the west in 1700s. British killed the process so they can be hailed as harbingers of industrial revolution. Check this.
https://youtu.be/DcY1ROo6GMA
All these achievements were as much as spiritual feats as they were strides in their areas of activity. The religionists or the Spiritualists as I would like to call were ahead of times. I would challenge the best of contemporary atheists, agnostics to find the cause of the ancient palm reading methods of Tamils. These palm leaves carry the past, present and future of every soul on the planet by just a thumb print impression. Unbelievable. But true. Science that even contemporary scientists were unable to fathom and decipher. If these religious milestones were not scientific achievements, what are? Lastly, by being religious you can live long too. Check this.
https://news.osu.edu/news/2018/06/13/religion-longevity/
It is for these proven past skills and abilities to sustain individuals and inspire societies towards excellence in any sphere of human activity that demands the existence of religions or the invention of Gods. Some organised religions sadly are like big businesses and exploit. Spirituality is the core of any religion and any act of violence is neither spiritual nor religious. Organised religions need to be exposed. But, I conclude that but for religions, there won’t have been civilisations and man would have been unable to subdue and refine himself. Humans need Gods to endure this world and the civilised world needs religions for inspiration. The drawbacks caused by belief in Gods pale in comparison with the huge benefits that they bestow on mankind.
Om Shanthi!
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