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Faith is a fancy word for wishful thinking. It is the absolute lowest standard of evidence as it requires NO evidence. There is just as much evidence supporting the existence of flying purple fairies that orbit the earth as there is supporting the existence of your god. So if it is irrational to believe that purple fairies are real, it is also irrational to think gods are real and to organize your life around them.
Religion isn't the root of all evil, but it is the root of MOST evil. It accounts for ALMOST EVERY SINGLE BATTLE BEING FOUGHT. Good people do good things. Bad people do bad things. But if you want to get a good person to do bad things, religion really helps. Religion might make you feel warm and fuzzy. But it is also getting a lot of people killed.
Religion was created by kings and priests to fool stupid,gullible people who would then later be used as their slaves.Its a shame even in 21st century ,people believe in 1000 gods and messengers.As it is a sensitive issue,i dont want to write about it more.
but you may have to write about it in mains, or talk about in interview. You would articulate the same sentiment somewhat differently then, I guess.
No one in past 2-3 years could give me a convincing argument as to why we need the institution of God or organized religion. In 2014 a mahatmaji got me shunted out of Bhagvad Katha congregation in my town for asking a few unorthodox questions. He called me naastik, fallen soul and what not!! Well he wasn't all wrong. I'm openly atheist. By the way, I'm from a middle class thakur family and everyone in my family is a practising Hindu. I personally just don't see any point in it...
>> I personally take temples, mosques, gurudwaras etc. to be money churning machines which take money from gullible people at a time when they are psychologically the weakest. Talk of ethics!! Asaram, Nithyananda, Gurmeet Ram Rahim, Kripalu Maharaj, and a long list of corrupt godmen come tumbling out dozen a dime.
>> As for astrology, I go a step further and believe that it is pure forgery, criminality of worst sort. I don't mean to offend anyone at all but this is what I've consciously come to believe.
I believe that institution of organized religion was created by some of our ambitious ancestors to keep the general population spooked and gullible. And I strongly disagree with Marx in believing religion to be opium of masses. I believe it is 'steroid' for masses. Just look at communal riots. Looks more like equestrian steroids!!
Godmen have actually convinced people that there is a spooky guy in sky with magical powers who watches each and every one of our actions all through our life. 24*7 !! And He can be propitiated by pooja, prayers and MONEY. Boy! He needs money. Omniscient, omnipresent, omnipotent. But just can't live without money.
Faith is a fancy word for wishful thinking. It is the absolute lowest standard of evidence as it requires NO evidence. There is just as much evidence supporting the existence of flying purple fairies that orbit the earth as there is supporting the existence of your god. So if it is irrational to believe that purple fairies are real, it is also irrational to think gods are real and to organize your life around them.
Religion isn't the root of all evil, but it is the root of MOST evil. It accounts for ALMOST EVERY SINGLE BATTLE BEING FOUGHT. Good people do good things. Bad people do bad things. But if you want to get a good person to do bad things, religion really helps. Religion might make you feel warm and fuzzy. But it is also getting a lot of people killed.
Religion was created by kings and priests to fool stupid,gullible people who would then later be used as their slaves.Its a shame even in 21st century ,people believe in 1000 gods and messengers.As it is a sensitive issue,i dont want to write about it more.
but you may have to write about it in mains, or talk about in interview. You would articulate the same sentiment somewhat differently then, I guess.
Yes,is it immoral?.Let it be.I strongly believe in communism but that could not be expressed in mains or interview.Certainly its not hypocrisy of mine,its their fault to regard people who love communism as terrorists.So,I have no other way then to express my views in a slightly tweaked manner.We could not express every feeling of ours even to our mother,brother or friends as people would judge us according to their own views.So,there is no other way then to wear masks accordingly.After all,that's what society expect from us.
No one in past 2-3 years could give me a convincing argument as to why we need the institution of God or organized religion. In 2014 a mahatmaji got me shunted out of Bhagvad Katha congregation in my town for asking a few unorthodox questions. He called me naastik, fallen soul and what not!! Well he wasn't all wrong. I'm openly atheist. By the way, I'm from a middle class thakur family and everyone in my family is a practising Hindu. I personally just don't see any point in it...
>> I personally take temples, mosques, gurudwaras etc. to be money churning machines which take money from gullible people at a time when they are psychologically the weakest. Talk of ethics!! Asaram, Nithyananda, Gurmeet Ram Rahim, Kripalu Maharaj, and a long list of corrupt godmen come tumbling out dozen a dime.
>> As for astrology, I go a step further and believe that it is pure forgery, criminality of worst sort. I don't mean to offend anyone at all but this is what I've consciously come to believe.
I believe that institution of organized religion was created by some of our ambitious ancestors to keep the general population spooked and gullible. And I strongly disagree with Marx in believing religion to be opium of masses. I believe it is 'steroid' for masses. Just look at communal riots. Looks more like equestrian steroids!!
Godmen have actually convinced people that there is a spooky guy in sky with magical powers who watches each and every one of our actions all through our life. 24*7 !! And He can be propitiated by pooja, prayers and MONEY. Boy! He needs money. Omniscient, omnipresent, omnipotent. But just can't live without money.
No one in past 2-3 years could give me a convincing argument as to why we need the institution of God or organized religion. In 2014 a mahatmaji got me shunted out of Bhagvad Katha congregation in my town for asking a few unorthodox questions. He called me naastik, fallen soul and what not!! Well he wasn't all wrong. I'm openly atheist. By the way, I'm from a middle class thakur family and everyone in my family is a practising Hindu. I personally just don't see any point in it...
>> I personally take temples, mosques, gurudwaras etc. to be money churning machines which take money from gullible people at a time when they are psychologically the weakest. Talk of ethics!! Asaram, Nithyananda, Gurmeet Ram Rahim, Kripalu Maharaj, and a long list of corrupt godmen come tumbling out dozen a dime.
>> As for astrology, I go a step further and believe that it is pure forgery, criminality of worst sort. I don't mean to offend anyone at all but this is what I've consciously come to believe.
I believe that institution of organized religion was created by some of our ambitious ancestors to keep the general population spooked and gullible. And I strongly disagree with Marx in believing religion to be opium of masses. I believe it is 'steroid' for masses. Just look at communal riots. Looks more like equestrian steroids!!
Godmen have actually convinced people that there is a spooky guy in sky with magical powers who watches each and every one of our actions all through our life. 24*7 !! And He can be propitiated by pooja, prayers and MONEY. Boy! He needs money. Omniscient, omnipresent, omnipotent. But just can't live without money.
The only worrying trend for me, is the patronizing tone of most people here (typically characteristic of UPSC aspirants) towards "gullible and naive" junta. Walk a mile among these so called 'common and simpleminded' folk and they will strip you naked at the first opportunity without you even knowing. Nobody is naive.
Faith is a fancy word for wishful thinking. It is the absolute lowest standard of evidence as it requires NO evidence. There is just as much evidence supporting the existence of flying purple fairies that orbit the earth as there is supporting the existence of your god. So if it is irrational to believe that purple fairies are real, it is also irrational to think gods are real and to organize your life around them.
Religion isn't the root of all evil, but it is the root of MOST evil. It accounts for ALMOST EVERY SINGLE BATTLE BEING FOUGHT. Good people do good things. Bad people do bad things. But if you want to get a good person to do bad things, religion really helps. Religion might make you feel warm and fuzzy. But it is also getting a lot of people killed.
Religion was created by kings and priests to fool stupid,gullible people who would then later be used as their slaves.Its a shame even in 21st century ,people believe in 1000 gods and messengers.As it is a sensitive issue,i dont want to write about it more.
but you may have to write about it in mains, or talk about in interview. You would articulate the same sentiment somewhat differently then, I guess.
Yes,is it immoral?.Let it be.I strongly believe in communism but that could not be expressed in mains or interview.Certainly its not hypocrisy of mine,its their fault to regard people who love communism as terrorists.So,I have no other way then to express my views in a slightly tweaked manner.We could not express every feeling of ours even to our mother,brother or friends as people would judge us according to their own views.So,there is no other way then to wear masks accordingly.After all,that's what society expect from us.
UPSC Mains answers are all about proving your powers of acquiescence to the values laid down by our political class. That's the whole point of a 'subordinate executive.' Discordant voices would certainly have their scores 'adjusted to reflect the overall performance in the paper, rather than just bring scored on the individual question.' Either you master the art or look at your career alternatives.
No one in past 2-3 years could give me a convincing argument as to why we need the institution of God or organized religion. In 2014 a mahatmaji got me shunted out of Bhagvad Katha congregation in my town for asking a few unorthodox questions. He called me naastik, fallen soul and what not!! Well he wasn't all
Maybe you are like Vivekananda who is yet to meet his Ramchandra paramhansa. And when you meet your enlightened teacher, you might turn into god's loyal son
Fault can't be assigned to religion for irrational, illogical and superstitious practices widespread today or in any era of known civilizational history. If you blame religion for this then there is unfounded assumption of existing interrelationships between religion and superstitious. However it is non existing. Newton had many writings on religion other than on science. He believed god as creator of universe- the clockmaker - who set everything in motion. Shankarachrya and vivekanand had deep faith in religion -two of the most rational minds world has ever seen. Actually it is the perception blended with ignorance that works here. Superstition is backed by distorting the meaning of religion by the people who have stake in this. Any practice is likely to be strengthened and acquires credibility if it has a manufactured religious backing. Why today we observe this? 1) Market ---market led consumerism has infiltrated our consciousness so deep that we have become consumers of religion.Budhha never charged fee for his teachings. Today such teachings are products and we pay for that. Tourism companies offering package for pilgrimages. Every morning babas on tv channels predict our next 24 hours happenings and we add to TRP and market is satisfied. Market has a stake. Today triology of state, self proclaimed godmen and industry has become an inpenetrable fort.
2) It is post modern era, not led by anything standard. Rationality was standard to be followed earlier, starting from scientific revolution and enlightenment period.Today in common social life there are both rationality and irrationality being accepted. e.g highly educated people also visit babas. Live in relationship is not that taboo as was earlier. This doesn't mean rationality is not desirable. However if people feel that by doing irrational things they can derive happiness then they do that.Religious faith can be easily be manipulated under such situation.
3)Stress in life and cut throat competition to lead in life, When things are highly uncertain where man finds it difficult to correlate result with actions..then it may breed ground for superstition and belief in supernatural powers.
4) How budhism as preached by budhha declined in india by falling prey to things budhha himself cautioned against.Whom one will assign the fault to? Obviously it should not be religion.
Factors exist to facilitate such distortion of faith today. Faith has always been vulnerable to exploation whether it be faith of people in political system , faith of elderly parents in their children, or faith of society in religion.
I sincerely doubt the existence of a supreme power, which people call God.
I mean just look around yourself. All this poverty, hunger, unemployment, pestilence, corruption, communal riots, sectarian feuds, sex scandals, rapes, human trafficking, organ trade, automobile accidents, road rages, gang wars, hit jobs, underworld, civil wars, terrorism, ISIS beheadings, deadly weapons, WMDs, biological war, nuclear bombs, holocaust, energy crisis, global warming, rising sea levels, drinking water shortage, population explosion and so on... Does all this look like the work of an all powerful, all knowing, benevolent and loving "creator" to you? Really, think about it. Does it ?? Looks like a fucked up, random, dysfunctional system to me.
Perhaps religion and spirituality provides the right amount of glue which keeps this fucked up system together. Saves it from falling apart into utter chaos. Gives a sort of light at the end of the tunnel so that we can slog through our lives in hope for coming 'satyuga'. Has a utilitarian value.
I keep such ideas to myself and ignore them. Perhaps I'm a borderline atheist. I'll take this thing up later in life.
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Comments
>> I personally take temples, mosques, gurudwaras etc. to be money churning machines which take money from gullible people at a time when they are psychologically the weakest. Talk of ethics!!
Asaram, Nithyananda, Gurmeet Ram Rahim, Kripalu Maharaj, and a long list of corrupt godmen come tumbling out dozen a dime.
>> As for astrology, I go a step further and believe that it is pure forgery, criminality of worst sort. I don't mean to offend anyone at all but this is what I've consciously come to believe.
I believe that institution of organized religion was created by some of our ambitious ancestors to keep the general population spooked and gullible. And I strongly disagree with Marx in believing religion to be opium of masses. I believe it is 'steroid' for masses. Just look at communal riots. Looks more like equestrian steroids!!
Godmen have actually convinced people that there is a spooky guy in sky with magical powers who watches each and every one of our actions all through our life. 24*7 !! And He can be propitiated by pooja, prayers and MONEY.
Boy! He needs money. Omniscient, omnipresent, omnipotent. But just can't live without money.
This is called HOLY SHIT !!
Newton had many writings on religion other than on science. He believed god as creator of universe- the
clockmaker - who set everything in motion. Shankarachrya and vivekanand had deep faith in religion -two of the most rational minds world has ever seen.
Actually it is the perception blended with ignorance that works here. Superstition is backed by distorting the meaning of religion by the people who have stake in this. Any practice is likely to be strengthened and acquires credibility if it has a manufactured religious backing.
Why today we observe this?
1) Market ---market led consumerism has infiltrated our consciousness so deep that we have become consumers of religion.Budhha never charged fee for his teachings. Today such teachings are products and we pay for that. Tourism companies offering package for pilgrimages. Every morning babas on tv channels predict our next 24 hours happenings and we add to TRP and market is satisfied. Market has a stake.
Today triology of state, self proclaimed godmen and industry has become an inpenetrable fort.
2) It is post modern era, not led by anything standard. Rationality was standard to be followed earlier, starting from scientific revolution and enlightenment period.Today in common social life there are both rationality and irrationality being accepted. e.g highly educated people also visit babas. Live in relationship is not that taboo as was earlier.
This doesn't mean rationality is not desirable. However if people feel that by doing irrational things they can derive happiness then they do that.Religious faith can be easily be manipulated under such situation.
3)Stress in life and cut throat competition to lead in life,
When things are highly uncertain where man finds it difficult to correlate result with actions..then it may breed ground for superstition and belief in supernatural powers.
4) How budhism as preached by budhha declined in india by falling prey to things budhha himself cautioned against.Whom one will assign the fault to? Obviously it should not be religion.
Factors exist to facilitate such distortion of faith today. Faith has always been vulnerable to exploation whether it be faith of people in political system , faith of elderly parents in their children, or faith of society in religion.
I mean just look around yourself. All this poverty, hunger, unemployment, pestilence, corruption, communal riots, sectarian feuds, sex scandals, rapes, human trafficking, organ trade, automobile accidents, road rages, gang wars, hit jobs, underworld, civil wars, terrorism, ISIS beheadings, deadly weapons, WMDs, biological war, nuclear bombs, holocaust, energy crisis, global warming, rising sea levels, drinking water shortage, population explosion and so on... Does all this look like the work of an all powerful, all knowing, benevolent and loving "creator" to you? Really, think about it. Does it ??
Looks like a fucked up, random, dysfunctional system to me.
Perhaps religion and spirituality provides the right amount of glue which keeps this fucked up system together. Saves it from falling apart into utter chaos. Gives a sort of light at the end of the tunnel so that we can slog through our lives in hope for coming 'satyuga'. Has a utilitarian value.
I keep such ideas to myself and ignore them. Perhaps I'm a borderline atheist. I'll take this thing up later in life.