The Bridge of Faith

There are always two sides of any argument. It happens to me quite often that I do see a valid point in both sides of an argument. But then there are some arguments which are just in a class of their own. On listening to one side of the argument, I think to myself, now anything that the other side says can beat this ridiculous point. But then like on numerous other occasions I clearly underestimate human stupidity and the other side actually comes up with something that leaves me aghast and very much bemused!

The latest in line in the controversy over Ram's Setu. Well... if it doesn't interest you don't bother to read further.

My thoughts on the topic (Not in any particular order):

• It doesn't make such a big deal if we have to modify a structure created by anyone in the past (God included). If you're a believer then the whole world was created by God not just the bridge so we shouldn't be doing anything anywhere!
• Environmental factors have to given priority over convenience. I don't think it's a huge loss to the nation, which is losing a lot more in many other avoidable things, to circumnavigate Sri Lanka. It's not the same as the Panama Canal scenario with the US ships. Has a check been done from an environmental standpoint? Will it be worth 2500 crore?
• The bridge itself which was actually a walkable piece of land connecting the two countries as late as the 15th century should be preserved as far as possible. The reason is not that it's been built by Lord Ram but because it's quite clearly a wonder and the geographical formations in and around that area are unique. So the ocean canal should be constructed ensuring minimum possible modification.
• Why is the Indian government not considering some 6 other routes suggested for the canal? What is the adamant stand on the canal going through Ram's Setu all about? Is it now just a prestige issue?
• If the construction of the canal is okay from all points of view then the general public must be explained the facts, it's importance, precautions being taken etc etc...
• The people's faith in anything should not be questioned. Let it be God, existence of super human beings or even themselves. It's a question of faith and no one has the right to decide it for some other individual. It should not be subjected to an acid test. Why stop at Lord Ram then? There are such miracle figures in literature of every religion in the world. Should all of that be subjected to scientific evidence and proofs?
• It's wrong to term those who reacted on the govt's statement challenging the existence of Ram himself as Hindu Fundamentalists. It's a very natural reaction which would've been evoked from any believer of any religion. How about questioning the conception of Jesus to the Virgin Mary? In order to prove the modern mindset and all it's not necessary to criticize those who believe or have faith in God. No one is forcing it on anyone so if you dont believe it... Take a walk!
• I do believe that a rational, God believing, Hindu would understand the explanation furnished for the project but, quite naturally, cannot tolerate his faith being questioned/ ridiculed/ put to test. That is exactly the case at the moment but no one seems to putting any thought in approaching the problem with the right mindset.
• This is my version of Ramayan's occurence. I believe Ram did exist. He wasn't heralded as God during his times. He was just a great king who went thorugh the incidents depicted in the Ramayan. The story over the years became an epic and a lot of things may have been added into it like in a game of Chinese whispers. The existence of such a being is a very plausible possibility, as is the occurence of Mahabharat. Again, Krishna may not have been termed as God during his time but over the years these figures achieved the God-ly status.

Cheers!

The Long Shot

What are the odds that the size of the universe which is governed by a complex relation between several stars, planets and their gravitational and other forces would be of the size that it is now?

What are the odds that the Sun would be of the exact size and temperature in order to sustain life?

What are the odds that Earth would be at the precise distance so as to sustain life? And the odds of Earth lying within the band of distance which can actually keep water, an important component for life, at a liquid form?

Inspite of all the favourable planetary conditions and galatical settings it took 6 billion years for life to evolve. What about betting on the evolutionary cycle to be completed? Single-cell organisms... Multi-cellular... Fish... Amphibians... Reptiles... Dinosaurs... the meteorite blast... Mammals... Apes... Human...

Would you have even dreamt that Pan troglodytes would some day become Homo sapiens? That's Chimpanzees to Humans for the uninitiated.

Humans have now been in existence for thousands of years. But still what are the odds of two people meeting, mating and actually giving birth to a particular individual? The chances of even something as basic as this which happens everyday are more surprising than you can imagine.

For all that we know, God may actually exist! This may after all be a part of a major plan. The six-billion odd Earthlings may actually be just one piece of a huge jigsaw. I mean think about the entire cycle right from the formation of the universe to your own birth. It's not easy to attribute all these things to something like coincidence.

In the words of Agent K from MIB, "1500 years ago, Everybody knew that the Earth was the center of the universe. 500 years ago, Everybody knew that the Earth was flat and 15 minutes ago, you knew that people were alone on this planet. Imagine what you'll "know" tomorrow." So the existence of a divine power is a plausible possibility if we take into consideration the expanse of our knowledge and the set of coincidences that have led to our existence.

I can't seem to make up my mind which of the following has higher probability. Is life just a set of uncontrollable coincedences? (a scary thought) Or whether everything is happening as per a pre-set plan? (Also, a scary thought) Or is there a middle path (Being an optimist... I certainly hope so!)?

One thing I can say for sure... The probability of me dying is 1 but if I wasn't already born I would estimate the chances of my existence somewhere in the vicinity of zero. Long shot? Naah... Plain and simple lucky!

Cheers!

Science and God

Faith does not protect you. Medicine and airbags… those are things that protect you. God does not protect you. Intelligence protects you. Enlightenment. Put your faith in something with tangible results. How long has it been since someone walked on water? Modern miracles belong to science… computers, vaccines, space stations… even the divine miracle of creation. Matter from nothing… in a lab. Who needs God? No! Science is God.

A paragraph from Dan Brown's Angels and Demons. I am in general impressed by Mr. Brown's skills and I wouldn’t like to write about how brilliant a writer he is or how good the books that he's written are. I've read all of them. I would like to write about something that his first book Angels & Demons deals with. The conflict between Science and Religion/God.

First and foremost these are my personal opinions and I don’t wish to offend any one.

I couldn't keep these thoughts to myself so am blogging about it.I won’t say I'm an atheist. But I won’t say I believe in God either, at least not in its conventional, contemporary form. Now that’s a new concept God's change of form... God does change form not only over the course of time but also from person to person. Every person has his own interpretations. Some believe God will be pleased/happy by bombing the WTC, some believe God will be pleased by fasting/sacrifice.

I rarely visit temples. It’s not because I don’t have faith its just because I believe God as a concept is too vast and too universal to be confined to places of worship. But still the above mentioned passage struck a chord some where. Isn't it true to some extent at least? May be I'm too scientific in my thought, so probably am seeing it that way. But has Science taken over from God? Was God ever in power? Or was God a convenient escape route for all the things that we couldn't explain? Or God was the creation of man? Rather than the other way round?

Since the beginning of time, spirituality and religion have been called on to fill in the gaps that science did not understand. The rising and setting of the sun was once attributed to Helios and a flaming chariot. Earthquakes and tidal waves were the wrath of Poseidon. Science has now proven the truth. Science has now provided answers to almost every question man can ask. There are only a few questions left and they are the esoteric ones. Where do we come from? What are we doing here? What is the meaning of life and the universe?

Nothing around us cant be explained by Science. From the blooming of flowers to the construction of 120-storyed towers! The Internet provides information, knowledge and wisdom(?) like any wise man long ago...

As we all know religions are man-made no exceptions, so are all the religious texts. Then how come the God they talk about in it is Divine. Everything right from the beginning of life can be explained in a Science Lab... But how about circumstances that take place, the so-called good luck or bad luck? Those can also be explained by science! Just that what will happen can’t be predicted by it. Nor can we hope in a lab that something we want should happen.So then this is it! Hope, faith are the elements that make a supreme power necessary... Its required so that people have something as an anchor. It inspires people to do great things. Things that were in their capabilities but they wouldn’t have attempted them or would’ve taken long time to accomplish. Even though religion and beliefs are shaped by where we are born rather than what we actually think and believe as individuals, Faith is universal.

Some pray to one God from one religion, some pray to different Gods in same religion, some become scientists! In the end we are all just searching for truth, that which is greater than ourselves.This is what I believe God is and this is what God means to me. It’s not something that gives me super powers. I don’t thank god for what ever good happens in my life, I guess that's fair because neither do I blame God for anything that goes wrong.

It’s Faith.

The concept of God could’ve been brought up for a variety of reasons, including inducing discipline, fear into man. So that man never thinks that he is the Supreme Being and ends up annihilating himself. Being an anchor for the masses could also have been another reason… But now it’s the whole and sole on which people depend. I am no one to comment if that’s right or wrong.

Look around at all that’s happening. All the things that are/have been going wrong. For some of them Science itself is responsible. Or is it? Will the atomic bomb be the failure of Science or failure of man? Would the airplanes that crashed into the WTC be the failure of Science? Or man? Or worse still, God?

But whenever such points are raised, the argument that God is not at fault in this. It’s the misguided soul… God wants us to learn from our mistakes and so he lets these things take place… Is this true? I find it tough to believe this argument.

God, for me is an idea, it’s like a catalyst in a chemical reaction.

Catalyst is something that aids the rate at which the reaction takes place without affecting the eventual result. In such a case we should give the catalyst it’s due credit, but saying that it was the reason that the reaction took place wouldn’t be right… Would it?

Science provides all the answers, but God provides me the thrust for pursuing those answers. I respect both of them. For me its not a question of Science or God... Its Science and God but more importantly I know what the roles of both those things are in my life!

Cheers!