Week 23- Religion & Belief
Science without religion is lame, religion without science is blind.- Albert Einstein
# The Cosmic Hand of God
A religious spiritual seeker and a scientific seeker are not two different entities, they are merely two forms of the same eternal quest that man is subjected to. A scientific seeker will search for answers to the very source of his questions, in the outer existence of nature. Whereas, a religious spiritual seeker will search for answers to the very source of his questions, in the inner realms of his consciousness. One look outwards, another look inwards, but they are ultimately travelling in the same boat in the same direction.
Away from all the insignificant brawl between Science and God, I would today like to tell you a story. A story not many may believe in, but it is beautifully giving wings to an amazing possibility, an opportunity to believe that Science and God do not contradict, but they amazingly coexist.
July the 23rd, 1999. NASA made history by launching one of its greatest observatories ever, called The Chandra X-ray Observatory, named after Nobel Prize winning Indian-American astrophysicist Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar. That launch was the beginning of a legacy of deep space X-ray astronomy. Out of the 25 landmark photographs and findings captured by Chandra X-ray observatory, I today bring to you the most miraculous one ever. NASA scientist gave it the quintessential name, “THE COSMIC HAND OF GOD”.
On April 3, 2009, NASA released a Chandra Observatory taken image of a rapidly spinning neutron star, 20 km in diameter, emitting exorbitant amounts of X-rays into an area spanning 150 light years around it. The pulsar, as it is called, is located at a distance of 17,000 light years away from our planet. After a quick search in the extremely huge NASA public archives, I grabbed the image of B1509, as this pulsar came to be known. X-rays, which are not in the visible spectrum, cannot be seen by human eyes. Hence, the scientists gave a random colour coding to represent X-rays on paper. They decided that the lowest energy X-rays will be shown as Red, medium energy ones as Green and strongest energy rays as Blue. What resulted was in the culmination of this image that you see:
Being born into an amazing Hindu family, it was natural for me to believe an astonishing prospect hidden into this image. If you can look closely enough, you can see the image of a hand, albeit it’s blue in colour. We can also closely observe the fiery reddish orange colour on top of what represent the fingers.
Take a quick detour to Bhagavad Gita, Chapter 9, and Text 8:
prakrtim svam avastabhya
visrjami punah punah
bhuta-gramam imam krtsnam
avasam prakrter vasat
The Supreme Godhead Lord Maha Vishnu proclaims:
The formless whole cosmic order is under Me. By my will the universe is manifested again and again, and by My will it is annihilated at the end.
The Vishnu Sahasranama describes Maha Vishnu as the All-Pervading essence of all beings, the master of, and beyond, the past, present and future. One who supports, sustains and governs the Universe and originates and develops all elements within.
Now if we re-look at the NASA image, the hand is deep blue. So is the color of Maha Vishnu’s skin. The colour above the hand is feisty red or yellow. Miraculously, the color of the Sudarshana Chakra, the master enemy annihilator of Maha Vishnu also has the same color It is circular revolving, so it is in the image as well. Is it the omnipotent hand of Maha Vishnu, the preserver of the Universe that was found 17000 light years away from us?
MIRACULOUS COINCIDENCE: The selection of red, green and blue color by the scientists was indeed random, but the distribution of the X-rays in the color image to form a hand that exactly matches our description isn't We can look at the image a thousand times and still ponder at the amazing acuteness.
NASA officials, even though they termed this image as “the cosmic hand”, obviously did not respond to the amazing possibility that could be hidden in it. But that is not our question of interest here. The significant point is how our so called belief coincidentally matched with a large scale scientific observation.
Definitely, whatever I pointed out is not one religion centric, but it is a punch in our face that says Science and Religious Belief is ultimately travelling together, not in a collision course as we may presume. The sheer brilliance of this image manages to inspire me every time I look at it. For all those who want to further study about the authenticity of this image and its technical parameters, you are invited to come here:
A Young Pulsar Shows its Hand
The unison of science and religion is the ultimate feeling that each one of us has to experience. Leaning to either sides is not less entertaining, but you are only missing an even bigger experience!
Away from all the insignificant brawl between Science and God, I would today like to tell you a story. A story not many may believe in, but it is beautifully giving wings to an amazing possibility, an opportunity to believe that Science and God do not contradict, but they amazingly coexist.
July the 23rd, 1999. NASA made history by launching one of its greatest observatories ever, called The Chandra X-ray Observatory, named after Nobel Prize winning Indian-American astrophysicist Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar. That launch was the beginning of a legacy of deep space X-ray astronomy. Out of the 25 landmark photographs and findings captured by Chandra X-ray observatory, I today bring to you the most miraculous one ever. NASA scientist gave it the quintessential name, “THE COSMIC HAND OF GOD”.
On April 3, 2009, NASA released a Chandra Observatory taken image of a rapidly spinning neutron star, 20 km in diameter, emitting exorbitant amounts of X-rays into an area spanning 150 light years around it. The pulsar, as it is called, is located at a distance of 17,000 light years away from our planet. After a quick search in the extremely huge NASA public archives, I grabbed the image of B1509, as this pulsar came to be known. X-rays, which are not in the visible spectrum, cannot be seen by human eyes. Hence, the scientists gave a random colour coding to represent X-rays on paper. They decided that the lowest energy X-rays will be shown as Red, medium energy ones as Green and strongest energy rays as Blue. What resulted was in the culmination of this image that you see:
Being born into an amazing Hindu family, it was natural for me to believe an astonishing prospect hidden into this image. If you can look closely enough, you can see the image of a hand, albeit it’s blue in colour. We can also closely observe the fiery reddish orange colour on top of what represent the fingers.
Take a quick detour to Bhagavad Gita, Chapter 9, and Text 8:
prakrtim svam avastabhya
visrjami punah punah
bhuta-gramam imam krtsnam
avasam prakrter vasat
The Supreme Godhead Lord Maha Vishnu proclaims:
The formless whole cosmic order is under Me. By my will the universe is manifested again and again, and by My will it is annihilated at the end.
The Vishnu Sahasranama describes Maha Vishnu as the All-Pervading essence of all beings, the master of, and beyond, the past, present and future. One who supports, sustains and governs the Universe and originates and develops all elements within.
Now if we re-look at the NASA image, the hand is deep blue. So is the color of Maha Vishnu’s skin. The colour above the hand is feisty red or yellow. Miraculously, the color of the Sudarshana Chakra, the master enemy annihilator of Maha Vishnu also has the same color It is circular revolving, so it is in the image as well. Is it the omnipotent hand of Maha Vishnu, the preserver of the Universe that was found 17000 light years away from us?
MIRACULOUS COINCIDENCE: The selection of red, green and blue color by the scientists was indeed random, but the distribution of the X-rays in the color image to form a hand that exactly matches our description isn't We can look at the image a thousand times and still ponder at the amazing acuteness.
NASA officials, even though they termed this image as “the cosmic hand”, obviously did not respond to the amazing possibility that could be hidden in it. But that is not our question of interest here. The significant point is how our so called belief coincidentally matched with a large scale scientific observation.
Definitely, whatever I pointed out is not one religion centric, but it is a punch in our face that says Science and Religious Belief is ultimately travelling together, not in a collision course as we may presume. The sheer brilliance of this image manages to inspire me every time I look at it. For all those who want to further study about the authenticity of this image and its technical parameters, you are invited to come here:
A Young Pulsar Shows its Hand
The unison of science and religion is the ultimate feeling that each one of us has to experience. Leaning to either sides is not less entertaining, but you are only missing an even bigger experience!
-Vishnu Chandrasenan (Writer of the Week)
SE, SIES Graduate School of Technology
#
Two words that describe
religion aptly are: grossly misunderstood. What was supposed to be a unlimited
source of knowledge and a perpetual guide has deformed to an irrational,
hypothetical authority that manipulates the masses, exploiting their faith and
sanctions activities which are ironically nothing but sacrilegious. The few of
us who see this corruption at its worst do what we always do, piss and moan
about it impotently. But the truth is that none of us have the slightest idea
of what religion truly is. The new generation has also found the next 'cool'
thing, atheism.
How many of us actually open any religious texts with an intention of finding the truth? How many of us even try to interpret religion in a different way than what has been taught to us? And how many of these few actually find what they seek?
Misinterpretation is the root of all dreadful, corrupt and degrading issues stemming in the name of religion. The concept of religion was formed to unite people with faith, to integrate a society and guide us to salvation. Salvation being very different from what we now believe it to be. The texts survived the tumultuous history not because the stories in them were such a compelling read, rather because they contain a truth in them, a truth with which we all identify. Simple yet absolute.
Religion is not a hindrance, it is a teacher, waiting to give us all the answers we seek, and all we have to do is ask the right questions. The knowledge is in cryptic form, agreed. It is weaved in captivating stories and enchanting verses. The reason being that humankind is yet too young to understand and digest that kind of information. The elaborate mask is to ensure the survival of vital concepts, until we are ready to handle the knowledge. For technology to develop, religion had to take a backseat. One day man will be evolved enough to discover the ultimate revelation lying within us. You may have noticed that I stressed particularly on the knowledge part of religion, there is a directive in Hinduism that 'Buddhism' or intellect alone should be revered, all other emotions just weigh you down, and I find it very true.
How will we know we are ready? What is it that will take us to the next level? That my friend, is the right question.
-Swanand Bhave
SE, SIES Graduate School of Technology
#
Religion is defined as a belief in or a reverence for a supernatural power or powers regarded as creator and governor of the universe. The path of enlightenment, the source of achieving divinity might be some other perceptions of religion.
But is being religious justified in this so called “practical” 21st century? Well, religion with the foundation of science can be the key to the lock of this practicality.
Every community has their own beliefs, customs and rituals that sometimes turn out to be ways of disciplining yourself. So, the question which arises is, do we need a religion to believe in?
Man is surrounded by a world filled with distractions like emotions, responsibilities, duties to perform for fellow beings. Man also needs to cope up with the upheaval that takes place around him and is expected to jump right back into the rat race of survival.
Religion here plays its part:
Traditional practices although as a source of serving to the superior force, but it also is a way of developing a focused life. Right from saying your prayers on time, to visiting the holy shrines or temples regularly sets the needed punctuality in life. A sense of tranquility and serenity is brought into this turbulent life of man by religion. Faith restores the senses in a disturbed mind. A belief that someone up there will make everything right is just the spark that man needs to light his fire and play his role in the world. The force might be perceived as different gods according to regions but the purpose being the same.
However moving on to being practical, which the youth of this century has a strong belief in, even though we act as atheists, somewhere deep down, in our hearts, when things go wrong, we start calling out to that supernatural force.
So I believe religion doesn't have anything to do with what caste, region or community one belongs to. It’s just a source of making people believe in the power of humanity. It is nothing supernatural, It’s just pure science of psychology which makes man fall into its jaws and transfer himself into a delusional, parallel world, for a while, where he can relax and escape from the harsh realities of life.
-Sayali Upasham
SE, SIES Graduate School of Technology
# Epoch
How can I blindly believe?
When I’m learning to doubt.
Hard to understand,
Harder to define,
Your symbiotic relationship with time.
Walking this paradoxical path of life,
Trying to sift my way through,
The lingering words from the hanging hierarchy.
With my brittle brain,
And oh so little time.
Caught in a Mexican stand-off,
With fear and rationality,
But fear brings me down on my knees,
It makes me crawl,
For I’m afraid of an untimely fall,
You can victoriously scream and shout,
When my reason bleeds and cries,
After a well fought bout.
But tell me,
How can I blindly believe?
When I’m learning to doubt.
Time conspires, time inspires,
Time has it all.
It took me a man on a wheel chair
To teach me how to walk
A divine insight succeeding a numbing shock
It’s redundant looking for keys
When you are losing the grasp on the lock
A foot in, a foot out,
As I’m walking through that door,
A timely start to a long due epoch.
-Nilay Shah
Blue Contemplation
SE, D.J. Sanghvi College of Engineering
# Religion: A Matter of Perspective
Before I start, I must point out that Scintilla Weekly has created a rather controversy. But like any other topic they choose, it’s interesting and debatable. I will be only putting forth my views in this topic and try to be as discreet as possible.
Faith-Aplomb-Stability. There comes a point in our lives, when these three things are questioned.
Sometimes up to such an extent that we begin to lose hope. While sadly only few of us are fortunate to have at least ONE loving and supportive person no matter what happens, many are deprived of that complete unconditional support. So whom do we turn to? Who should we rely on? This point of weakness and desperation is where religion plays a role.
Nobody wants to be alone. Everyone wants to be a part of something. Because it gives them security, it gives them confidence that they are doing the activities socially accepted by majority of human race. Don’t get me wrong, belief in god and his existence is good. And following a religion does enhance a person’s perspective. But there are more faults in religion, any religion than anyone can ever imagine.
The concept of God, a mythical all knowing, extremely powerful creature with unending tales of heroism to be told, is a way of manipulation created by human beings themselves to dwell on the weakness and insecurity of other human beings, in order to control them the way they want them to be controlled. If in fact any of the religion is true, take the case of person C and B, C follows a particular religion and worships a particular god of that religion. B follows another religion and worships another God. You might argue with this, but staunch religious believers, will firmly believe that it is their god who exists and not the others. C thinks that B’s God doesn't exist and vice versa. But what gives either of the people any proof that their religion is accurate?
Till now there has been no definite proof that god exists. How did human beings ever get hold of the so called holy book which I would refer rather as a rule book, passed down since generations? These books were obviously made for humans to follow some rules and their freedom to get restricted. Of course, religion teaches us morality, and good and clean conscience. But there are many loopholes to this matter. Some religion strictly prohibits eating animals while the some others celebrates mythical occasions by eating animals. Which of them would be actually correct? That none of us know.
The universe sends us dim signals and it is up to us to interpret it. The way we choose to interpret will help us in our survival. But being the most intellectual creatures on earth, we should at least realize by now that nothing is really definite. And that just because person C does not follow your religion or person B doesn't follow ANY religion, doesn't make them any more inferior or superior. Or it doesn't mean that you’ll can’t have a relationship with each other, platonic or otherwise. Different belief systems don't classify us into different species. We are human, all of us. In your worst times, god will be there to help you, but the rules made in your religion is not necessarily absolute because after all they are being preached by a human being trying to understand the words of an unknown omnipotent creature.
So where does that put us? What should we actually believe? I’m afraid I don't have an answer to that. Because IF I try to force my thoughts into you, and my idea of belief system, I would be no different than the aforementioned people. Trusting your gut and trusting your instinct and trying to understanding the universe and its ways without putting another person's belief system down is probably a smart & peaceful advice I can provide.
-Vignesh VK
SE, SIES Graduate School of Technology
#
He walked towards the altar as the rays of the early morning sun seeped through a few cracks. An eerie silence enveloped. A fog of weary emotion clouded upon him as he slowly proceeded ahead. A rustle of confusion and bewilderment swept through them. He saw the room. Exhilaration. He walked forward. With a raw grinding the door slid open. He could smell burnt oil. "Le Chiave" the voice said. "But.... But I don't...” "Ne avevo paura" and a blade went through the air piercing him. The blade hovered. "For the love of God!" Cried he. And then there was darkness. And silence.
He was at the Le Bellagio at Rome. “Almost immediately, a heavy fist pounded on his door.
Uncertain, He slid off the bed, feeling his toes sink deep into the savonnière carpet. He donned the hotel bathrobe and moved toward the door. "Who is it?” Good morning Monsieur" said the voice. The visitor walked in. He examined it. The room was Spartan—hardwood floors, a pine dresser, and a canvas mat in the corner that served as his bed. He was a visitor here this week. "I heard you are a Professor and expert on symbols and it is I who called you here". He replied groggily “Not so early in the morning. I was supposed to be on a vacation" Monsieur there is no time to loose. Let's leave as fast as we can". He changed into a suit and walked out haplessly.
He was no detective. He was but a Professor of religious iconology and symbology at Harvard University. Born in New Hampshire he was always obsessed with symbols. Right from his early days at Philips Exter Academy. He was raised as a Catholic but never understood the true meaning of God. In his college days with his standard attire being a turtleneck, Harris Tweed jacket, khakis, and collegiate cordovan loafers he used to roam around the green campus studying symbols. He had an eidetic memory. He was in Paris to examine the symbology of the death of the Painter Le Chuze and the High Priest at Vatican.
He walked down the aisle as he came close to the cadaver he saw the bloodied remains. Instantly a wave of nausea hit him. His head had been twisted facing an awkward angle. The body was in the shape of Jesus the redeemer. Petrified and cold as stone the body wouldn't bend a bit. A note lay crumpled in his left hand. A page from a dairy. A half-finished painting lay beside him.
22 June, 2006
“These are the new Dark Ages.
Centuries ago, Europe was in the depths of its own misery—the population huddled, starving, mired in sin and hopelessness. They were as a congested forest, suffocated by deadwood, awaiting God’s lightning strike—the spark that would finally ignite the fire that would rage across the land and clear the deadwood, once again bringing sunshine to the healthy roots.
Culling is God’s Natural Order.
Ask yourself, what followed the Black Death?
We all know the answer.
The Renaissance.
Rebirth.
It has always been this way. Death is followed by birth..."
The rest was an illegible scrawl. He was puzzled. Grey matter racing. He wondered why an artist would write a diary on religion. As he flipped through the pages he came upon a sign. It was a weird sign. An intertwined cross of thorns on a goblet. He was shocked. Could it be possible? Was it true? Thoughts gripped his mind. He could feel an inferno burning in him. An inferno for a quest. He had been quizzed by the very same symbol for ages. The sign if the Brotherhood. The fact that struck him was the cross. It was said that the grail was St. Peters and was believed to cure any man from the most painful disease. It would keep you alive even if you're an inch away from death. But you would have a half-life. A cursed life because you have drunk from something so pure, that you have defiled it with your touch. Over the years men have gone crazy searching for this solution for ever long youth and to cleanse the soul.
He proceeded towards the church. He never believed in God and never went for the Sunday prayer service. Back in his childhood days he used to be the only boy who never wore the sign of the redeemer. He had never read the Bible. Christianity itself was according to him "mundane" and so were other religions. As he entered the Chapel he saw a picture of mother Mary. The word of the artist still in his mind "Dark ages...Black Death...Rebirth...” It makes no sense", he muttered. As the first rays came through the beautifully painted glass windows it fell upon a much unnoticed corner. He walked towards the door and with a heave pushed it open. A passageway led deep underground. He started descending down with great haste. The quench for the grail gripped him. After sometime the path started ascending and finally stabilised. He walked ahead and could see the remains of an old church.
He walked towards the altar as the rays of the early morning sun seeped through a few cracks. An eerie silence enveloped. A fog of weary emotion clouded upon him as he slowly proceeded ahead. A rustle of confusion and bewilderment swept through them. He saw the room. Exhilaration. He walked forward. With a raw grinding the door slid open. He could smell burnt oil. "Le Chiave" the voice said. "But.... But I don't...” "Ne avevo paura" and a blade went through the air piercing him. The blade hovered. "For the love of God!" Cried he. And then there was darkness. And silence. The whole room went out of focus as he staggered down and fell. He saw the grail from the corner of his eye. The pattern deeply inscribed into its metallic body. The murderer spoke a few inaudible words and then said, “Choose wisely...” He struggled and walked ahead to see that there was not one but 100s of cups all similar looking.
Taking a leap of faith he took a sip from the brass one. And it was the victory of science. Elemental science did the trick. There wasn't anything mystical about it. He staggered and took a sip of water. The salts in the water and the brass reacted to form a kind of antidote.
Slowly the blood started clotting and the room came into focus. Bewildered he asked the murderer why he did so and how was he recovering so quickly. He replied, “It’s best to leave something’s unexplained. Science and faith go hand in hand. Let us say that this is an example of it." Saying this, he walked ahead a with the grace of a tennis serve he cast down some powder and vanished. He was left all alone with the grail pondering about an inconvenient truth.
18 years later...
"And that my students is the symbol of the brotherhood of the Grail“ said the Professor. "So is the legend surrounding it true? I mean all those stories..." Asked one student. "Who said they're stories? Just because the sound mythical doesn't mean they're not true. Something's are best left unexplained" said the Professor with a smile. The scars had healed. Saying this the Professor walked out of the Symbology class at Harvard.
-Chaitanya Ramji
SE, SIES Graduate School of Technology
# Do We Really Need Religion Anymore?
I'll start with a story my friend once told me.
Years ago, there was a teacher who had 5 students. Once a month, when the moon was full, without fail, he dragged one of his students to a tree, tied him up and lashed him with a whip. None of his other students’ ever complained or objected, cause he was their teacher, also, they feared they might anger him. So every month, they witnessed this act without questioning it until they themselves grew up to become teachers. And then, they continued this tradition. On a full moon night, they tied one of their students and bate him up. And this continued for a long time. If some wise student questioned it, the teacher, suddenly realizing that he doesn't know why he does it, defensively replied that his teacher and his teacher's teacher did it. It was their religion, it couldn't be questioned.
Reminds you of something?
If just those 5 students took out a moment to realize that their teacher was probably just crazy.
Most religions, in my opinion, are born this way. It has got less to do with God and more to do with what people did in the name of 'God'.
Centuries ago, before science could answer many thing, a small kid must have asked a learned man- why is the wind blowing? Not knowing the answer, but not willing to admit it, ego must have made the learned man reply- "well you know child, there is this powerful person who does it...eh...god!'
Note here, that I make a clear distinction between God and god.
'god' is someone created by the learned to explain what he could not("god created the earth"), someone created my fanatics to make people act according to their will("god told us to kill them") and someone created by smart people to prevent the public from doing harm("god says to live in peace and not consume alcohol")
Religion is nothing but a manifestation of this god.
We do what religious leaders once told us to do. A tradition carried down for generations.
Have you ever wondered what would have happened if Harry Potter was written centuries ago? Maybe we'd be celebrating the day Harry defeated the demon Voldemort or kill snakes like Nagini every year. JK Rowling would be a Veda Vyas.
And then, there is 'God'. I find it very difficult to define him because it means different things to different people. To me, it is hope. It’s to 'God' that we turn when we have problems.
Do you yourself follow everything that your religion once said? One of the books of the Christian text prevents people from shaving and playing on Sundays (Google it if you don't believe me!). Hindu mythology once condemned drinkers of alcohol to hell. None of the religions ever treated women as equals. Do we still live by those rules? We say religion has evolved, but in fact, it is our thinking that has evolved. We all pray to God the same way. Only difference is some of us do it in mosques, others in temples and some in churches. So then, why can’t we all just pray together?
Ina city like Mumbai, I have grown up getting Easter eggs from my neighbor and eating a Ramadan feast at my friend’s house. Born in a family of Hindus, I love the Diwali sweets that my mother prepares and share it with all my friends. Apart from the way our families brought up us, are we really that different?
I'm not here to tell you to give up your beliefs; I'm here, urging you to question it. God and religion are two very different things. I believe, it’s time we evolved to a stage time where we are all just followers of God and not followers of any religion.
Disclaimer: No religion in particular is an intended target, and no offence is meant to anyone.
-Sanjana Krishnan
St. Xavier's College, Mumbai.
# Is being r
In a normal context, both of the words spiritual and religion happen to be synonyms of each other. But as observed in this modern era the word spiritual or spirituality is being increasingly used in an environment where it tends to become divisive from being religious. Now what could this possibly mean? Either people are refusing to accept that they are religious because they are tired of following its ancient doctrines or somehow spirituality is looked at as something completely different, an alternative to being religious.
Basically both religion and spirituality connotes a belief in a higher power of some kind. Whether you are religious or spiritual there is always a desire to connect or enter into an intense relationship with this higher power; no one can deny this. As said, gradually the differences between the two are becoming visible to everyone who is pretty much non-conservative. Looking at some of the valid distinctions between the two may clear the picture.
RELIGON FOCUSES ON WHAT PLEASES MAN, BEING SPIRITUAL FOCUSES ON WHAT PLEASES
GOD. Huge edifices are constructed, beautiful works of art created, beautiful music made and marvellous words are said in the name of religion. But does this ever really mean anything? God never asked for it and never will.
Such an artificial atmosphere is never going to please anybody’s god. Obviously with all such religious materialism spirituality and even atheism becomes an attractive alternative. If one would just visit the widows and orphans, understand their sorrow and help them to get rid of it, that would be the best thing ever done in comparison to those big temples or churches built. This is what spirituality is all about; helping one another, this is what god wants.
RELGION INVOLVES EMOTIONS AND EXTERNALS WHILE SPIRITUALITY INVOLVES THE WHOLE
BEING. From a long time it has become clean and clear that religion depends on emotions and not on reasonable thinking. Awful things have been done in the name of religion and the main brunt of what spiritualists and atheists see to be wrong with religion is what they see as the result of god. Followers of any religion are at times made to believe that by doing certain acts in the name of god they will reach heaven after death. Instilling such false beliefs makes people run away from religion. Being spiritual never involves such things- there is only you and the divine power. Spirituality involves using your mind as well as your body to accomplish god’s will.
RELGION FOLLOWS MAN’S STANDARDS WHILE SPIRITUALITY FOLLOWS GOD’S STANDARDS.
Being religious involves following the accepted behavioural pattern of the religious group we are identified with. These patterns are determined by the leaders of the religious organization. The focus on the organizational endorsements has sent the message to any average lay person that truth is a relative, dynamic, changing thing. The ultimate result of the acceptance of this message is that the religion has little or no effect on how the person lives.
Spirituality involves consuming your life with looking for those who are needy and serving them. Jesus Christ portrayed a successful life as one in which the hungry had been fed, thirsty had been given a drink, those in prison visited and those naked clothed.
In this whole argument why is it that all of a sudden religion has looked like an evil path in front of spirituality when spirituality itself has stemmed from religion? Is spirituality from god and religion from man or is it the other way round? Somehow this is a self-serving distinction which should be left upon each individual to decide.
In January 2012, Jefferson Bethe furthered the SBNR movement “(spiritual but not religious) among evangelical Christians with his YouTube film “Why I hate religion, but love Jesus” in which he criticized organized religion as superficial and hypocritical.
What is interesting is that it is the younger generations of today who are becoming more likely to be identified as spiritual and not religious. In April 2010, the front page of US today claimed 72% of generation Y agrees they are more spiritual. Discussing this with my friends and teachers added a new dimension to it. Everyone I talked to were in favour of spirituality but their reasoning was quite different. One said both religion and spirituality were different, though she said she believed in being spiritual but wasn’t spiritual enough at that moment and it would take some time.
“I only believe what I see,” said another. This gave a taste of atheism.
The rest of them believed being spiritual was easier simply because unlike religion, it doesn’t bind one into ancient culture and traditions. They have their complete freedom.
One of them though had accepted that in the end both the words meant same however she countered it by saying,
“It is because of the representatives of the organized religion that religion has lost its true form.” Finally we have someone to blame. There is something in counter to spirituality as well. Naturally not everyone would go with it. James Martin, a Jesuit priest, has called the SBNR lifestyle “plain old laziness” stating that spirituality without religion can become self-centered complacency divorced from wisdom of a community.
Another question that can erupt into anybody’s mind is that why it is now that people have become aware of what they actually represent? The most probable answer is that the present form of religion appears fake and no longer appeals to people’s consciousness. They react in a more rational way, looking for answers rather than giving into dogmatism of their religion. Today’s fast paced lifestyle has got a lot to do with all of this. In the end it doesn’t even matter what you represent, what matters most is being a good person. How that goodness is expressed is up to the individual.
The most important thing is that a person adds to the beauty and goodness of the world. Having an open mind and an open heart is simply the best way to be and has nothing to do with what religion you follow or whether, you believe in spirituality or not.
-Aman Sharma
SY, B.Sc, St. Xavier's College, Ahmedabad
# Is being r
In a normal context, both of the words spiritual and religion happen to be synonyms of each other. But as observed in this modern era the word spiritual or spirituality is being increasingly used in an environment where it tends to become divisive from being religious. Now what could this possibly mean? Either people are refusing to accept that they are religious because they are tired of following its ancient doctrines or somehow spirituality is looked at as something completely different, an alternative to being religious.
Basically both religion and spirituality connotes a belief in a higher power of some kind. Whether you are religious or spiritual there is always a desire to connect or enter into an intense relationship with this higher power; no one can deny this. As said, gradually the differences between the two are becoming visible to everyone who is pretty much non-conservative. Looking at some of the valid distinctions between the two may clear the picture.
RELIGON FOCUSES ON WHAT PLEASES MAN, BEING SPIRITUAL FOCUSES ON WHAT PLEASES
GOD. Huge edifices are constructed, beautiful works of art created, beautiful music made and marvellous words are said in the name of religion. But does this ever really mean anything? God never asked for it and never will.
Such an artificial atmosphere is never going to please anybody’s god. Obviously with all such religious materialism spirituality and even atheism becomes an attractive alternative. If one would just visit the widows and orphans, understand their sorrow and help them to get rid of it, that would be the best thing ever done in comparison to those big temples or churches built. This is what spirituality is all about; helping one another, this is what god wants.
RELGION INVOLVES EMOTIONS AND EXTERNALS WHILE SPIRITUALITY INVOLVES THE WHOLE
BEING. From a long time it has become clean and clear that religion depends on emotions and not on reasonable thinking. Awful things have been done in the name of religion and the main brunt of what spiritualists and atheists see to be wrong with religion is what they see as the result of god. Followers of any religion are at times made to believe that by doing certain acts in the name of god they will reach heaven after death. Instilling such false beliefs makes people run away from religion. Being spiritual never involves such things- there is only you and the divine power. Spirituality involves using your mind as well as your body to accomplish god’s will.
RELGION FOLLOWS MAN’S STANDARDS WHILE SPIRITUALITY FOLLOWS GOD’S STANDARDS.
Being religious involves following the accepted behavioural pattern of the religious group we are identified with. These patterns are determined by the leaders of the religious organization. The focus on the organizational endorsements has sent the message to any average lay person that truth is a relative, dynamic, changing thing. The ultimate result of the acceptance of this message is that the religion has little or no effect on how the person lives.
Spirituality involves consuming your life with looking for those who are needy and serving them. Jesus Christ portrayed a successful life as one in which the hungry had been fed, thirsty had been given a drink, those in prison visited and those naked clothed.
In this whole argument why is it that all of a sudden religion has looked like an evil path in front of spirituality when spirituality itself has stemmed from religion? Is spirituality from god and religion from man or is it the other way round? Somehow this is a self-serving distinction which should be left upon each individual to decide.
In January 2012, Jefferson Bethe furthered the SBNR movement “(spiritual but not religious) among evangelical Christians with his YouTube film “Why I hate religion, but love Jesus” in which he criticized organized religion as superficial and hypocritical.
What is interesting is that it is the younger generations of today who are becoming more likely to be identified as spiritual and not religious. In April 2010, the front page of US today claimed 72% of generation Y agrees they are more spiritual. Discussing this with my friends and teachers added a new dimension to it. Everyone I talked to were in favour of spirituality but their reasoning was quite different. One said both religion and spirituality were different, though she said she believed in being spiritual but wasn’t spiritual enough at that moment and it would take some time.
“I only believe what I see,” said another. This gave a taste of atheism.
The rest of them believed being spiritual was easier simply because unlike religion, it doesn’t bind one into ancient culture and traditions. They have their complete freedom.
One of them though had accepted that in the end both the words meant same however she countered it by saying,
“It is because of the representatives of the organized religion that religion has lost its true form.” Finally we have someone to blame. There is something in counter to spirituality as well. Naturally not everyone would go with it. James Martin, a Jesuit priest, has called the SBNR lifestyle “plain old laziness” stating that spirituality without religion can become self-centered complacency divorced from wisdom of a community.
Another question that can erupt into anybody’s mind is that why it is now that people have become aware of what they actually represent? The most probable answer is that the present form of religion appears fake and no longer appeals to people’s consciousness. They react in a more rational way, looking for answers rather than giving into dogmatism of their religion. Today’s fast paced lifestyle has got a lot to do with all of this. In the end it doesn’t even matter what you represent, what matters most is being a good person. How that goodness is expressed is up to the individual.
The most important thing is that a person adds to the beauty and goodness of the world. Having an open mind and an open heart is simply the best way to be and has nothing to do with what religion you follow or whether, you believe in spirituality or not.
-Aman Sharma
SY, B.Sc, St. Xavier's College, Ahmedabad
Beautifully written
everything is v well written:))