Religion evolved
during the primordial stage from superstition. Primitive men experienced a
sense of awe by observing the natural phenomena and attributed it to a kind of
spirit. They propitiated these spirits by prayers. The concept of God evolved
later on.
God is characterized
as omnipotent and omnipresent, in other words knowing everything, able to be
everywhere at the same time and powerful to do everything.
We are myth
makers. It does not confine directly to the objective reality. It is a state of
mind rather than an external fact.
Universe can be explained
without reference to supernatural power. Ages ago, universe and everything
within it exploded into being. There is no beginning and there is no end.
Galaxies are continued to be formed from matter.
Faith is opposed
to reason. Adherents to God believe that universe and mankind are God’s creations.
As Darwin said people will see what they want to see and what is consistent
with their beliefs.
Do we need
mediators, the priests, the cardinal, the pope, the messiah? Why are we afraid
of giving up the idea of God? Why can’t we accept the fact that there is no
hell or heaven? Why can’t we get rid of the fear and ask rational questions to
know the unknown and reach out to the truth?
Religions,
family, society, culture, philosophy and everything reflect on the helplessness
of the human mind. The first experience of the child is that of fear and the last
experience of a man is also fear. The mind in fact projects the feeling of
insecurity created by God.
God is a
hypothesis created by priests to keep you in perpetual fear. When fear
disappears there is innocence.
Organized religion has emerged as a means of providing social and economic stability.
Religion enhances communities in which human relations can flourish. It has
also shaped civilizations, laws and moral codes, social structure, art, music
etc.
Conversion of people from other religions
became a regular activity supported by religious leaders as they thought it was
a service to their Gods. It also led to bloodshed, wars.
Independent
thinking is opposed by religion. To search for truth one has to become free
from religious beliefs. Religion convinces you to trust some outside force,
such as deity. It attempts to force you to pray, attend churches, temples,
mosques and even motivate you to memorize religious texts. You become a faithful
adherent, unable to think independently.
Religious
beliefs are a by-product of your environment and not a conscious choice.
Religion rules by fear. Fear of hell, fear of excommunication, fear of abandoning.
You live with consistent fear and it prevents you to make your own choice.
In the name of
God, violence and terrorism are perpetuated by certain sections of people. This
is against human rights. You are
prevented to choose any other religion. Women’s rights are constrained. They
are subjected to diverse forms of oppression. They try to control human bodies
and sexuality than their rights as a human being.
Followers of
religion think that any attack on their religion is an attack on their God.
Religion is used as an economic tool to exploit the gullibility of people in
favor of rich and powerful for political domination of the world order. It is
a biggest obstacle to scientific development and success. Religion has always
been the cheapest and most effective way of controlling the masses.
Supernatural power known as God is opposed
to organized religion, which controls people mentally and spiritually giving no
space for any freedom. By identifying as a particular religious group your
spiritual growth of accepting humanity as a whole is prevented.
The idea of freedom and responsibility comes
from conscious awareness. Freedom from a rigid outlook will enable us to
identify the humanity as a whole indivisible family.
We have to accept certain fundamental
values such as non violence, respect off life, justice and solidarity,
trustfulness and tolerance as integral values to promote love and peace on
earth.
