Science does not need theology to explain the existence of mankind”- Stephen Hawking
My first two years in Delhi as a student of Economics did not have a significant influence on my views about theology. Having an extremely pious and god-fearing father had actually led me to believe in a supernatural power above all of us, although a part of my mind never really saw the rational behind worship, and all the pains my father had endured to get through it. But recently after my introduction to Marxist theories and leftist ideology, I have increasingly become skeptical about the notion of God. The theory proposed by Marx is called the Material Conception Of History, in this theory he challenges Rene De Carts’ philosophy and his most famous statement “I think therefore I am” the essence of this statement being, that it is because of our consciousness that we exist and the other interpretations of this statement is also the belief in the presence of a spirit in every human body etc. Marx disputes this thought by saying that it is because of our material existence that our conscience exists. Since then my belief in theology has been gradually been fading I started finding everything related to God and worship irrational and ludicrous. As Marx famously said that religion is the opium of the masses, the belief that religion is a kind of a drug inducted to the masses so as to make the exploitation meted out to them by the class structure, accept as their fate was outrageous. As the world shifted from feudalistic regimes to capitalist regimes, religion has been molded so as to serve the purpose of the elite, after that I started felling slightly indignant towards the notion of religion and God. May be it is because of this belief that I have towards theology that I have off late begun to find out the flaws that are inbuilt in the whole convention of worship and religion.
As I was a born as a Hindu, my observations have majorly been about this religion. In most of the Indian states eating beef is considered a sin, but if you go to Kerala you fill find that beef is considered a delicacy, not only by Christians but also buy Hindus. And one of the biggest temples in India Sabrimala, is located in Kerala. This is the paradoxical nature of the religion. In the 21st century, as consumerism becomes pervasive and is apparent in every aspect of our life, seems like it has even entered in to matters of our faith, you go to a temple you have different rates for different ceremonies, I am guessing to please the gods at different levels. You donate a ton of your black money to wipe of your sins, and then start afresh. The main idol is given more time or more importance than the other idols, which are placed around the main deity in smaller sanctorum probably because they are less powerful or inferior in some manner. It baffles me that pious people make such choices in something as important as faith. Everything has become a matter of convenience, people go to the temple if they can jump the line by paying through it, they go to the temple if they get the MLA to call the temple authorities. There are numerous such examples due to paucity of time I am unable to present them all.
I have seen people who have transformed from being a rationalist to a complete theist. It is explainable because religion provides succor, a solace to mind during times of distress. When man is in a dire state and feels completely helpless, he seeks solace in a higher power for he feels he cannot solve the problem although unconsciously working towards the problem, and when he gets out of it (which is the logical outcome) the first thing he realizes is not his prowess, but the “miracle” of the supernatural power above him thus reinforcing his belief in god. The problem with us is that in our country we have got used to everything, we don’t question, we don’t feel outraged.
Religion is just a tool used by hypocrites to manipulate people for their own interest. Caste barriers created by religion have acted as fetters to our country’s development. For generations the “upper” castes have exploited the “lower” castes in the name of religion and the Hindu concept of Karma. They have rationalized the exploitation, with this concept of Karma, that the lower castes were born to serve the upper castes and it was the result of the sins committed by them in their ‘previous’ life.
My apologies to all the theists who have found my views blasphemous.
