The big delusion…

Do we humans truly need the concept of God, religion, heaven, hell, paradise, etc. to be good people ?

There are many who think so.

Frankly, I don’t understand how anybody can buy it ! To me, it seems exactly similar to a mother trying to discipline her child by saying that, a monster will come and eat you up if you misbehave, or that some scary stranger will come and take you away if you don’t eat your food, and so on. Though, the difference there is that, when the child grows up, he realises that it was all a game, and has a good laugh over it.

But in this case (God), the child never comes out of the delusion !

I know, I might be wrong in calling it a delusion, because afterall I don’t have any evidence to prove it. Just like the believers don’t. But they still choose to keep the faith.

In any case, if God is really a nice, forgiving person, then why is He so intent on making people believe in him ?! Ideally, it shouldn’t matter. Is it because His ego is hurt ?? I think, all that matters is that you live a good life, treat everybody and everything around you with respect, not cause any harm intentionally, etc. But apparently, that is not enough to guarantee an entry into heaven/ paradise/ whatever you choose to call it. You also need to believe in Him.

WHY ???

P.S. This is an unedited post written in a fit of fury (after having read some intensely religious articles). I guess, I will update it later.

Two ways of looking at it !

Aaaargh…there are a few things, which I so badly want to blog about. But I cannot, for fear of this blog being banned next ! The last thing I want is to see that familiar white screen with big bold red letters saying ‘SITE BLOCKED’, when I try to login to my own page !

Any case, that is probably the worst that can happen (I assume !). Considering the fact that Alexander Solzhenitsyn was imprisoned for 8 years in the labour camps of Gulag, only because he wrote some unsavoury things about Stalin in one of his letters to his friend, I guess I am so much better off !

Rich or Poor ?

I feel poor today.

It is very unlike me to feel that way. I have always maintained that richness is more a state of mind, than the state of your bank balance. I personally know people, whose miserly attitude truly belies their bulging pockets. And I also have met people who are the exact opposite of that – those who never think twice before giving away something to others, though they might not be in a position to do so, comfortably.

As for me, I don’t recall a time when I really wanted something badly, and couldn’t afford to get it. It helps that I don’t have very expensive tastes ! So, I have always considered myself well-off. Until today, that is.

S happens to be working in the field of credit cards. Today was one of those days, when some issue came up, because of which he had to get some work done, while at home enjoying his weekend. He had to make some changes in the database, which entailed him going through the transactions made by one of the card customers. I happened to see them too (big mistake !).

This person had spent unbelievable amounts of money, shopping in the most expensive places all around the world, for an entire month ! In fact, his one month credit card bill amounted to a figure, which I would probably never earn in my lifetime ! Just the thought that I could never ever attain that state, makes me so sad. I wonder, if people like this person even realise the value for money. Born a shaikh, he has obviously been brought up in the lap of luxury. And his next few generations will also continue to live in a similar fashion…

Sometimes, the gross disparity in the world just makes me feel, it is all so unfair…