Like always it was a nice read! <3 it...

Thanks Mercy,

Like I mentioned earlier, this was a sensitive thread which spoke only sentiments, although some words did sound like I challenged faith of individuals, I sincerely didn't mean it. Just my opinion which doesn't believe in godhood. I am glad you liked it.

"I am my own provider, I earn, I feed myself, I endure criticism and survive miseries and I will die someday and your god cannot change a damn thing about it. And if you think I am unhappy, you are incorrect" can't agree more on this.

This is one of my favorite of George Carlin's stand ups.


https://youtu.be/gPOfurmrjxo

Behoove, I love the flow of thoughts, expression and verbalization of thoughts that do not normally make it outside of one's head. Always a treat reading your postings.

Nakkali,

Thank you from the bottom of my heart, I reiterate I am thrilled every time I read your replies. Just like the Carlin’s video you posted above, there is a Ted Talk by Dan Dennett related to the same subject matter and a book in 'Breaking The Spell: Religion As A Natural Phenomenon'. He is a cognitive philosopher, a true realist, and his arguments over around the reasoning behind embracing baseless faith than an unconcealed and justified reality.

Ne0,

Thank you for your compliment kind sir. To your point, I find it frustrating that many perceptive individuals in us, who base their judgments on scientific theories and axioms, are still blinded by their belief in god and faith which surprisingly aligns very little with what they believe in to make their living. I recently met a structural engineer in Chicago, a good one at that, who was teaching his teenage son about monkeys hurling stones in the ocean and how they floated. While I understand that he might have wanted to make him aware about hindu religion and allegories attached to it, he did not think, inadvertently maybe, that he was telling him facts he doesn’t himself believe in, at least while at work.

I live in a bible belt, and you should see how this state has been governed by staunch jesus lovers, and when they love jesus more than their text books, it foretells an academic and professional apocalypse. States like Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Carolinas even majority of Texas and Georgia (and other conservative states) cannot flourish like liberal states in East and West coast because of their close adherence to faith that demands theism with science and technology, which to me is fusing gospel with hardcore rap. Same goes with South Asian and African nations, we will remain uneducated and poor because our culture is secured with religion and faith which hinders any liberal attempts we make to make our lives better.

It is a sorry situation, really.

Great read behoove, as always..

Last time I went to Nepal, I found that all the old temples had a makeover. Every temple looks the same with oil stained Chinese ittas and same architecture...

There was even a new one built on "Sarwajanik Jagga" in my tole. The rationale behind building the temple was - It was a prime land and everyone around the neighborhood wanted to grab it when they had the means( you know source, force), so better build a temple so that no one would dare to occupy the land. O tempora, O mores..

Yacc,

Thank you. Long time huh!

I smiled reading what you just mentioned. They could have done without a temple and made a school or a park or a children playground, but it must not have occurred to anyone there. From the tourism point of view I understand that they want to make more temples to preserve and display our rich heritage in whatever way they could, but Kathmandu has enough temples, actually we can totally dismantle few of them. What we need is more orphanages, rehab centers, old homes which could be of greater cause to humanity.

Yeah behoove, long time...

The irony is, they did... For some years, some trees were planted and a park was named.

Sadly, it became more of a dumping ground - construction waste and not to mention human waste as trees provided some sort of privacy. Now, with a mandir, no one does so kinabhane "paap lagcha" aba... :)

Damn, what did they do to you in the Bible belt, my dear Behoove? :) As an atheist it is easy to empathize with your frustrations. Here's my experience on the subject: it is hard to change any minds when atheism is presented as the right to the wrong of religion. It's like selling ice to an Eskimo - such a feat is plausible more in the classroom rather than the actual marketplace, no matter how convincing an argument one can make. However, when atheism is presented as a choice that delves deeper, and maybe even transcends the vastness of religion, it often becomes a lot more appealing.

Just my thoughts.

Vivant. Applause! Very well said. I couldn’t agree more. If it were not because of this salary and a cheaper cost of living, I would have left this place in a midnight train with a pledge to never return again. So piggybacking over what you mentioned, I could propose oodles of arguments in support of atheism, and perhaps could even have listeners spellbound during that session, only to make them visit Pashupatinath on their way home – as an everyday routine. Faith and religion is embedded so deep in us, the most credible argument in multitude of sessions wouldn’t be able to change our minds. I have a coworker who works hard, very hard, and as a token of appreciation, the management awarded her a brand new ipad, and a ticket to Thunder’s game, her favorite team. Minutes later she came and told me that god is very kind. You see, when it comes to belief and faith, even incentives do not work so well, let alone arguments.

"Which again means Gods are only angered by the people that belong in their own cult than the ones who are not."

I always was kinda taken aback thinking the same thing that you said in above sentence.... how come there are no hindu temple or old mosque in new world and how come there are no churches in old worlds ? If god existed be it hindu, catholic or whatever or whoever why is it limited to certain geographic locations.....

But then again no matter how much we chatter about non existence of god, in the end when we are troubled what do we do or think of is that superior power from somewhere deep within.....

I totally agree with your piece here to serve the world via human feeling ... at least comfort who is near or around, help those who are in need, help excel someone, support a disadvantaged student may be, even if you cannot support financially support morally or guide to the path of positivity.... and along with it go keep your faith alive... we can keep best of both the worlds and move on ....

nice read once again Beehove Ji.

AND THUNDER ROCKS :)

- Thaha Chaena

As always,it surely is a treat to read what you write and this one carries the same rich flow of thoughts and language that you usually carry,delivering the best.Reading your writings from some good time,I surmised you have intense dislike towards "Hindusim" and the fables it contains.Great minds have always questioned the validity of god and their affairs,,ignoring their presence,when all the things in this world have to be carry by oneself without a sight of God any where.Neitche declared God is dead,inventing a new model of God himself,naming uber men while the whole world thought he was anything but a mad scientist.Rushdie loathed Islam and revered his Muhammad with a pet name "Ma-hound"in his holy verses..But,I like them both..not for questioning about the God but for the very reason for "questioning".Only an open and animate mind would start any questioning of things when their proofs are nowheretobefound and would talk candidly about their follies which sounds like more than alright.Have enjoyed all your stories that I read which I don't miss any and this one is just as good as it should be.And,I just happen to remember a monk who told me God likes to hide himself from humans and I did laugh for some time not knowing why would anybody like to do that??.Keep writing and we'll keep enjoying :D

People who enjoyed this will surely enjoy the prequel -

You, my dear have sinned but the good news is you ain't going to hell since you don't believe in it or do you? I have often asked myself if there is God. I feel that there is a higher power but have not named it, maybe god or cosmic engery or an engery within myself.
Nice read as always!

Nice read. As I always tell myself, there is No God in this earth but still I believe in rich Hinduism. I think religion and culture are same. Each culture has different culture and follow the religion differently. There is no right no wrong. It all depends upon oneself.
As I read yours, I came to point that there is only one reality in this earth. If you are born, one day u have to die. So why trouble oneself with all this bullshits. By this I donot mean do not trust on religion. I am hindu and have right to become hindu in my own way. I eat beef that does not mean that I am not hindu. I eat pork that doesnot mean I am not muslims. Everyone has their own rights to practice their own thoughts.
As I said religion and culture are interlinked, for me those old folks few hundreds of years ago decided that how we should live. Its not fair. They did what was supposed to be done at that moment of time. We need to change with time.
But again I say, I am hindu and I go to temple and pray everyday to god and at the same time I eat beef.

Behoove_me,
Always a pleasure to read your writings...Very thought provoking as usual..I am sure a lot of people could relate to this piece too. Similar thoughts have crossed my mind multiple times...Never fully believed in God while growing up and always questioned God's existence..Very well written my friend..

As always I enjoyed this creative piece, but this thrill of mine does not have anything to do with mockery of other individual’s belief. Though I do believe in non-existence of any gods, but being tied to my roots, parents and society, I respect whatever they believe in. With world I celebrate every religion, for people like me it is more of a reason to have some good fiesta and siesta and enjoy the colors of life. However, those religious fanatics spoil my calm pond and invites me to do that Natraj thing with third eye open. BTW, it is still in argument if excessive leaning towards atheism is supposed to be considered as another religious fanatic? 

@ Behoove_me - I really liked your flow of writing. I believe in a paradox. If you believe God is real then God isn't real but at the same time if you don't believe in god then god is real.