tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8222122824332668034.post6869588488678923953..comments2024-03-15T23:48:45.869-04:00Comments on Oh, the humanity of it all!: The Curious Case of Two IndiasSUIRAUQAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17918432443330964561noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8222122824332668034.post-81075966057395968692011-10-27T17:08:56.705-04:002011-10-27T17:08:56.705-04:00Thank you for your kind words, Prateek. I don'...Thank you for your kind words, Prateek. I don't disagree at all with what you said here, except - perhaps - at one point. You don't think that all practice that is religious in nature is worthless. I'd beg to differ in a subtle way. I'd say: all practice that is worthy remains worthy whether performed for a religious reason or not. However, in that context, one must pay heed to the statutory caution offered by Christopher Hitchens, namely, 'Religion poisons everything'. I agree with you also about the morality codes, but - I am sure you understand it too - morality and ethics do not stem from religious teachings or need the crutches of religion. Sanity and rationality demand a moral and ethical way of life, if you think about it. <br /><br />Anyway, do try to start with Geek Nation ASAP. Angela has done a great job with it.SUIRAUQAhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17918432443330964561noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8222122824332668034.post-1809388944455549492011-10-27T11:02:35.131-04:002011-10-27T11:02:35.131-04:00This is one of the most incredible blog posts I ha...This is one of the most incredible blog posts I have ever read - thank you so much...!!<br /><br />In parts it's as if you've read my mind and written my opinions for me :-). I too grew up in a Hindu household and became a scientist and rationalist, although I'll come to a way in which I may differ from you later. Either way I identify with what you've written here immensely. Particularly the part about dissonance between actions and so-called beliefs.<br /><br />I wonder if there's also another reason for the insistence on a literal interpretation of the Vedas etc, and hence the rather desperate attempts to science-ize the scriptures. That is, the abject failure of ordinary people to see the Mahabharata/Ramayana/Gita/Vedas/Upanishads etc as allegorical - as something more than a human story that signifies a moral code, something to be interpreted literally.<br /><br />If we saw the ten heads of Raavana as an allegory, a simile, as something that represents his immense intelligence and arrogance, then we wouldn't be tempted to search for pseudo-scientific explanations for him actually having ten heads - cos he didn't. Likewise the powerful arrows; they're all a literary tool employed to embellish an essential human morality tale, not some sort of accurate newsreel reporting of real events.<br /><br />This goes back to the critical thinking point - whilst we are taught to analyse scientific things, we are taught to accept religious teaching at face value - widening the gap between reality and myth.<br /><br />Having said that, and I say this with all respect, I don't think all practice that is religious in nature is worthless. I personally don't need to believe in a God in the conventional sense, as I like you see how the world works through the laws of nature, but I still see value in collective contemplation and reflection that others call prayer - I just invoke the Force rather than praying to a God. I also see the value of Hindu (and for that matter other religious) teaching when it comes to morality codes - I just wish that these could be separated out from the pseudo-scientific mumbo jumbo superstition that clouds enlightened thinking in so much that goes on in India and amongst the diaspora.<br /><br />anyway the Geek Nation has been on my reading list since publication and I must now get round to reading it!!<br /><br />Cheers - oh and in a possibly ironic twist, Happy Diwali :-)teekbloghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16373974669367838018noreply@blogger.com