Pages
Stay In Touch
More
© 2012 Sanjeev Sabhlok's revolutionary blog
This is a question about which I've been curious but not sufficiently anxious to find a firm answer – given the huge amount of work involved and the low probability that mankind will ever be able to say something sensible on this matter that everyone can agree with. So I've kept this question open - whether there s a God or not, whether there is one God or many, whether there is a 'devil' or 'rakshsa', or even whether we are all part of 'God' (advaita). This question is, to me, work in progress. I politely listen to everyone, then move on, unconvinced. It is very hard, in my view, to scientifically prove or disprove the existence of God.
However, on matters on which evidence is clear – the harm that organised religion has caused – I do have a firm view. I firmly oppose organised religion. See my 1982 article in the Caravan magazine - a view that I've continued to hold. To me there are evidence-based costs and benefits of the God belief, and that's what really matters. And all roads lead to tolerance and religious freedom, a prototype classical liberal view.
Yesterday I accidentally chanced upon Victor Stenger's book : "God, the Failed Hypothesis: How Science Shows that God Does Not Exist", and am currently browsing through it. From what little I've read let me say I'm thoroughly impressed with it, and will purchase one for my personal library. In particular, certain scientific facts that have not been as clear to me as they should have now become clear. It is always good to find a good book that teaches new things.
Have a read of the book yourself and tell me what you think.
Here's a presentation (here or here) in which Stenger summarises his book. And here's a short article by Stenger on this topic. Below, is a Youtube video where Stenger debates with a God believer: Stenger also has a number of other Youtube videos.
Before you get swept away, here are some contrarian views (and I'm sure many others)
Victor Stenger Imposes a "Convention" on Science
Does the Theory of Evolution Make Predictions?
http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charvaka
If you found this post useful, then consider subscribing to my blog by email:
Join the Freedom Team of India or become a Freedom Partner.
Related posts:
- God’s ongoing struggle against science
- Preliminary taxonomy of God (i.e. types or categories of God)
- The costs and benefits of God
- Vivekananda on science and reason – and a “reason-based” approach to the properties of God
- Spiritual healing works! (But so does a tape recorded message)
- A simple test of your God’s strength
- Do not worship false Gods – such worship is fatal!
- Why so many religions? – a Christian view
- The United Nations: a united voice against freedom?
- We may still “need” God, but not to explain the universe
To spread the message of liberty and critical thinking, please share this post
Is there a #God?: This is a question about which I've been curious but not sufficiently… http://goo.gl/fb/NV2Qa
Classical Liberal view on this ideally would be of non interference in the individual beliefs. I can believe whatever I want to as long as I dont impose that on others. Supporting the idea of no God would again affirm the same. Being an atheist is not Liberal. Hell even an agnostic cannot be a true Liberal. As long as he believes in a view and doesnt abhore others for their differences of the same he cant be a liberal. True Liberal is neither anti religion nor non religious nor is he a theist. He is just insolent to what others think or feel. He merely sticks to himself
You may refer.
http://idealworldkrishna.blogspot.com/2011/11/does-god-exist.html
From facebook,
जिज्ञासु जिज्ञासु
Q: WHAT IS GOD?
A: Compare God to the ocean
Compare the individual to the wave
and Compare the self, the AtmA, to the water
The very content of the wave (water), is also the content of the ocean (water)…
You, the self, manifest as jeev (individual), jagat (universe), and ishvara (God)
Imagine, in a dream the dream floor, the dream sky, the dream people, the dream mountain etc, they are all manifested from you alone, and yet inside the dream they appear to be outside of you, when in reality they are all within you, a projection of your mind.
This entire universe is a projection of the self.
Again, this will not be digested by many of you, and might be considered as blasphemy, but these are the teachings of the Vedas, and here is the evidence :)
Sarvam khalvidam brahman- All that there is, is brahman (chAndogya Upanishad, chapter 6 verse 2, from the Sama Veda)
Ayam AtmA Brahman – This self (AtmA) is brahman (Mandukya Upanishad 1.2 of the Atharva Veda)
Prajnanam Brahman – Consciousness is brahman ((Aitareya Upanishad 3.3 of the Rig Veda)
Tat tvam asi – You (the self) are that (brahman)…Chandogya Upanishad 6.8.7 of the Sama Veda)
Aham Brahman Asmi – I am brahman (Brhadaranyaka Upanishad 1.4.10 of the Yajur Veda)
@sanjeev This is very sensitive issue.
When i look at the night sky, i filled with feelings of awe and wonder at the overwhelming beauty and power of the universe. And, when i look at people in my society, i filled with feeling of damn, Mr. Einstein is so right, “Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I’m not sure about the former”
I am a Pantheist (not Panentheist). I don’t believe in personal god (so, No Hare Rama No Hare Krishna and my parents don’t like this at all). I believe in the unity of universe and god, in simple words universe itself is God.
Some useful links -
1- http://www.pantheism.net/, The World Pantheist Movement
2- http://tinyurl.com/74rzxqo,Panthesim vs Panentheism
3- http://tinyurl.com/bwngeo,
4- http://tinyurl.com/cjfsyv, A message by Carl Sagan.
Sidenote:
While choosing your party members, please judge their religious views. You need leaders who will see things from a different perspectives, otherwise you will face communal politics with in your party and of-course in India.
India really need to get out of superstitions and communal politics.
Doing something good for India would be a phenomenal achievement and great contribution to humanity beacuse India has about one-Sixth of the World’s Population.
Regards,
Jack
THERE IS NO GOD I”M SURE I KNOW IT
its the definition of the word GOD – most ppl from all religions think of god as a person who has supernatural powers like someone who is standing next to you but is INVISIBLE and all its just bullshit .. i dont even see the need to argue/debate/think abt GOD but the world today is ruined by INDOCTRINATION – creating bots and teaching them not to question the scriptures JUST DONT QUESTION and if anyone does then have “FAITH, it’s true” and then all those laws to keep on lives on ppl i’m born catholic and the church wants full control till say u r 18 – till then ders baptism(at birth), catechism(kid age), confirmation(at age 17 or 18 or later for marriage) .. anyway the war against god and religion is on with guys like sam harris, dawkins, hitches leading the front with their amazing explanations and research so lets say a 100 more years of this nonsense will go on.
You have to respect others beliefs! You cant go ranting about there’s no god!
I’m respecting others right to their beliefs. We need to be clear that these are beliefs that do not stand up to reason. Also, any action to harm others because of these beliefs is inconsistent with liberty.
As long as there is death and weakness in human mind and heart there shall be faith in god :)