Religions are like old photographs
I think religions are like old photographs. Long ago, some lucky folk got a chance to see God (or the universe, or the truth, or whatever) and quickly created an image of him. They used whatever means they had at their disposal. Some made pencil sketches, some took half-decent photographs with whatever cameras they had with them at that point of time.
The lucky folk were moved by the experience and wanted everyone to feel the bliss that they did. So they passed these photographs around among others who were curious. In time, these images became definitive ways of understanding God among people. The people focused their devotion upon the images they had been given.
Eventually, as time passed, the various “people” were forced to come into contact with each other (couldn’t be helped; the planet is only so big) and found that they couldn’t stand each other. This was mostly because the smart ones among them were all dead and the ones that remained were blockheads of the first order.
The blockheads found that their photographs didn’t match. They were pissed. How could these others, they thought in indignation, claim their picture of God to be accurate when it clearly didn’t match the picture we have?
The blockheads erroneously assume that two pictures of the same thing will be exactly the same. Forget God, no two images of any one thing in the universe will ever be exactly the same. There will always be differences because of the angle – because of the perspective from which the pictures were taken.
What the world looks like to us depends on where we are standing. It is stupid to expect details of it to match up. And it is even stupider to fight over those details.
Religions are imperfect images of what God is like. But they are also all we have to point in God’s direction. The wise thing to do is for the blockheads to sit down and compare notes. To talk about things that are common in their different pictures (as opposed to fighting about things that don’t match). Only then will God begin to make sense.
nice thought…..
RK
24 Dec 09 at 7:15 pm
Religion is a myth much like God is. The intent of the post, however, is obvious and a good one. Very smart.
Vijayendra Mohanty Reply:
December 24th, 2009 at 9:42 pm
Rishi: When you say Religion is a myth, do you mean it doesn’t exist?
Rishi Talreja
24 Dec 09 at 8:07 pm
you spoke my mind, really good!
Nirmal
24 Dec 09 at 9:05 pm
The role of religion has always been to define in-groups and out-groups. To tell you who to love and who to hate. Beyond that, it’s all window dressing.
Your mythology is as valid as mine, since rationality has nothing to do with religion.
Non sequitur? Maybe
Vijayendra Mohanty Reply:
December 25th, 2009 at 11:11 am
Navin: I have found, that in most religions, the in-grouping and out-grouping has always been symbolic and that as time passed, the distinctions have become literal. In its original form, most old religions are just plain lessons in compassion.
Navin
24 Dec 09 at 9:49 pm
Nice write up..
If people wud have realized dis earlier den i guess dere religion and caste wud not have been a constraint and no ‘i’ and ‘you’..
Dheeraj
24 Dec 09 at 10:57 pm
Not really. Most of the religions were put together to hold people by common rules and create common understanding about what is wrong and what is right.
For example – Manu asked his followers to create a common moral ground and rules of engagement between people. Shankaracharya took it forward and established as a religion with certain rules and regulation. Most people think that rules were create by Shri Shankaracharya which is not true. Common best practices used by common man were merely casted in to social rules and responsibilities of individual.
Since there was no single king and kingdoms were not persistent, it was important to have some common beliefs enforced by third-party which is independent of kingdoms. Hence we got religion. Religion was also used to fight against common enemies.
In modern world where there are more stable governing bodies like countries, states, global regulatory authority – religion is not that applicable. At least in common sense. Also Ramkrishna Paramhansa proved in 20’s that no matter what religion you follow, all roads lead to one destination. He followed most of the dominant religions and even lived like a woman for some time to verify this fact
Hope this adds to conversation.
Vijayendra Mohanty Reply:
December 28th, 2009 at 10:30 pm
You say religions were… “put together to hold people by common rules and create common understanding about what is wrong and what is right.”
That IS compassion. Caring for others. Putting yourself in another person’s shoes. Doing things together.
And the difference between governments and religions is that religion (when it is a means to acquiring an understanding of God or the universe) is a personal matter. Governments on the other hand, are law and order maintenance units. They lack emotion and therefore, lack mass appeal. People would go to a government for help in worldly matters. But they can’t go to the government for help in understanding their place in the world.
Sushrut
28 Dec 09 at 8:08 pm
Very well written. Perfectly summarised by that line “not two same things will be exactly same to look at”….
But i find ppl who dont believe in religion at all are also in some jeopardy..most of atheists are atheists not because they believe in that atheism ideology but because they hate to follow the rituals in the established religions….i have seen hindus talking i dont believe in religion…then wen we dig deeper into their mind the truth comes out that they dont want to follow because of the very stringent regulations…..
Ppl forget that the main intention of a religion is to make ourself happy..if following religions makes us feel “oh god, this is so…” then the main intention becomes void. So, following religions is not essentially abt following the customs of that religion, customs are only optional.
So, even if someone is not happy with the customs of a particular religion, they need not stop following the religion or believing in it. We need to focus on the main product even if we dont like the freebies..
Following religions makes us feel more secured..makes us feel more socialized..
Those who dont believe in religions need to answer the question “who will i turn towards when i face any crisis”…it is all good when we dont have any problems…but wen we face problems….religion gives us that comfort level….
Krishna
30 Dec 09 at 11:01 am
“The wise thing to do is for the blockheads to sit down and compare notes.” to construct a 3D image of god? I am sure this is one of the images you had in your mind when you wrote this, given the recent spate of blogs on avatar.
P
14 Jan 10 at 3:42 am
Nice Thought RT @vimoh: Why communication between different religions is important http://bit.ly/8zEiG1
This comment was originally posted on Twitter
Vaibhav
25 Dec 09 at 3:53 am
Religions are like old photographs http://ff.im/-dlCct
This comment was originally posted on Twitter
RishiTalreja
25 Dec 09 at 7:55 pm