Today we were discussing a very sad incident. Quite a few pilgrims died due to a stampede at one of the famous over-crowded religious pilgrimage. It was a sad news indeed. But certainly not one of a kind. For similar accidents are known to happen every year.
And each year, the number of accidents are increasing. The death toll rises with every incident. For the number of people that flock to the religious places has risen.
Its paradoxical really... In this modern age of information technology and free thought, more and more people are turning to Religion, God and Rituals.
"How could God allow such a thing to happen to the devotees? Afterall, they were there for God..."
"God never really asked them to come there? If God is everywhere, then one can pray to him in any place. Why the need for a pilgrimage? Just look at the throngs of people crowding all these religious places. Do you really think even God would get a place in so much crowd and commotion?"
I do not mean to say it is really bad to be religious. But in this "Kalyug", more and more people are turning to Religious Rituals, instead of the simple satisfaction of good deeds.
People now believe in the power of "miracles", instead of the straight-forward laws of nature, that God has created for us.
They now believe in supernatural power of an omnipotent God, instead of the ability gifted to them by God to control their own lives, for better or for worse.
They now seek material comfort out of their religious quest, instead of the peace of mind through the pursuit of spiritual awakening and understanding.
And what else can we expect, when one has to pay to buy the God's blessings. When the "God-men" (babas and yogis) have become the proxy for God. When people ask God for a quick-fix, instead of trying to fix their own lives...
When each one of us is equipped with everything one needs to solve all the problems in life. And yet, we want God to do that for us...
That's the unfortunate truth about our religious beliefs today...
And each year, the number of accidents are increasing. The death toll rises with every incident. For the number of people that flock to the religious places has risen.
Its paradoxical really... In this modern age of information technology and free thought, more and more people are turning to Religion, God and Rituals.
"How could God allow such a thing to happen to the devotees? Afterall, they were there for God..."
"God never really asked them to come there? If God is everywhere, then one can pray to him in any place. Why the need for a pilgrimage? Just look at the throngs of people crowding all these religious places. Do you really think even God would get a place in so much crowd and commotion?"
I do not mean to say it is really bad to be religious. But in this "Kalyug", more and more people are turning to Religious Rituals, instead of the simple satisfaction of good deeds.
People now believe in the power of "miracles", instead of the straight-forward laws of nature, that God has created for us.
They now believe in supernatural power of an omnipotent God, instead of the ability gifted to them by God to control their own lives, for better or for worse.
They now seek material comfort out of their religious quest, instead of the peace of mind through the pursuit of spiritual awakening and understanding.
And what else can we expect, when one has to pay to buy the God's blessings. When the "God-men" (babas and yogis) have become the proxy for God. When people ask God for a quick-fix, instead of trying to fix their own lives...
When each one of us is equipped with everything one needs to solve all the problems in life. And yet, we want God to do that for us...
That's the unfortunate truth about our religious beliefs today...
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