“As gravity is to the balance of the body, faith is to the balance of the mind.”
How true the statement is! The reason we can stand erect without falling is because the centre of gravity passes through our body when we stand. Similarly, faith is what helps us to have an emotional balance.
I don’t think there exists, a single man who doesn’t have faith. The faith word itself implies trusting blindly not because you can’t question it rather that you don’t. If you think you don’t trust anyone blindly, think again. How many times have you taken the pills your doctor has given without verifying their effect? Even if you check the content, then you are trusting the Internet, the manufacturer or someone. All I want to say is that the world thrives on faith. It may not not always be a religious faith but could also be a total faith on science or a philosophy.
I may not believe that fasting might help someone attain Nirvana but if someone does, I need to respect his belief. After all, belief makes a man. Most religions spread the beliefs that a good deed is a must for salvation. This is one belief which saves mankind. You may not attain salvation with goodness but if this faith strengthens, we might get to live in a good society. I don’t see a reason to tell someone, salvation doesn’t exist, you can behave however you want. The person doesn’t need to care. He can commit fraud, murder, sexual assault, there is no God or Hell. All he has to do is fool or manipulate the law.
However, faith isn’t always used for the good. Sometimes, people are lulled into believing that they need to do some heinous activities like human sacrifice to appease the Gods. This is where, rationalism is necessary. The most important question is, ‘is anything in the world worth harming someone else for it?’ Similar was the faith which divided the society. Why would God who created everyone be partial to any of his creations? If you still think, it must be true because of any scriptures, ask any mother who’s her favourite child?
The problem with faith like all other qualities is that the lines between good and evil are blurred.It is easy to differentiate between them when you know the right answer. But, for someone who has been conditioned into believing that the wrong is right, it is very difficult to make them see light.
No building can be strengthened by widening the cracks or trying to change the foundation itself. We need to guide people to the right path by slowly modifying their beliefs not by shattering their faith. As for harmful superstitions, Maharashtra govt. has started the process of stopping them by making a law. There are still many years to go before people learn to question their own faith without any outside influence.
What is your opinion about faith? What is that one faith that has been your pillar through life? Is it a belief in the Creator or your own self? Has it helped you overcome any problems? Or has your faith changed or evolved with time? I'd love to hear about your experiences.
Subscribe to receive a free copy of the short story 'Testimony of Faith'.
The first sentence uttered by Dr. Dattaprasad Dabholkar surprised me. It wasn’t the sentence, but the man saying it. Dr. Dattaprasad Dabholkar is the elder brother of Dr. Narendra Dabholkar, a renowned anti-superstition activist who classifies faith as superstition against rationalism.
How true the statement is! The reason we can stand erect without falling is because the centre of gravity passes through our body when we stand. Similarly, faith is what helps us to have an emotional balance.
I don’t think there exists, a single man who doesn’t have faith. The faith word itself implies trusting blindly not because you can’t question it rather that you don’t. If you think you don’t trust anyone blindly, think again. How many times have you taken the pills your doctor has given without verifying their effect? Even if you check the content, then you are trusting the Internet, the manufacturer or someone. All I want to say is that the world thrives on faith. It may not not always be a religious faith but could also be a total faith on science or a philosophy.
I may not believe that fasting might help someone attain Nirvana but if someone does, I need to respect his belief. After all, belief makes a man. Most religions spread the beliefs that a good deed is a must for salvation. This is one belief which saves mankind. You may not attain salvation with goodness but if this faith strengthens, we might get to live in a good society. I don’t see a reason to tell someone, salvation doesn’t exist, you can behave however you want. The person doesn’t need to care. He can commit fraud, murder, sexual assault, there is no God or Hell. All he has to do is fool or manipulate the law.
However, faith isn’t always used for the good. Sometimes, people are lulled into believing that they need to do some heinous activities like human sacrifice to appease the Gods. This is where, rationalism is necessary. The most important question is, ‘is anything in the world worth harming someone else for it?’ Similar was the faith which divided the society. Why would God who created everyone be partial to any of his creations? If you still think, it must be true because of any scriptures, ask any mother who’s her favourite child?
The problem with faith like all other qualities is that the lines between good and evil are blurred.It is easy to differentiate between them when you know the right answer. But, for someone who has been conditioned into believing that the wrong is right, it is very difficult to make them see light.
No building can be strengthened by widening the cracks or trying to change the foundation itself. We need to guide people to the right path by slowly modifying their beliefs not by shattering their faith. As for harmful superstitions, Maharashtra govt. has started the process of stopping them by making a law. There are still many years to go before people learn to question their own faith without any outside influence.
What is your opinion about faith? What is that one faith that has been your pillar through life? Is it a belief in the Creator or your own self? Has it helped you overcome any problems? Or has your faith changed or evolved with time? I'd love to hear about your experiences.
Subscribe to receive a free copy of the short story 'Testimony of Faith'.
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very well written Kiran. we often show our disrespect to other's belief forgetting that we have no right to to do that. I can either respect or refute someone's belief but in no case can hurt it.
ReplyDeleteThanks Maniparna. Indeed, we need to refrain from hurting somebody's faith.
DeleteI think its my own self.Nice article though :)
ReplyDeleteThanks. It's always good to trust your own self because we are our own ardent well-wishers.
Delete