So, the world has not ended – yet! Here I was checking to see if the end of world came to any part of the world, with bated breath, only to see no evidence of it. Apparently the man who started it all, Harold Camping is missing in action ever since it became clear that his prediction was not coming true. I don’t blame him. He can’t possibly hang around and claim miscalculation again.
It does make me wonder about blind faith. It is amazing how so many people believe in matter of faith so blindly. I am sure it must take a lot of devotion and belief to have such unwavering faith. I am such a sceptic that I personally find it quite amazing that so many people believe so completely, when it comes to matters of faith.
The other day, I had two men who knocked at my door and tried to sell me some religious propaganda.While I found it very difficult to convey to them that I am not interested. Whatever excuses I came up with, they would counter. Only people who believe strongly that their faith is the ‘right way’, would be able to even try at this level, is what I think. For instance, I have been brought up in a very liberal household where my parents are spiritual, but they have never forced us to do stuff, or believe that our way is the only way. So I have it easy in the sense, that I am not burdened by expectations of the religious sort.My faith or someone else’s faith is no something that matters to me – it is very private, for me. I have met others, who believe so strongly that going to the temple on such or such day, etc.. People who judge people based on their faith. They have grown up in such conditioning that they are able to believe in things like this – without question. Not just believe, also toΒ Β convince others that their way of life is the best. While I am not burdened byΒ religious expectations, it also makes me cynical in my approach. I find it difficult to treat ‘God’ as someone who will take care of everything for me. While others who believe, find it much easier to ‘submit’, if I may call it that. To be able to believe that someone up there will ‘take care’. That is what faith is supposed to be, is what I am told.
Faith is something that fascinates me and scares me. It is so easy to convince people of so many things just by invoking faith. The gentlemen who came to my house the other day, was convinced that I was in need of being ‘saved’ and that he is doing humanity a favour by saving souls of non-believers. Similarly, others believe that they need to save their faith by whatever means, violence included. Faith makes people look up to people, and makes them look down on people.
It fascinates me how faith can be such a powerful tool, a tool which could be used to unite and and what truly scares me, is how easy it is to invoke faith to divide.
A lot of times people mix up faith with religion. And this is what makes it easy to untie people or divide them..
Absolutely.. And a lot of people believe that their faith/religion is the only right one..
The last line..amazing…in India its so easy to just make people do things by evoking faith/religion..while faith in God I have, I dont think I follow any particular religion..and again, faith in the superior being is just a personal matter na, its bad to force it on someone
Exactly! It is a purely private matter, and if kept so, the world would be such a peaceful place.
The hold faith has on people never ceases to amaze me. And that has been taken advantage of time and again by opportunists and corrupt politicians.
I know. And I guess the exploitation will continue as far as people continue to believe.
The last line said it all! I hv nothing to add!
Thanks Swaru!
Gee… and I didn’t even know of this prediction until I read ur link… π
Where do these psychos originate from anyway!!! π
You didn’t π It was even covered on the telly here:)
Take a bow!! Brilliant post, Smitha!!
Thanks Pals!
You said it for me with this line ‘My faith or someone elseβs faith is not something that matters to me β it is very private, for me’.
That is what I believe in, and I find it annoying when others take the liberty to preach to me, you know..
Ditto. My thoughts exactly!! My faith/religious views are entirely mine and I don’t ever want to convince or want to be convinced about any other ‘way of life’ by any one else.
Absolutely!
We get approached by people too, who distribute pamphlets about Christianity (mostly) and about ‘being saved’. We sometimes just reply with ‘we are ‘athiests’!!’, because there is no point arguing with fanatics.
We used to get them in India as well.. Sometimes people you know well, socially used to come, and that made it far more awkward, you know. I tried that ‘I’m an atheist line, and that made that man even more determind to ‘save my soul’ π
I had one man pester me with a pamphlet on Christianity. Guess what I said-
“just as I respect you who is following Christianity as a faith, I would appreciate you to do the same and respect the fact that I follow Hinduism. The paths maybe different, but the destination the same. God bless your soul and thank you very much”
Tee hee
I have to give that a try the next time π
His expression was priceless and me and my friend had a laughter fit on it later π
I can so imagine π That must have been a first for him π
WELL DOne .. I plan to teach all them the advantages of being a SIKH π he he hee
π I liked WHAT CR said above, Exactly my dilogue.. a Jehovan witness came to door saying all this I told him and made him stand at the door for 10 minutes telling him the benefits of Converting to SIKHISM.. I never see him again Now.
I think that is the only thing that would work.
Earlier i use ot ignore Now i dont , I make sure they know it loud and clear …
I am going to try this the next time.
I guess they will come and tell us now how they saved us from the MISHAP.. till next prediction π
It would have been fun if world had ended π they would have gone with it :)ooops they missed that little thing
π I know π Till the next prediction π
And the belief is that when the world ends, if you believe in the ‘right’ faith, you are ‘safe’ π
So well said. I agree with every word.
And to everyone’s surprise i was quite left behind too about this world ending news.
But good that it didnt happen…seems like i got a another chance.
You did not know too π Yes, we all got a second chance π
Think that man made a lot of money scaring “faithless” people.. just like many of his counterparts who continue to do so.
If faith is kept personal, this world would be rid of much malice.
Faith is one dangerous word molded and twisted in many ways to make or brake things…
Very practical post and the thoughts coincide with mine too….
Those ppl who were not forced to do anything religious in their young age, will generally not try to force their faith upon others.
All the matters of Faith, finally lead to the Supreme Power – whoever or whatever that is.
Its so wonderful, how u come up with a myriad of topics for this Nablapomo, Smithu….Keep the posts coming. π
i wrote about this same topic and my experience with Jehovah Witness here
http://booboosmamma.wordpress.com/2011/05/23/on-your-face-believers-and-my-revenge-with-jehovah-witness/
faith is good but blind faith is worst. be it in anything.