“If we say that God has always been, why not save a step and conclude that the universe has always been?” (Carl Sagan,
Cosmos, [New York: Random House, Inc., 1980], p. 257).
Is God for real or is it a fabrication of a mind overawed by and grappling with the unexplainable magic of the universe?
The topic, for all I care, can be dropped like a hot potato into the sea of hot questions that plague us as we search for the meaning of life. What bothers me is what we are doing in God's name, a creation- of a tool, of a caring figured- designed to help people live a peaceful life cocooned in its warmth, safe as a baby, shielded from the unfathomable mystical vagaries of nature and life. If not shielded, at least unjust happenings are justified with, "Everything happens for a purpose!" "What God takes away, he provides in another way."
But what are we doing in the name of God?
Imagine the time when all these things
The newspaper, the TV and the blogs,
Not around to spread hottest information
Delivered in the instant of its creation.
We do know of gossip mongering,
For how many times do we end up saying,
“That’s not what I heard, that’s not true!”
“I never did that, how’re you so sure?”
Why are fewer heroes made now days?
Of types that graced Earth of those days?
Like Rama, Ravana, Arjuna, Pandavas
Like Hercules, Atlas, Ulysses, the Titans?
A great man is one above most men,
Attributes not found in folks common,
Making him seem larger than human,
Possessing an aura of the unknown
Word of mouth was the order of the day,
Changed and added-on from faint hearsay
With nodding heads and wagging tongues,
A short man Tom Thumb and a big, Hercules
This is how through stories Man made God,
Far from the original when told and retold,
With miracles, heals, powers, strengths, flights,
Walks on water, time travel & transmutations.
Blown beyond proportion but lovely stories,
To learn morals, to dream as pictures,
To read, and read to others, heard and enjoyed,
Not to think they are Gods to be idolized!
Stats say we are digging deeper trenches
Between regions and between religions
Continents drift as these volcanoes erupt
For small lapses we wait, defenses upped.
In small closed spaces dissent is louder
Flashing swords to words of dishonor,
In God’s name we justifiably butcher,
Another God’s children ours slaughter.
Did we make God for human good?
Will goodness be sacrificed for God’s sake?
Will we be wiped out in a fight over God?
Or will God terminate us for fighting silly?
Outcome disquieting for this big a creation
For selfishness plagues a selfless intention.
God just a façade for money and control.
Sillier we get, smarter God’s men stroll.
© Nalini Hebbar/openmind/2009-all rights reserved
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