Religiosity

Time and again I see perfectly smart, pragmatic and logical people, people that I lookup to, amaze me by fervently defending religion. For millennia religions have greatly enhanced civilization across the world. As I look back in my own short and uneventful life I see lots of occasions where religion has help me and continuous to do so. I am sure there many thousands who can say the same. But what bothers me is the baggage religions come with, Mumbai massacre, Israeli Palestinian conflict etc...


My doubts are many layered but the root of which is the question If god created time space and mass/energy, what was there before, and who created that. Some people argue that god does not need to be created he is eternal, omnipotent. Then why does universe need creator then ? May be universe is god then ?

Let us agree for a moment that God does exist. Why would 1 or more entities that existed before time, space or mass/energy exited, be so much interested in what spec (human) among billions on specs (earth) among billions of specs (milkyway) in this universe, which could be one of billions of alternate universes. So I my significance to to god is .000000000......000000000000000000000......00000000000000....1 to 1.

Let us also agree god is interested, then it rises the question that why are gods actions are so biased. Like for example as per the God of Christians anyone who doesn't become a christian is going to hell, including the people he chose leaving rest of the humanity. God if Islam ensures all the infidels, subordination and/or death @ the hands of the holly warriors followed by hell. While promising 19 virgins to martyrs at his private abode Jannath. The gods of the Vedas seem to prefer the minority uppercaste over rest for liberation (Moksha) from the cycle of life and death. They all unite in one point though, giving second class citizenship to women.

And lastly why is god interested in, where and how much hair you can grow, Muslims, Jews, Sikhs and Brahmins have specific instruction on how much hair one can or cannot have. Is it because God doesn't have hair ? And also about clothing, food etc. And then comes the prayer. You almost always to go by some book. And even mindlessly rant some ancient text is acceptable over not doing so. Holding some postures, offer some things only a human would need to survive, smokey substances, some specially dressed "special" individuals (likes of Osho, Khomenei) and finally offerings for their holy cause (TD Jakes, John Hagee). This sounds like social engineering to me.

Back to the topic, you wouldn't have to go too far to find scientifically trained, very logical and pragmatic individuals who would defend their religion fervently. Some of the common reason given in defense of religion are:
"It gives meaning to life"
"It explains the unexplainable".
My humble question, doesn't the explanation have to be true ? Is it possible that we were influenced by those power feelings when we were young and impressionable. Are we simply falling to feeling of "good old days" or our favorite childhood memories/emotions clouding our vision ? Are the answers give by the religion worth the price ? I am not asking to throw baby with the bath water. Religion/traditional culture contains a lots of lessons learned by humanity over many millennia that makes human life more enjoyable or less miserable depending. I am sure society and science has evolved enough to be able separate those learnings and pass it on.

Is the spontaneous defense of something some large as religion arising in spite of their own reasoning or the lack of an encouragement to do so. I highly suspect the later because of most religions give little space for reason. There is also liberal use fear/intimidation and unreasonable rewards after once death. Its interesting to note that the pay day for bad deeds almost always sold as instantaneous in contrast what one gets for good deeds. I find it funny that, the immediacy of punishment is reserved for the most honest sincere believers, because most Hitlers, Saddams, Stalins, Polpots, Castros' never get punished. Look @ the king/queen of England, under her throne the ruthless British empire sucked the lifeblood of almost a billion people. British people are doing just fine.

Call me an atheist but the more I think about this topic, the more questions I get. And most of the saints and prophets claim the opposite ;) They all went off onto some mountains or into a forest and come back with more of the same. I can't believe they did not not have some other interests.

Embarassing or awkward or may be nothing.

This is the first time I am writing about a topic like this. But I had to write because it happened twice.

This afternoon when I was going down in the elevator, there were already 5 other women (working a different company above) involved in a giggly conversation. I was greeted by an unusual blush and smile by a south Asian looking female. I couldn't help but over hear the conversation. That is when I understood the reason behind the greeting, they were talking about tan marks and some details of how they avoid it. Trust me the door couldn't have opened any slower.

Again this evening I was @ the gym. Again 5-6 ladies around me but mostly senior citizen and a TV in front playing inside edition. And then comes the moment, a closeup shot of oversized stretch marks filled middle section and a doctor drawing out the portions that could be removed to make her look pretty again. The two ladies next to me gasped for a second before starring @ each other and giggling. I guess that was the first instance when I actually was relieved @ an ad break.

May be I am just old school, it at least awkward and weird that it happened twice today.