The power of belief in the face of powerlessness

Natural calamities often motivate people to pray to their gods, but sometimes they also drive people away from their beliefs — towards atheism.

Being from a family of Godfearing people, I believe in God, but it doesn’t mean that I follow superstitions and rituals blindly. Let me elucidate: I think he is not a supernatural power who will fulfil our wishes if we offer flowers and candles. It is the natural power which has created this universe. Scientists are yet to decipher how this universe came into being. Surely, through a powerful energy.

Being a student of science, I agree. But I name that energy God. I am a student of Class 11, and I have often seen that children who don’t go to temple for a year come to the exam hall with a tilak on their forehead. I condemn that, but that doesn’t mean I condemn God because I know God hasn’t told anyone to fall into the trap of rituals and superstitions, God hasn’t even asked us to pray, but we do that to express our reverence. I agree that those are fools who are willing to do anything in the name of God, without applying their common sense. But that doesn’t put a question mark on the existence and relevance of the Almighty.

If we, a negligible part of this universe, cannot do anything without energy, how could this entire gargantuan universe do so? It needs a force to work. If I say that God is not loaded with the power to do anything by his mere gaze, I do not mean that he does not exists.

Everyone is free to express their views — the atheists do so, and so do I. I don’t advise anyone to sit in temples continuously for hours; I do not urge you to play blaring bhajans, but I do ask you to respect and revere the energy responsible for our own creation.