A matter of faith...

Faith. What is it? Why is it so important? What do people need it for?

I don't really believe in GOD as such. Yeah, there is LUCK, and there's always a possibility of a higher power supervising us. But is there anyone who knows for sure? Can we really believe the words of someone else? I personally haven't had any experience till now to corroborate this notion. This kind of attitude puts me in the category of Agnostics.

I am an unabashed supporter of Science. I've been a science student throughout my life. Ironically, I sucked at academics. (I have so called academic achievements in my name which a very small percentage of people have been able to achieve). But anyway, I sucked at academics because I was adamant not to adapt to the systems and practices at colleges which I thought to be useless. I always embraced and admired science. Why? It promotes rules and regulations; it has that inherent argumentative approach... When? How? What for? Where? It asks for proofs, it questions existing norms and accepted theories...not by rhetoric, but by the meticulous scientific approach. By data, by results, by experimentation...

However, many a times staunch promoters of reason treat this emotion (faith) as unworthy of being present in a human being. But they forget that faith an inherent and deep seated emotion residing within all of us. The social nature of humans instinctively demands him/her to be faithful. Everything begins with faith. A scientist begins a research or experiment because he has faith in his plan. A leader leads a community or a nation on a path because he has faith in his vision. A manufacturer produces by hiring others by keeping faith in the abilities of his workers and staff. When we buy stuff with money, we show our faith that the seller/producer is going to provide us with correct value of money. Everything starts with faith.

Faith as a concept has been narrowed down to be associated with religious things in common cultures throughout the world. The word faith has been buried under layers and layers of meandering path hijacked by religious groups for ages. The basic idea of faith is loyalty, allegiance or full confidence. It can be towards anything; a person (say Richard Branson), an idea (say Blogging), an institution (say Marriage), a plan (say MBA) or a concept (say GOD). What we should emphasize is that faith does not automatically imply connection to GOD.

This association with religion starts from the very childhood. Young kids are told to put their faith in some GOD. They are told to bow in front of certain statues. They are told to follow certain customs. And when they ask the dreaded question "WHY?" they are either told to "Shut up and listen to their elders" or they are told some Cock-and-bull story. Same goes for the schooling system. And over the centuries, this implication has given rise to superstitions, simply because people merely followed the practice without understanding the core concept behind it.

We have to stop this. Please, treat children like children, not like morons who have an IQ of zero. Tell them the truth right from the beginning. Only what is correct. Anything... and I mean anything can be simplified to make kids understand. Remove the complexities, leave out details, use analogies, but let them know what is true, to give them a solid platform on which they will be able to create their philosophy and practices based on the sound reasoning of their mind. And more importantly, give up redudant practices and customs, which almost always snowball into superstition.



A common example is prayer. Many of us pray, but few ever think what its importance is? Most do it because it has become routine. Because everyone else prays. Because a person who doesn't pray isn't looked upon too well by others. Is it so that we come closer to the Lord? Is it that our sins will be washed away as we pray?
Prayer is basically just a form of meditation. We pray, we feel calm, composed and secure. We think through the things that trouble us. We make better decisions. We connect with our needs and desires. We get a level headed perspective of things affecting our lives.

But even blind faith has its advantages. I think most people behave themselves because of this blind faith in religion and GOD (The doctrine of Paap - Punya). It gives you confidence and a glimmer of hope when you are down. It is like Amitabh Bachchan going to Tirupati Balaji, Steve Waugh carrying his red handkerchief while batting and Makhaya Ntini running 10 kilometers every 3rd day of a test match. Routine has its own strength.

All-in-All, faith translates into determination, courage and hope at the time of crisis. When directed at a good cause, even blind faith can lead to miraculous feats by common men. But this is not the majority case, where blind faith clouds the very reasoning of a person.
I as a person will perhaps never turn to GOD, no matter what state I'm in. But does that mean I will have no faith? NO. Everyone clings on to something he / she believes in difficult times. Some turn to GOD, some turn to elders, some turn to friends, some turn to the love of their life.... I have faith in myself, so I turn to myself.

QUOTE:
“Faith isn't faith until it's all you're holding on to”