Is HE?? Part-1

The evolution of religion, as an organized assemblage of a thousand institutions along with the thousand traits that mark one’s way of life, is linked with the evolution of man. The most important ‘institution’ that, in fact, is the basis of every religion is belief in someone who runs this world; belief in the almighty; belief in GOD.

When man saw lightning in the sky once, maybe he neglected it; when he saw it twice, he may have wondered about its existence; its cause, perhaps. But when it amounted to catastrophes, destroying his abode time and again, he MAY have come to this conclusion of what we call today – God. Thus, it is not entirely illogical to believe that the basis of developing the institution of God was FEAR, and not FAITH. Possibly, faith followed when rites and rituals prevented the cataclysm, maybe once or twice.

With the advancement of Science, explanation of lightning today is a child’s play, but even Science would feel some sweat over its forehead if asked to account for the genesis and development of an astounding number of customs – courtesy: the then less – developed human brain.

Nevertheless, even today, the foundation of the institution is a blend of both fear and faith. Fear that God will spell nemesis propels many religious acts perennially by the heads of various sects worldwide. This fear compels people to resort to prayers to exalt the almighty. And it is faith that spurs one to pray to God, that spontaneously brings religious poems to lips in wake of imminent danger.

For skeptics, which includes atheists and agnostics, Science is the last resort for anything and everything, and so they denounce worship of any kind and have no place whatsoever for faith. For believers, faith outweighs fear, and for hardcore sages and priests, both ingredients have equal amount. The prime question of debate for all these three different streams of thought is whether, in real, does HE exist? Or is it a mere figment of the great human imagination.

Now this takes us back centuries, to the confrontation of the geocentric and the heliocentric theories, to the dictatorship of the Church, the resistance of the disbelievers and the gory bloodbath that followed as an aftermath. In no way, do I want to go back to those black pages of World History. Let us try to put the past behind us, and stretch our neck out of the window, to get a holistic and more coherent picture of all of it. What would follow through my next post is MY take on God and religion.

Emulating Julie

This is for all those whose mind-wheels have kicked off the moment reading 'Julie' - Yes! I'm talking films but not Desi ones... I'm referring to Julie Powell of Julie & Julia, the 2009 Academy Awards nominated flick. Those who've watched it would know... so let me enlighten the 'Other' world!
The film is based on a true story (two true stories in fact as the prelude to the film suggests) of this woman turning 30, and how she finds not only respite from her dull and drab job, but also quenches her thirst for writing (and cooking too) through blogging. Now, I'm not a woman, forget turning 30, though, I'm about to get over with my 18hood!, nor am I employed, I'm a student. So where does the analogy and the entire thing about aping come at all? Well... it does, for even I wish to satiate my schooldays' desire for writing.

Why blogging for writing? Now that's a very stupid question to ask and answer on my part, but since I want to tell something more about the film, its not that bad an option! Again, the answer lies in what Julie's husband Eric says,"You just have to write and press enter!" (not quoted exactly) since eight years had passed and Julie couldn't get a publisher for her book... the same old story... I know!

At this point in time I feel quite bored writing myself, so I can understand the misery of the reader... So allow me to change gears and say a thing or two before I take the final pause.

Why 'Ticker's Truth'? Ticker is used in slang for Heart... and so... whatever I'm going to enter through this blog... will be my truth straight from the heart.

I maintain that this is an individual record, but this is also one forum which I think I can utilize to voice my opinions on a variety of issues, but I promise, this will not be one big ostentatious Political commentary, as it may sound.

I request readers' patience, to please give me a shot!

That is all what I aim for, not the super success Julie got, in real life as well as in the film, but if that comes in the process....then who's to blame! Sone pe Suhaga... (LOL!!!)

Cheers!

Alankar Jain