That god is omnipresent is widely believed. No one has seen or heard him; yet in god we trust. Even those who don't, grudgingly though, dub him the super power that controls the universe.
Over 200 years ago, Voltaire said: ''If God does not exist, invent him''. That was the time when sages in India were on relentless search of god. They sacrificed every single need and comfort, and pursued him with devotion.
The irony of that selflessness is, the god who no one could realise then, is now available 'on demand'! Thanks to self-styled godmen. Equating god's presence with 'fragrance in flowers, oil in sesame, ghee in milk, or jaggery in sugarcane', they say though not visible, he certainly exists. In the name of that latent divinity, they offer to liberate us from failures, poverty, and terminal illnesses. For every god-given problem, they claim to have solutions using deft and devious blends of Magic, Astrology, Yoga, and Ayurveda. Their concocted tales of miracles make us believe that solace and succour are easy and instant. We prostrate before them as if they are incarnations of god, failing to notice the ungodly activities some of them pursue.
Why do we do this? Are we superstitious, obsessed, or gullible? What has happened to our god-given common sense and confidence? Where has our innate ability to see, think and analyse vanished? Wasn't Harry Emerson Fosdick addressing this state of mind when he said:
Over 200 years ago, Voltaire said: ''If God does not exist, invent him''. That was the time when sages in India were on relentless search of god. They sacrificed every single need and comfort, and pursued him with devotion.
The irony of that selflessness is, the god who no one could realise then, is now available 'on demand'! Thanks to self-styled godmen. Equating god's presence with 'fragrance in flowers, oil in sesame, ghee in milk, or jaggery in sugarcane', they say though not visible, he certainly exists. In the name of that latent divinity, they offer to liberate us from failures, poverty, and terminal illnesses. For every god-given problem, they claim to have solutions using deft and devious blends of Magic, Astrology, Yoga, and Ayurveda. Their concocted tales of miracles make us believe that solace and succour are easy and instant. We prostrate before them as if they are incarnations of god, failing to notice the ungodly activities some of them pursue.
Why do we do this? Are we superstitious, obsessed, or gullible? What has happened to our god-given common sense and confidence? Where has our innate ability to see, think and analyse vanished? Wasn't Harry Emerson Fosdick addressing this state of mind when he said:
'God is not a cosmic bellboy for whom we can press a button to get things done..'
- Harry Emerson Fosdick
