RELIGION AND GOD

Probably, once the nomadic hunter-gatherers settled down to agro lifestyle, humans found enough time to THINK beyond their carnal desires. AGROMAN, now away from the wild, needed to do something out of the woods (box). He needed to do something different and NOT just work for food, eat or sleep.    

Man, highly limited by information but intensely focused at this transitional stage, started thinking. Gradually, the thinking breached the barriers of physics and ushered him into metaphysical world, where he was introduced to personal EGO and IDENTITY.  Agriculture demanded the people remained together strictly bound by a common code of conduct with clearly defined and delegated scope of work. The thinking types acknowledged the fact for their own survival and salvation.

Equipped with little or no information, metaphysical world was as scary as the uncertain physical world for the travellers. The petrified voyagers on the metaphysical road, desperately looking for help, visualised an invisible man on whose back they were to piggy ride through the rest of their journey.

This omniscient, omnipotent and omnipresent but not to be seen figure was served to the ignorant subjects of the physical world. Theirs was just to have fear and faith in it.  Fear, because it was watching them all the time and ready to punish them at the slightest infringement. Faith, because it was there to reward them for the deeds as inscribed for them by THEM.

The metaphysical, spiritual, mystic thinkers soon overpowered the agricultural type ignorant AAM ADAMI. The foundation of religion was laid with the invisible man as the whole soul owner of it. The foundation had esteemed trustees who promoted and sold the concept of fear laced in faith.

The concept and foundation worked perfectly. In an ever evolving human society, with more and more information and knowledge flooding in, the foundation of ignorance, fear and faith withstands.

Long live the lord!!

Birdie Num Num

 Another cloudy morning in Silver Oaks.  As usual, I was out at our outdoor badminton courts for a game or two of "birdie num num". Nobody was there today since the gang leader (Dr. Saab) had moved to the enclosed greener pasture in Phase 2 along with the entire baddies troop.

The solitude gave me an opportunity to observe the gang of monkeys on the adjacent shops-top. There were three adult monkeys and few infants. There was this big boss monkey lying carelessly on its back, while the Mada female on duty was carefully & lovingly(?) picking ticks and lice from his fur. Another male adult was sitting with its back on the couple, sulking and scratching his own bum. There were few infant monkeys jumping here and there playing with each other carelessly. These babies were prob’ly born out of Maafi or the reward the big boss delivered to her.

In this small troop of monkeys, I saw the microcosm of the human society.  People say human society has changed, but looking at the monkeys in the backdrop, I found nothing has changed fundamentally. I could clearly see the Ape Hangover in us.

It’s a pity, shaving blade is just skin deep. Deep inside we remain a jerk.