(Untitled)

[manwithkiwi]

How can someone believe that there is no god? Or, at least, some sort of being that exists outside of the dimensions we perceive? The universe had to come from somewhere. Even if you believe in the big bang, where did those materials come from? You can explain it with physics, but there's an unbreakable physical rule in the three-dimensional world

Comments

[maddict]

I have a lot more respect for the Hindu tradition than the Christian tradition. For one thing, I don't recall any renouncers burning anyone at the stake recently. But seriously, they have a much more reasonable, realistic, and human approach to answering the questions of existence. Take the Rg Veda, which is to the Bagavita what the Laws and the Prophets is to the New Testament. (Actually, that's a really gross oversimplification, but I'm trying to work within the context of the discussion thus far.) Anyway, in the Rg Veda, the holy text of the Vedic tradition which was a precursor to modern Hindu, the basic explanation of life and existence is inscribed. But you don't just have a "God did this, God did that, and that's the way it was and we liked it, God damn it!" The Rg Veda has as many questions as it does statements. There's passages that explicitly contradict one another in order to force the reader to think for himself. There's actually passages to the effect of, "O you deep thinkers, think on this: on what did the primeval sculptor stand when he created the universe?" It freely illustrates the absurdity of existence without stressing over metaphorical creeds intended to be taken as factual conclusions. Every god is regarded as the supreme creator, and each is prayed to as if the votary were addressing his or her personal maker. What's more, the gods are treated as concepts, forces, impulses, and ideas as often as they're treated as anthropomorphic individuals. It's a text that encourages doubt, enriches inquiry, and enhances contemplation. The openly figurative, freely interpretive nature of the text allows its disciples a personal connection with God and reality through their own perspective much more readily than the ossified structure of Christianity.