I have disowned God. Yes, I do not need God. I don't say I believe or disbelieve in the existence of God, because I don't care. It may seem the height of arrogance and ego to be telling this. But I do not think most of us who pray to God do so because of a respect for his powers or goodness... Most of us pray because we would want a good job, beautiful spouse, and good life. I don't think we get them by praying to God, if the saying that everything is pre-ordained is true. We can not change what is bound to happen by praying to God. Then praying to God for granting wishes is useless, because it cannot happen. I don't need God because praying to him neither gives me mental peace, nor grants my wishes. I don't need a placebo. I don't need an imaginary straw to clutch when I am drowning, I need a real one. Human beings are real straws to each other.
'Caught in a strange land in a net with other butterflies, I'm a caterpillar yet undecided to remain a caterpillar and perish or turn into a beautiful butterfly and live a life full of joy.' Readers don't laugh. But I came up with this one night recently when I was travelling in a train. I tossed and turned, not being able to sleep, upset over unexplainable things and frustrated over events not in my control. Then it occurred to me that our life and its usefulness depends on our decisions -- whether to remain a crawling caterpillar whose existence otherwise is either ignored by all and sundry or who is cursed for just being there and thrown out with a stick, or to develop wings of life and metamorphose into a beautiful butterfly whom everybody adores for its beauty and colour, for its flitting liveliness, for its service to the flower's pollination... I thought that I should be a butterfly, of service to others, but then again I thought, anyway, who really cares?
Haven't you heard, "God is Dead" (Nietzsche). Most people believe in god just because their parents do so. I don't think it would make one bit of difference to it, if a child is brought up without such a belief.
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