Archive for May, 2010

God and Evil

Thursday, May 27th, 2010

Hi Abhishek,

I don’t know how to respond appropriately to your pain of loosing your eight year old son. I heard that he was suffering from Progeria due to which he was ageing much beyond his age. You told me that he had the body of an eighty year old when he died, a premature death, something that raises a lot of questions in our mind. I can understand your anger against God for allowing such evil but I cannot agree with your conclusion that therefore there is no God.

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I still remember the days when I was the professor of philosophy at the University and you were one of the best students that I had. You were always a good thinker and used reason to good effect. In your last mail to me you told me to explain how an Omnipotent, Omniscient, Omni benevolent God can allow evil. According to you both are not logically compatible. And since evil is the most proven fact in this world you deduced that there is no God. (more…)

Need for purpose

Sunday, May 23rd, 2010

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Hi Phil,

Here are some pictures that I took on my trip to some of the islands in the Indian Ocean. We started off our journey some six months before we reached our destination. It was basically an adventure trip where we were going to explore some of the scarcely populated islands in the world. Hardly has any man set foot on these islands because of the tough conditions of the ocean, lack of edible food and water and also the dangerous tribes that lived there for many years.

As we closed in on these islands we just wanted to have a look at the underwater creatures and vegetation that existed. While scuba diving, I came across a human skeleton with a nicely sealed bag made out of animal skin tied around his wrist. This was a fascinating sight as I was sure that these were the remains of some tribesman. I went closer to have a look. The bag was heavy and I was getting restless to have a look. I took the bag along with me back to the deck where I opened it in the company of other mariners. (more…)

Can I meet him, beyond the grave?

Friday, May 21st, 2010

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This blog would be best understood if you can read it once you’ve read my last blog – “What drove him to the grave?”.
I was in Australia with one of my best friends, discussing with him and his daughter who was shattered by the suicidal death of one of her friends. She wanted to share a few questions with me, for which she was seeking answers very desperately. One of her main concern was, whether she would be able to meet her friend or talk to him any more? What exists beyond death? Would she ever have a chance to meet her friend? (more…)

Need for value

Wednesday, May 19th, 2010

Hey Big Bro,

All these years i have believed that there is no God and there is no immortality. And my ethical system was formed in this framework which made me believe that since there is no moral accountability every persons values become expressions of personal taste or the by-products of his socio-biological evolution and conditioning. One humanist philosopher said ‘The moral principles that govern our behaviour are rooted in habit and custom, feeling and fashion’. In plain words i did what i liked and i was not answerable for my actions to any supreme authority like God.

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The Case about Resurrection!

Saturday, May 15th, 2010

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The financial year-end had kept me busy and I couldn’t go to the Soul Café for many weeks! Moreover, the temperatures were much higher this year compared to the years before that I have lived, and so, coffee and all its derivatives were not very high on my wish list.

As April commenced, memories of the ‘All Fool’s Day’ and the amusement we had at the cost of our more naive peers flashed through my mind! I remembered that it was also a good old friend’s birthday! However, strangely, unlike how I would have been, this friend of mine, Amar, was ever glad that his birthday fell on such a memorable day! This year, as I called to wish him, I got invited to join him for an afternoon’s munch over coffee, and there I was, back where I hadn’t been in a while!

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