Blog@GraceJunction

Respected Teacher,

Yesterday’s science class still echoes in my mind because it has shaken up the foundations of my life. My parents always told me that God created the universe and that we are built for immortality or an eternal life if we fall in line with God’s plan for our life. But yesterday you said that the universe came in to existence through a big bang which took place some 15 billion years ago and that it expands every day, the galaxies go further and further from each other, till one day when all the energy will be used up, the stars will burn out and all the matter will eventually fall into a black hole bringing down the curtains to the existence of the universe. Which means that there is no God and hence no immortality that I dreamt about? (more…)

 
Dear Professor,

Your lecture yesterday on the evolutionary theory, well articulated and decorated with witful takes on God and religion has left many questions in my mind. You said that scientific evidence to prove the origin of the universe and the evolution of the species has proved beyond doubt that there is no God. And you were quick to add that such a view did not support a nihilistic approach to erase values and principles on which the society stands, although your hastiness to add this disclaimer seemed like the inevitability of the same. And that made we wonder about the viability of this whole theory. (more…)

“We are Orthodox, Catholic, and evangelical Christians who have united at this hour to reaffirm fundamental truths about justice and the common good, and to call upon our fellow citizens, believers and non-believers alike, to join us in defending them”. This statement is part of the Manhattan Declaration*, a manifesto which was drafted on October 20th, 2009 and released on November 20th, 2009 with the support of more than 150 American Christian leaders. The declarations website encourages supporters to sign the declaration affirming their support for the sanctity of human life, the dignity of marriage as the conjugal union of husband and wife and the rights of conscience and religious liberty. (more…)

India, a land where we witness the confluence of almost all the major religions of the world, is a place where we wear our faith on our sleeves. Even a small friction is enough to leave two communities at loggerheads with each other. And probably that is why the country adopts secularism, which is also the concept of separating the state from the religion. The view that religious considerations should be excluded from civil affairs or public education. But the question needs to be asked whether secularism has helped in keeping the state and the religion separate? Especially when we see religious overtones to school text books, exercise of personal faith in government offices and departments, or even to the singing of a patriotic song with debatable lyrics. Why has secularism not been able to stop incidents like Babri Masjid demolition, Godhra Riots, Bombay terror attacks or the Orissa violence on religious conversion? (more…)

 
Ladies and Gentlemen,

Thank you for coming and joining with us during this hour of great loss for our family. Yesterday night i lost my dear wife after a prolonged battle for life. As you all know that she has not been keeping well for the last two years and towards the last days it had become unbearable for me to see the most important person in my life loosing the battle although after a valiant effort to keep what we cherish most, life ! (more…)

 
Hi Vishal,

Today when i was watching my one year old son playing with his favorite toy i was taking in the joy of seeing my son learn and grow up. He was so happy and i felt contented to see him joyful and soaking in the love and caring that we were giving him as a family. Suddenly, a longer shadow came over him, it was his elder brother coming in after a brawl with the neighborhood boys. He was angry and frustrated. And he was looking for an easy prey. (more…)

 
Hi Tizzy,

You might be wondering why I walked out of our relationship and how it all came to an abrupt end. Well, for me it was never a relationship in the first place but just a ‘one minute stand’ that we used to share every now and then when we had nobody else to hook up with on that day. I would like to say that I have been bailed out for one lasting relationship. (more…)