Blog@GraceJunction

For centuries people believed Aristotle to be right when he said that the heavier an object, the faster it would fall to earth. Aristotle was regarded as the greatest thinker of all time and so there was no need to doubt. 

Anyone, of course, could have taken two objects, one heavy and one light, and dropped them from a great height to see whether or not the heavier object landed first. But no one did until nearly 2,000 years after Aristotle’s death. Legend has it that in 1589 Galileo summoned learned professors to the base of the Leaning Tower of Pisa. He then went to the top and pushed off a ten-pound and a one-pound weight. Both landed at the same instant. The power of belief was so strong, however, that the professors denied their eyesight. They continued to say Aristotle was right.

Doesn’t it illustrate perfectly what is going on in the world today. You could show the terrible ravaging effects of AIDS but people will still have promiscuous sex anyway. You can show someone a diseased liver and cancerous lungs and torn apart families, however people are still going to abuse alcohol and smoke regardless of the facts. 

People want to believe what they like to believe.

You wouldnt want to leave matters of eternal consequences just on blind belief,  would you ? Dont you desire to push things to test? We need not dash against the ground one day to finally discover reality. That would be too late then.

Remember mere wishful thinking, sincerity, honesty and purity of one’s belief, nor a majority believing in anything, can make a lie become true. An unbiased test can easily seperate truth from lies. But then I am reminded that when Galileo did that no one believed him. Even when the evidence of obvious visible proof i.e the two weights reached the ground at the same time was undeniable, the professors did not believe.   

Surely you do not want to be in the group of the professors. 

If you wonder what you must test, well here is something you must definitely start.

Can everything be true? If everything is true, then it would be true to also say that ‘everything is false’. But then that would negate, contradict and undermine the very statement “everything is true”. 

Is everything an illusion? If it is so, then isn’t the statement itself an illusion.. so what do you believe?

Ps : Many after reading the blog have tried to experiment the fall of objects, you may too. Its quite natural. But do not forget to test your beliefs before it hits the ground.  

Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. Revelation 3:20 (Bible)

Some of the saddest words we can ever hear on earth are: “We don’t have room for you.”

Jesus knew how those words slam your heart. For while He was still in Mary’s womb the innkeeper said, “We don’t have room for you.” …
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A life without God, how would it be, like? Boundless freedom, no coercion to act in a particular way, fly where you want to, think as you want to, do as you desire to. Joy unlimited, Pleasure unrestrained. Tired of religions incessant demands, numerous false and illogical religious concoctions being thrust down our throats. We cry freedom, we want to throw it all out, to walk without anything, to walk on just pure air. The body soul and spirit seems to enjoy the fresh breath of a world without God. (more…)

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…)

 
I was visiting Australia and was at the home of one of my good friends, who since the time I meet him at the metro station, would keep telling me about his daughter and the pain she’s going thru. As the strong man drove his huge 4 x 4 truck, I could feel that he was vulnerable, all the strength and grit that I admire him for had somehow been weakened. (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…)