Happiness Without Religion

My understanding about human religions as taught byloving parent for a child rather than a revengeful one.
humans is that none of them are complete or perfect.Everyday the mere act of continuing to live may
Each religion has many strong points as well as weakcause harm to others. Humans add carbon dioxide to
links. Following the weak links blindly is likely to retardthe world through cooking, use of electricity etc. Many
one's spiritual progress. One may ask as to what abelieve that this is leading to climatic changes that harm
keen seeker should do. You might do what I havehuman population in some part of the world or other.
done. Just accept one single primary truth that isSome amount of carbon dioxide gas is needed as the
common in all religion and leave the rest of the religiouslife giving gas for plants. However, scientists believe
beliefs and practices as subject to enquiry and revision.that modern life and greed generates far more than is
This primary belief is that there is one single God in therequired. Others believe that the world is over
universe who is in full control of every process in thepopulated at the present time and this is leading to
universe and that he cares for the welfare of all life inshortages of essential commodities such as food for
His universe.some. Indeed the very fact that we exist may be
When one tries to approach the Almighty through silentleading to problems for others. The use of modern
prayer after believing and trusting in him, He wouldchemicals, fertilizers, plastics etc. is polluting the world in
surely unfold in time, whatever other knowledge isa manner that is harmful to all life on the planet not just
required by any individual.human one. Thus even if a human leads a good life
Eastern religions stress that it is the prevalence offree from any sins, his mere existence leads to building
thoughts and desires that prevent an unfolding of trueup a substantial bad account of deeds. It is surprising
spiritual knowledge. They prescribe many practices forthen that human suffering is not more rather than less.
banishing these. However, I do not fully prescribe to thisMany humans on our planet are leading reasonably
view. If the Lord wished humans not to have anyhappy lives. This is because the eternal Almighty is a
desire or thought then why would he have createdloving and merciful God. Placing our trust in Him and
these capacities in the first place?making a sincere attempt to act according to His will
I believe that like all other capacities possessed bysurely lead to removing any difficulties we may be
humans both desire and thinking can be used orfacing and thus to an increase in our Happiness.
misused. Therefore to me the best daily prayer to theI know the question that arises in the mind of atheists
Lord is a request to him to give me the right desire andafter reading such an article. What if he does not
thinking that is pleasing to Him. It is not quite necessaryexist? Are you not then wasting your time? My
to pray to God for anything specific. As an all-knowinganswer to that is - how else are you using your time?
God who loves us he will undoubtedly take care of ourDo you not grow older and more fragile by the day?
necessary needs if we place our trust in Him.What will happen after that? How long will you Live? If
It is true that there is suffering in the world. SomeHe exists will you not cut a sorry face in the afterlife,
persons become religious after confronting suffering.just as you might be cutting one right now. Why not
Others stop believe in God with an attitude that if Godplace your trust in Him just as so many other
really existed why would he allow suffering. However, Isuccessful and happy humans have done since the
believe that the latter view is not a mature one.beginning of creation. Human life is indeed fragile. It is
Imagine what would happen if humans could commitnothing in comparison to the innumerable events that
things like violence, rape and robbery and goare taking place right now in the world and the
unpunished. We can regard human suffering as a sortuniverse. Any of these can impact a human life
of correctional punishment. The correction must beadversely at any moment.
regarded as a loving one just as the punishment of a