We Are Not Slaves Even to the Gods (Paperback) (ISBN-13: 9798502664257)

Religious beliefs are human-made ideas. They were crafted by men from the past, as answers to unanswered questions on the universe and life. Some of these ideas and the men behind them gained cult status and became iconic. Over time, with followers believing in them and patronizing them, they grew into institutions of faith. They are religions, as we know them today.

There is another factor behind their astronomical growth-people could not challenge their views and halt their progress. Perhaps, voices of dissent were not loud enough or were curtailed. However, today, we are in a different age. We have the freedom to differ by reason and choice. Yet, as humans, we shy away from reasoning.

Religions, on the other hand, have become omnipresent. Their beliefs reach people more easily than rational arguments against them. We can find religious centers in every nook and corner of the world, broadcasting their teachings. If we want to learn about faiths, abundant resources are occupying the bookshelves. Then we have the preachers. They are present everywhere-from television to social media.

On a micro level, religions are within even the smallest unit of social grouping, family. They seed beliefs right from birth. Indeed every pious household is a microcosm of faith-preaching beliefs to the upcoming generation. We will come across at least a minimal collection of Holy Scriptures and paraphernalia for worship and prayer, filling their modest altar.

In contrast, we will not find rational views-available as widely as religious ideas-for human consumption of thought. We rarely hear counter-arguments based on reasoning to make an informed choice. So we stay convinced with what religions present to us as logic and happily assume that our beliefs are logically sound too. That is where we fail in our judgment-mistake belief for truth, and live under religious assumptions.

The only way we can come out of this hallucination is by reasoning. Reasoning beliefs will show us where religions falter in their argument. Indeed, if we narrow down their arguments, we will find just a handful of ideas. Though they lack evidence and logic, religions use them with all conviction to persuade people.

So, what we ought to tell ourselves and others is, start reasoning. If we use our freewill to reason, we will be able to see the difference between truth and untruth; reality and illusion. After all, as humans, it is our birthright to seek honest answers.