'When sick, people pray to god but look for a doctor'
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[ IANS ]
By
Kul Bhushan
(New Delhi, Nov
29)
Everyone must
rethink his/her conception of god in the light of scientific advances, according
to a reputed doctor from Manipur, now based in
Britain.
Irengbam Mohendra
Singh, whose book "Quest Beyond Religion" (Konark) was released here Monday
evening, said that as a student of physical sciences and biology, he always
found it uncomfortable to believe in the existence of a god.
"As a student of biology, it
was uncomfortable to believe in the existence of a god. This age-old question
hovered at the back of my mind since the end of my school days," Singh told IANS
in an interview.
Born in
Imphal, the main city of Manipur, Singh qualified as a doctor from Agra. After
training in hospitals in New Delhi, he went to Britain for postgraduate studies.
He wanted to return to Imphal
where his father and brother had built a nursing home for him. But in England,
he met Margaret Robson whom he married and worked as a physician until his
recent retirement.
"Now we know
that the beginning of the universe is not in religion but in science," he
said.
"We are also almost there
in finding the origin of life on earth; that is, life began from chemicals which
literally fell from outer space. Science tells us that death is a natural
process of wear and tear and not determined by god, as some people believe.
There are no death genes.
"My
book presents these concepts in the light of where science has advanced today.
In this age of science, we must all think in terms of scientific and verifiable
evidence and not in terms of
dogma."
After he started to
learn physical sciences and biology, he began to challenge the existence of god.
During his professional life, various religious rituals and many advances in
science kept him abreast of the reality of god as a scientific entity.
He called himself a
"freethinker" - one who thinks independent of authority and establishment.
"In democratic countries like
India and Britain, one is allowed to think for oneself and think differently,"
he said.
From the study of
various religions and advances in modern science as well as the decline of
Christianity in the West, he has come to a logical conclusion that it is science
that will bring emancipation to humanity from the ravages of famine and
starvation, deadly diseases, and will provide people with food, clothing and
shelter.
"When (they are)
sick, people pray to god but look for a doctor!" he added for emphasis. But he
maintained that he is not against any religion at all.
"In fact, I have the greatest
respect for all religions. My religion has given me an identity and a belonging
to a society to which I relate. My main objection against religions (philosophy
and god) is that religion causes more problems that it solves.
"Look at social evils, hatred
and violence in the name of different religions around the globe today.
"I hope my views prod the
readers especially the younger generation to think on scientific lines," he
said.
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