Category: Critical Thinking

Critical Thinking – Think beyond our imagination

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We have been believing in God since childhood because our parents have been following us in the same way. Never felt the need to quantify or question the existence of God, but critical thinking has inspired us to think ‘Is God really there or not?’ Religion or our religious beliefs always prevent us from doing wrong things, yet there are riots or fighting somewhere in the world, so we should think that we should follow such ideas so that we are not harming others.
Our guest Vardan sir gave us a new direction of believing the right things by answering our questions patiently, I learned from him that it is ok if we do not follow any religion but it is wrong to blindly follow any religion without knowing it. He also said that sometimes we get confused while taking decisions in life, and then we can take decisions according to what is right in that situation. Apart from the Guest session, I liked to read Sir’s blog which is in detail of description about GOD & atheists.  This session played a very important role in changing my beliefs.

We are grateful to our facilitator for this beautiful experience. and journey of Critical thinking which I can surely apply in my personal life & professional life as well.

With Gratitude,

Kunjan Gandhi

 

Critical Thinking – Reflection

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“The essence of the independent mind lies not in what it thinks, but in how it thinks.”
― Christopher Hitchens

The last two sessions started with a discussion on Religion and religious beliefs. We were shown images as an activity where we had to reflect on our understanding on religion, followed by defining God, religious beliefs, rituals, customs and traditions and spirituality. Also there was a lot of discussion done for identifying the constraints in the pursuit of knowledge. During the discussions, I have observed people grappling with questions about the existence of God, the purpose of life, the validity and authenticity of various religious traditions, the role of religion in society, and how to reconcile their personal beliefs with the beliefs of others who may hold different views.

I think I still have a lot of questions about it but I am sure that critical thinking if practiced well will help me find answers to my approaches and interpretations to religion.

Where did your values and principles come from?

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Today I completed my second season with Critical Thinking. In the last season I lost my “faith in God” and I thought I have lost all my grounds. But here I am successfully completing my second season. Not only that, I am really proud of myself the way I have turned out without “my faith in GOD”. It’s not that I was not thriving earlier but the fear of letting go of something to gain something – was something I had never done before.

Today when I hear anyone talking about how religious they are and how religiously they follow the practices- my response is – great – good for you!! and I move on. The reason I don’t try to change or question them, just because I have got my share of clarity is because -I took my own time and processing to come to this stage. I don’t want to take that right away from them. It’s a journey of evolution, self introspection and enlightment so it is better the individual experience it themselves at their own pace. During my evolution journey someone once told me – speed doesn’t matter – as long as you are growing. (PS – I have already expressed my gratitude to that someone.)

Saying that it doesn’t mean I don’t have any values or principles. I do and I very religiously follow them but the difference is – they are my selected ones – not imposed on me by anyone or anything. Thanks to the CT sessions and especially my facilitators for guiding me to create my own ground with my own set of values and principles. This is one of the victories for me at many levels – which is another story to tell. But by choosing “my own set of values and principles” I am not only enjoying the freedom with purpose I am role modelling the same for my kids.

Everyone knows to think just be little critical to start off. CHOOSE YOUR OWN GROUNDS.

 

Critical Thinking Day 7 and 8

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We had a lot of discussion on religion, beliefs and their importance. I myself is a religious person and do have strong beliefs. During these 2 days I came across many different perspectives regarding religion and existence of God. Vardan sir’s session helped me understand that for being a good human (what all religions teach) we don’t need religion. We must have our own values which lead us to the right path. My new understanding after these classes is do think critically before following any belief and follow the practice which gives you peace. Your motive should be humanism and not religion. These sessions helped  me clear my knowledge potholes and biases.

Critical thinking- Priti Pimpalkhare

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I think religion is the practice created by humans for society. People with the same thoughts and beliefs created their groups and named them religions. They follow different authorities which they named god. These Gods have different names and their identity, they are from mythology or some saints.

I am not totally against some beliefs as far as it’s not harming society and my self-esteem. I believe in some positive power that keeps motivating me to do the right things. I also chose saints such as Swami Samartha, and Sai baba to share my thoughts to ask some questions in my mind for which I get answers by myself. The statues or photographs are not talking with me but motivate me to listen to my inner voice for a sure. I think it’s a faith factor and not following religion blindly.

I started keeping my points of view about my beliefs too. I don’t allow myself to go to some pandit, baba to solve my problems, as only I am the person who can work on them.

But there are many people who are grappling with some beliefs like we can not do pooja during periods, Different communities have to follow only their religion, Only particular reason is showing the right path, and Follow the authorities blindly without thinking logically etc.

Critical thinking helps to be more open-minded and think logically about religion and beliefs. I will surely be able to question myself whenever I might have to take any decision about my beliefs or how to the extent I need to participate in rituals.

Apart from this System, 1 and System 2 helped me a lot. I have gone through a couple of situations where I was able to apply Think 2, take a pose, and react.

Though I am an open-minded parent, I will definitely work on that I will not pass on my beliefs regarding religion to my daughter and let her decide what is religion for her or whether she believes or does not believe in that.

 

 

Confused.. still moving on..!!

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My journey of Critical Thinking so far has taught me to think two ways: Keeping your emotions aside as well as considering them.

There are many situations in every individual’s life where they have to think critically and hop to one conclusion. But is it easy?

I have learned to analyze a situation without overthinking. Critical thinking reflects that emotions and reasoning go hand in hand. It gives us ownership of beliefs. The decision between a fact and an opinion will be taken on grey areas and not black & white.

The question which still resolves is Who is God? I mean I have seen my family discussing about Lord Krishna because of which I have various images and types of GOD in mind. But, Now after the sessions and discussion, I am confused that no one has seen god, all these stories are assumptions that something of this sort must have happened and people are believing it since ages.

I never doubted on the existence of God! There is some creator and destroyer, there is some supreme being.

Religion what I believe is all man – made, people of same beliefs and location came together to form a group and then they made their own rituals and traditions and then domination started.

Also, learned that one should not be biased in taking decisions but think critically about what is actually important for us.

With gratitude,

Palak Joshi

Critical Thinking (2022-23)

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Critical thinking has helped me to understand about the difference between needs and want. During the sessions we’re got to know more about how everyone has difference perspective/perception on same thing. It was a experience about the peoples thinks critically about the religion too. For critical thinking you have to be open minded and think all possible ways of understanding which is highlight of it.

How your facilitator gives inputs during the critical thinking session is more important which can help you to know above it deeply. Guest speaker sessions was the perfect way, to clear the understanding of participants.

Call for broadening our Umbrellas

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Humanity is a religion most required for us and future generations. We need to be more open-minded towards each other so that this world becomes place where individuals with sensible logical brains co-exist heading towards betterment overall instead just worrying about me, my family, my community.

Training brain to think Critically only on required issues, is surely going to save lots of time and energy, keeping in mind that few times being ‘Emotional’ is OK!

Critical Thinking ( Day 7 & 8)

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On final 2 day of my Life class I came across many views on religion. Sessions were very interactive especially Vardaan Sir’s.

I myself have commented and argued a lot during my teenage years on different religious beliefs and rituals. But over a period I understood that there is no point doing it. I have also understood that finding common ground is essential for peaceful co-existence in the society.

Thanking both Bhargavi Ma’am and Shezin Ma’am for helping me to think critically from all the angles.

Chocolate – before and after!

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The first ever reaction that comes to anyone on listening to chocolate is pleasure and comfort. It makes the world go round. It is the ultimate happiness that anyone can savour. We would all agree that everything is good if it is made of chocolate. Most of us would relate chocolate as a way to deal with feelings instead of to satisfy hunger. 

 

We were all super-excited when we learnt that we were going to learn about chocolate. And this is the first thing that we got to read.

 

 

Imagine our disbelief when we learnt that our delicious chocolate has been termed as something that is suited for the consumption of pigs! And then we learnt that what we read was one of the first detailed accounts of the original chocolate that comes from the History of the New World (1564) by the Milanese Girolamo Benzoni, who travelled in Central America. 

 

So the story goes like this. In the early days, before the 16th century, chocolate wasn’t this creamy, rich, sweet, sensuous, soft, decadent and super addictive food that we know of. It was extremely bitter, gruelly, coarse, crumbly and too heavy to eat. More than a treat, it was a treatment, used as a medicine or fed to soldiers as an instant energizer to prepare them for war. 

 

It is only through the human desire to improvise, innovate and derive pleasure that we got the chocolate that we know. It is a great example of human ingenuity in action.

 

So if you were born before the 16th century, your experience with chocolate would have been very different. So different that if you time travelled and reached this day in Switzerland and tasted chocolate, chances are you wouldn’t be able to make any association of one with the other.

 

And this is the short video about the history and evolution of chocolate that we watched,

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ibjUpk9Iagk

 

Chocolate has been known and loved for many centuries, not only as food but also as medicine. The process of how chocolate is created right from the cocoa beans that grow inside the pods of the cacao trees that are native to central South America to the bars that we relish was worth learning. 

 

So the next time you find yourself craving some chocolate, don’t dismiss it as simply craving for a sweet treat. It could be an important signal that your heart is in need of love. Give in to the desire and buy yourself a big bar.  

 

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