Reflection CT- day 5&6

I find myself confused and, perhaps, agnostic. I believe in some kind of higher power—a force, an energy, something beyond what science can currently explain. Whether that power is God, however, is unclear to me. For example, did Lord Hanuman really fly across the ocean to retrieve the Sanjeevani herb, or is that just an exaggerated tale? One thought I find intriguing is the question: Did God create humans, or did humans create God?

The fact is, humans have existed for around 300,000 years, while the oldest known religion, Hinduism, only emerged about 3,000 years ago. Religion, at its core, is a set of rules followed by a community, and its primary purpose is to unite people. It seems possible that the concept of God was introduced to strengthen adherence to these rules, possibly as a tool to instill fear and ensure the community followed the leaders’ guidance. The idea that failing to follow religious tenets could result in trouble, both in this life and the next, could have been a way to enforce order.

This train of thought led me to an interesting possibility: what if, thousands of years from now, figures like the Avengers are considered gods? Imagine a post-apocalyptic world where only stories of the Avengers remain, and future generations worship them as divine beings. Thor could become analogous to Indra, Hulk to Bhima, or Hanuman. It’s not as far-fetched as it seems when you consider how religions often evolve over time.

We also can’t ignore the role religion plays in politics, with many leaders using it for personal or political gain. Yet, despite the complexities, religion and the idea of God still bind us together, encourage good deeds, and instill a sense of moral responsibility. While I’m not entirely dismissing the existence of God, I also don’t feel the need for concrete evidence to support my belief. It’s simply a matter of uncertainty—maybe it is, maybe it isn’t.