“The more stupid one is, the clearer one is.” That is
one of Ivan Karamazov’s numerous profound observations. Ivan is one of the most
fascinating characters in literature for me. He is intelligent and troubled but
he would rather be stupid and happy. He is sensitive but such sensitivity can
drive one to insanity. He is sceptical but he’d rather be a genuine believer in
God.
But does God exist at all? If He
does, is He a benign entity or a malign one? “If there is a God, then He is a
malicious and cruel being,” Ivan asserts. On another occasion, we find him tortured
by the thought that “If God exists, then, as the children are tortured, He must
exist for the sake of tormenting them.” Children’s pains afflict Ivan
particularly. Innocence does deserve better particularly if there is a God who
cares.
Ivan could not accept God because of
the evil in the world. An omnipotent God could easily get rid of evil. And God
is not only omnipotent but all-loving too. One of Ivan’s fundamental problems
is his inability to reconcile his intellect with his emotions. His emotions
rebel against his brain. The conflict is so deep that Ivan becomes one of the
most troubled characters in literature and hence most fascinating.
Ivan’s brother, Alexei is a deeply
religious person. His religion gives him meaning and a sense of fulfilment in
life. It makes him a saintly character. Ivan is incapable of such faith. This
is where we are left wondering whether religious faith is a gift that not all
people are blessed with.
I find Ivan fascinating probably
because some of Ivan’s questions and agonies are my own. I could never come to
terms with God precisely for the same reasons that Ivan raises. Evil in the
human world is a grave question mark etched deeply on the very heart of God.
Evil is so powerful that if God comes again to the human world, He will again
be nailed to the cross or shot down or burnt alive by people who claim to be
religious.
Like Ivan, I experience a deep
longing for God within my troubled heart. But not a single religious place has
ever given me the kind of serenity that I hope to derive from religion.
Secluded places offer me such serenity. God has no place among believers, I
feel every time I visit religious places.
In the end, I am as confused and
troubled as Ivan Karamazov when it comes to God. But I have resolved the
conflict by choosing to leave God to his believers. Let them fight it out as
they are doing every day on the streets, in media, wherever.
PS. This post is a part of Blogchatter Half Marathon
Previous Posts in this
series:
2. Pip Learns the Essential Lessons
3. Delusions and Ironies of Love
4. Good Old Days without meetings
6. An Oracle Gives up his Goddess
The
series will end with two more posts.
The problem is the definition of God. What is God? We have such an anthropomorphized vision that I doubt is accurate.
ReplyDeleteAgree with you. I have wondered again and again how God can have a gender? What will God do with genitals, for example?
DeleteHari Om
ReplyDeleteAh, The Brothers Karamazov... A favourite tale. I enjoyed it for all the reasons you elucidate here. My life long search has served me well and I'm satisfied with the answers. What requires remembering (and majority organised religion tries to keep their sheep ignorant of) is that "God" is made in Man's own image... hence so many variations of the One Manufactured... YAM xx
What I find incredibly ludicrous is how millions of people refuse to see that Man-u-facture.
DeleteI feel like you resonate with Ivan for all the queries both of you have, one day you will find another character that will answer your queries in a way like they never existed. Until then you are doing good by leaving God to his believers.
ReplyDeleteIn fact, Zorba of Kazantzakis answers my quest partly. I may write about him next.
DeleteAn insightful exploration of Ivan Karamazov's complex character and his struggle with faith and doubt. It's difficult to define God. It means different things to different people. For me, God is an invisible power. A power that is manifested in everything living and non-living. A power that leads us.
ReplyDeleteThose who have experienced God really won't ever fight for that power. We have so much violence in the name of God(s) because the believers haven't ever understood what divinity is about.
Delete