tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2102451431033041663.post1991042719949200583..comments2024-03-29T15:39:08.301+05:30Comments on Tomichan Matheikal's blog: The Origins of ReligionTomichan Matheikalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05037872309096060126noreply@blogger.comBlogger23125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2102451431033041663.post-67571210457359224282014-01-02T08:49:33.504+05:302014-01-02T08:49:33.504+05:30I read your blog and have posted my comment there....I read your blog and have posted my comment there. It's a wonderful piece of writing.Tomichan Matheikalhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05037872309096060126noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2102451431033041663.post-88732854431152832942013-12-31T22:31:29.165+05:302013-12-31T22:31:29.165+05:30I wrote a similar piece on the history of civilisa...I wrote a similar piece on the history of civilisation. Thought you might like it. http://www.yosny.com/the-history-of-civilisation/Vijay Thirugnanamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16242555948527196019noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2102451431033041663.post-57194946019579092452013-06-22T13:39:15.941+05:302013-06-22T13:39:15.941+05:30I agree with you. In modern day religion seems to ...I agree with you. In modern day religion seems to be a hindrance to the progress of science and technology. We needed religion long time ago to teach people to love mankind. But in the present day scenario religion does not fit into any equation.Pritam Thakurhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12904433546827822143noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2102451431033041663.post-26625316708915816722013-06-01T13:11:51.211+05:302013-06-01T13:11:51.211+05:30Calling religion as science and rituals as technol...Calling religion as science and rituals as technology, isn't it a little too generous? However primitive, science should be something that should be rationally explainable IMO, I would agree there could be mistakes or early conclusions in science, but something as superficial as religious rituals I doubt can be classified as earlier forms of science?Gurujihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01979180240055800364noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2102451431033041663.post-5276560515108528472013-05-17T20:09:15.013+05:302013-05-17T20:09:15.013+05:30Priests of convenience - you said it. Thanks.Priests of convenience - you said it. Thanks.Tomichan Matheikalhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05037872309096060126noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2102451431033041663.post-84892109879997198432013-05-17T19:45:56.232+05:302013-05-17T19:45:56.232+05:30I believe much of the philosophies that we follow ...I believe much of the philosophies that we follow today are as per the priests convenience and they have found the way to rule by dividing...people in the name of religion...!!!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11933118452485782357noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2102451431033041663.post-63810188131534932732013-05-16T20:49:57.622+05:302013-05-16T20:49:57.622+05:30What you are saying is astronomy came first and it...What you are saying is astronomy came first and it became astrology!<br /><br />This I would agree. But, why astronomy itself? That is innate curiosity.<br /><br />REmandakolathurhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03774568024246167410noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2102451431033041663.post-18025082241031097002013-05-16T20:29:14.235+05:302013-05-16T20:29:14.235+05:30Not spamming, Richa. Love to have you here again ...Not spamming, Richa. Love to have you here again and again.Tomichan Matheikalhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05037872309096060126noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2102451431033041663.post-58245173213325749792013-05-16T20:27:00.753+05:302013-05-16T20:27:00.753+05:30No, Raghuram. I think I failed in making Grayling...No, Raghuram. I think I failed in making Grayling clear enough. What he says is that in the infancy of the human species religion was the science. Science went on growing and religion didn't... I hope you understand the difference and the significance of that difference. Tomichan Matheikalhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05037872309096060126noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2102451431033041663.post-42995889452327992492013-05-16T20:24:41.133+05:302013-05-16T20:24:41.133+05:30It's really interesting. thanks for saying th...It's really interesting. thanks for saying that, Nona.Tomichan Matheikalhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05037872309096060126noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2102451431033041663.post-58784371899399717792013-05-16T20:23:50.416+05:302013-05-16T20:23:50.416+05:30It is a vast topic, no doubt. You would have to w...It is a vast topic, no doubt. You would have to write an entire encyclopedia to explain what you want to say. But the purpose here is to show that religion is not so deeply rooted if we can go beyond emotions and start thinking logically. I'm tickling that logical bone in our ribs which most people don't use :)Tomichan Matheikalhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05037872309096060126noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2102451431033041663.post-63671108246369534872013-05-16T17:30:14.274+05:302013-05-16T17:30:14.274+05:30"We are discussing the origins of religion. ..."We are discussing the origins of religion. Grayling argues that understanding the reality around us, explaining it to others and controlling it are the original purposes of religion." - I have a different take: religion began as the handmaiden of serving the interests of power mongers. It is a device made by and for the power mongers.<br /><br />No other understanding of religion would withstand scrutiny.<br /><br />RE mandakolathurhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03774568024246167410noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2102451431033041663.post-3546968519672953382013-05-16T15:11:56.738+05:302013-05-16T15:11:56.738+05:30Very interesting topicVery interesting topicNonahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13892851938328826870noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2102451431033041663.post-12595662045141678422013-05-16T11:55:08.214+05:302013-05-16T11:55:08.214+05:30I don't know how far Grayling will be successf...I don't know how far Grayling will be successful in substantiating his arguments. Even today there are many religiously biased norms and rituals which might or might not have a technological control and no scientific reasons, but still people follow the same. Religion stays as a deeply rooted phenomenon over years. In India particularly if you take Hindusim, its a way of living...it was stratified on occupational basis, but later was converted into religion. This a very vast topic...much more to say...the space wont be enough and I might cross the brevity. But thank you for igniting such a thought... Sreedev Somanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00261707675986421597noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2102451431033041663.post-71538384247431385742013-05-16T10:11:52.285+05:302013-05-16T10:11:52.285+05:30I agree about the promiscuous sex part. But what I...I agree about the promiscuous sex part. But what I wanted elucidate was the religion in its nascent stage. It corrupted sex after it denounced it as taboo. The promiscuity entered after it was registered a sin. Why do we have devdasis? Because the priests had denounced it as a taboo but had their own needs and so the deplorable practice was introduced. Sorry was spamming your post :D Richa Singhhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18147592329627851095noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2102451431033041663.post-8685850096904382692013-05-16T06:54:07.997+05:302013-05-16T06:54:07.997+05:30Thanks, Deepa. You will definitely get more on th...Thanks, Deepa. You will definitely get more on this here :)Tomichan Matheikalhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05037872309096060126noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2102451431033041663.post-21571158971168768072013-05-16T06:53:30.478+05:302013-05-16T06:53:30.478+05:30I haven't read Gibbon yet. But I hope Graylin...I haven't read Gibbon yet. But I hope Grayling will help you to understand religion from a philosophical angle, while Gibbon must have presented it from a historical angle. Tomichan Matheikalhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05037872309096060126noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2102451431033041663.post-948619315182896292013-05-16T06:51:56.202+05:302013-05-16T06:51:56.202+05:30Yes, Richa, I understand what you say. But I'...Yes, Richa, I understand what you say. But I'm not sure I'll agree with you that sex is a liberating act, especially if you mean promiscuous sex. Sex is indeed a liberating act between people who love each other. I'm not able to accept the kind of commercial attitude that most people have toward sex and 'love'. <br /><br />I come from a state (Kerala) where the women had to go on a revolutionary movement in order to ensure their right to cover their breasts. It was religious leaders who had made such rules as 'women of low caste should expose their breasts to men of upper castes'! Religion contributed more to the perversion of sex than the liberation of it, as I understand. Tomichan Matheikalhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05037872309096060126noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2102451431033041663.post-28049625894736487392013-05-16T05:57:22.474+05:302013-05-16T05:57:22.474+05:30I love how you finally zeroed in on social control...I love how you finally zeroed in on social control being the culprit to the distancing of the gods and people. I'm looking forward to reading more on this from you. <a href="https://fictionpies.com">Deepa from FictionPies</a>https://www.blogger.com/profile/08190726711949079567noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2102451431033041663.post-3366637917573445122013-05-16T00:32:39.858+05:302013-05-16T00:32:39.858+05:30You have intrigued me! Grayling's interpretati...You have intrigued me! Grayling's interpretation has piqued my interest and I have you to thank for it. I definitely need to read this now but only after I finish "Christianity and the decline of Rome" by Edward Gibbon. Gibbon has attempted to explain away Christianity's beliefs in the scientific and as a matter-of-fact way. I think this book may be helpful to augment what Gibbon has to say.Brendan Dabhihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02553127085253015495noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2102451431033041663.post-72283129226762240962013-05-15T22:59:58.021+05:302013-05-15T22:59:58.021+05:30you want an honest answer kamasutra is a book much...you want an honest answer kamasutra is a book much ahead of our times. The people at that time were more mature to handle something like this. I have read a lot on different kinds of religion and in almost all religions sex initially was more of a liberation rather than a taboo. But then time passed and man decided on religion and i feel whenever u deem something as a taboo it becomes coveted. Kamasutra was a book on way of life and perhaps sex was an important way of life just that now it is coveted and so the hubla boo. I hope u understood the gibberish I wrote :DRicha Singhhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18147592329627851095noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2102451431033041663.post-49482937840126406112013-05-15T22:53:12.365+05:302013-05-15T22:53:12.365+05:30Richa, I'm flattered by your regular presence ...Richa, I'm flattered by your regular presence in this space and that too with a very intelligent comment.<br /><br />Don't you think Kamasutra was more of an aberration than a ritual? It couldn't have been a ritual at all though it might have been a sincere reflection of certain powerful people's way of life :) Consider also our pracrices like Devadasi system and the treatment of widows. Weren't they reflections of the same perverted attitudes that gave rise to the Kamasutra? Tomichan Matheikalhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05037872309096060126noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2102451431033041663.post-87956792712053426062013-05-15T22:33:49.556+05:302013-05-15T22:33:49.556+05:30I saw ur post flashing on indivine and went a litt...I saw ur post flashing on indivine and went a little excited to read! so i am the first one to read :) amazing review the whole analogy of science with religion and rituals with technology is super amazing. But I wonder if Grayling ever thought that the technology (as in rituals) were more of a way of life to facilitate everyday things. if i can use the liberty of using the example of kamasutra (eyes rolling :P) it was never intended as a dialogue on sex but actually a way of life. Like rules for everyday hygiene and stuff. And in time it lost its purpose, its more illustrious elements found more space in society.<br /><br />U see how charged up I am, you have give me so much food for thought :)<br /><br />www.subzeroricha.blogspot.in Richa Singhhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18147592329627851095noreply@blogger.com