(एका महाविद्यालयात “Humanity at a crossroads” या विषयवार अलीकडेच बोललो.  व्याख्यानानंतर प्रश्नोत्तरांच्या  दरम्यान विध्यार्थ्यांना मूळ विषयाऐवजी देव या विषयावरच जास्त आकर्षण दिसून आले. विद्यार्थ्यांपैकी एकाने हा संवाद अतिशय मेहनत घेऊन बोलीभाषा ऐवजी वाचण्यास सोपा करून टेक्स्ट स्वरूपात मला पाठविला(अर्थात दैवी नव्हे तर वैज्ञानिक साधनांचा वापर करून !) आजच्या पिढीला पडलेल्या प्रश्नांचे स्वरूप यावर थोडा प्रकाश पडतो.)

Student: Sir, if the universe is so ancient, why do gods appear so late in human history?

Mr. Zagade: Good question! The universe, as we know, is about 13.80 billion years old, with our earth a youthful 4.5 billion years. Life forms started to emerge, evolve, and adapt — but humans, we’re merely 200,000 years old, relatively speaking. For most of our early history, we were too preoccupied with survival to philosophize! As we developed tools, societies, and languages, only then did we look up at the stars and wonder, ‘Who or what is behind all this?’ Gods were thus born in the realm of human consciousness, as we tried to make sense of what seemed like miracles and mysteries of nature.

Student : So, did early humans just create gods out of thin air?

Mr. Zagade: Not exactly out of thin air, but certainly from the imagination! Take, for instance, the Rigveda, one of the oldest scriptures, dating back to around 1500 BCE. In it, humans expressed wonder about creation. One verse asks, ‘Who truly knows and who can here declare it?’ Early humans saw towering mountains, vast seas, and thunderstorms as manifestations of something bigger than themselves. These elements inspired stories, and soon enough, personified gods emerged, from the sky god to the river goddess — reflections of human fears and fascinations.

Student : How did these gods become organized religions?

Mr. Zagade: Ah, good observation! As societies grew, their beliefs grew more complex. Approximately 8,000 years ago, the concept of a ‘Mother Goddess’ began to appear, representing fertility, abundance, and nature’s compassion. By 6,000 years ago, Hinduism took shape, with a pantheon of gods like Vishnu and Shiva. Each god represented a part of life or nature, woven into philosophical texts like the Upanishads and Vedas. Later, the Persians offered Ahura Mazda, the god of wisdom, as part of Zoroastrianism’s dualistic worldview around 4,000 years ago. Religions started organizing these gods, transforming them from myths into structured doctrines and rituals.

Student: When did monotheism come into the picture?

Mr. Zagade: Monotheism is a more recent development, relatively speaking. Around 4,000 years ago, Judaism introduced the idea of one supreme God, setting a foundation for religions like Christianity and Islam. Monotheism simplified divine power, turning from multiple gods with different domains to one omnipotent being. Christianity, emerging 2,000 years ago, introduced the figure of Jesus, transforming ideas of love, forgiveness, and salvation. Islam, around 1,200 years old, reinforced monotheism, where Allah became the sole focus of worship. This shift gave people a singular figure to follow and appeal to, uniting them under one divine authority.

Student: So why do we have new religions even today?

Mr. Zagade: Excellent point. Religions evolve with humanity’s changing needs. For instance, Sikhism emerged only 400 years ago, offering a unifying message of compassion and service during a period of social division. And even more recently, we’ve seen the rise of figures like Shirdi Sai Baba about 100 years ago, combining elements of Hindu and Islamic practices. New figures and faiths often address the unique challenges of their times, providing fresh perspectives for seekers.

Student: This sounds like humans are creating gods to suit their needs. Is that fair to say?

Mr. Zagade: It’s more than fair; it’s quite accurate! Anthropologists believe gods are reflections of human values, fears, and aspirations. As Mircea Eliade, a renowned historian of religion, noted, humans shape the divine to embody an ‘absolute reality’ against their ordinary world. When society demands answers or order, gods emerge as those answers. So yes, gods evolve with us, embodying our hopes and questions.

Student: How do scientists view religion and the idea of God?

Mr. Zagade: Science typically doesn’t seek to explain gods but rather the mechanics of the universe. Many scientists view religious ideas as ‘memes’ — ideas passed down and adapted much like genes in evolution. Richard Dawkins, for instance, argues that beliefs evolve like organisms, surviving when they fit societal needs. However, some scientists find awe in the universe’s complexity and wonder if there’s a ‘force’ behind it. For instance, quantum mechanics and cosmology present mysteries about the nature of reality that even scientists find awe-inspiring. So, while they may not define ‘God’ as religions do, they acknowledge the mystery.

Student: But isn’t it contradictory to say humans created God and then believe in God’s guidance?

Mr. Zagade: It is a profound paradox. Humanity invented gods to understand the world, but then we began turning to these very gods for answers to our lives’ toughest questions. It’s as if we created a wise elder and then forgot it was our own invention, hoping it might reveal secrets we don’t understand. This paradox is beautifully encapsulated in many religious scriptures. For example, the Bhagavad Gita addresses this dilemma, where Krishna reveals his divine nature, only for Arjuna to realize it is intertwined with his own journey and identity. It shows us that our gods often reveal more about ourselves than about the universe.

Student: So, in the end, is God a reflection of our own minds?

Mr. Zagade: In many ways, yes. God appears to be a mirror crafted from our collective human psyche. When we look at God, we see our deepest fears, highest ideals, and most cherished hopes. We created gods to answer our need for purpose, control, and comfort amidst life’s uncertainties. And thus, while we look to God for meaning, we also see the human journey reflected in divine stories. This duality captures the human essence — our ceaseless quest for answers, even if the search is sometimes directed at ourselves. Last question please. I have to go now. 

Student: Is there an answer to who created God, then?

Mr. Zagade:The answer may lie in the journey itself. Humans created gods as they sought meaning, and through this creation, they explored love, justice, fear, and redemption. So, perhaps the question isn’t who created God, but rather, what has God’s creation revealed about us. In this light, God could be humanity’s most extraordinary idea — a compass guiding us through our own wonders and dilemmas. As for a definite answer, maybe it’s best left open, for the journey to understand God seems inseparable from our journey to understand ourselves.