God and Religion

There is a debate going on here about a Bishop who has declared himself to be an Agnostic

I agree with the view that declaring oneself as an Atheist could be construed as being very arrogant. I think may be that is why many people who really don't believe in God like to take up the lable 'agnostic', which could also mean to be 'being indifferent' to the whole issue of God and Religion. It is not 'sitting on the fence', but incorporates the realisation that human beings as they are today do not fully know everything about the nature of things including as to how the brain functions, how thoughts originate, etc. We are still evolving and more discoveries about nature and human existence are being made. So it is perfectly alright for a rational person who does not believe in one single Superhuman being and who does not want to be shackled by the rituals of being religious to take the position of being Agnostic.

Having said that I should also say that the concept of God is understandable but the practice of Religion is unwarranted.

I agree with the author Steve Berry that religion has been created as a tool by men to manipulate and control other men and in the search for answers to many questions of the human mind, even those that are unanswerable, the unbelievable has become gospel.

This is my personal experience as well.

But as far as the Bishop here is concerned, I believe that once he has declared himself to be an Agnostic, he has no right to be in a religious institution whose bedrock is believing in God. It would be appropriate for the Bishop to resign his postion and seek his own truth elsewhere.

I visit several temples, churches etc and I am impressed by the effort and faith that have gone into their construction and maintainence. I can understand the passion of the adherents to raise monuments to honour their deities. I believe it enriches the culture and the architecture is simply great and mind-blowing, particularly in old Hindu temples, historical churches, etc.

How nice it would be if tolerance for each other's belief or non-belief spreads and all people can co-exist without trying to convert or force others into their way of thinking.

My final submission is that being religious or non-religious is a very personal thing and each person has to find his own way into or out of it.