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March, 2007 Atheism and Second Law of Thermo DynamicsTaking the conversation on Atheism further, I would like to counter the idea of 'Argument by Design' of Theism by using Second Law of Thermodynamics. One can use this law to produce scientific definition of life. I consider this a very safe argument unless a genius proves thermodynamics wrong. This argument is on the ‘Order’ and ‘Design’. What is ‘Order’ and ‘Design’? 'Order' is mere regularity, mere pattern; 'Design' is an exploitation of an 'Order' for purpose. For instance, Solar System exhibits beautiful 'Order', but does not have purpose i.e. It isn't for anything. Any eye, in contrast is for seeing.
[I would like to quote on this occasion one of the famous scholar from 18th century England, an aristocrat Anglican Christian stating that 'God created planetary system and put them in motion to ensure sleep' - I thought this as such an arrogance of being human kind!!! Such an Ignorance!!! That is why it is said 'Ignorance is bliss']
Coming back to Thermodynamics, here is the argument proposed and popularized by Erwin Schrödinger (1967)
Life can be defined in terms of the Second Law of Thermodynamics. In physics, order or organization can be measured in terms of heat differences between regions of space time; entropy is simply disorder, the opposite of order, and according to the Second Law, the entropy of any isolated system increases with time. In other words, things run down, inevitably. According to the Second Law, the universe is unwinding out of a more ordered state into the ultimately disordered state known as the heat death of the universe. What then are living things? They are things that defy this crumbling into dust, at least for awhile, by not being isolated--by taking in from their environment the wherewithal to keep life and limb together.
The psychologist Richard Gregory summarizes the idea:
Time's arrow given by Entropy--the loss of organization, or loss of temperature differences--is statistical and it is subject to local small-scale reversals. Most striking: life is a systematic reversal of Entropy, and intelligence creates structures and energy differences against the supposed gradual 'death' through Entropy of the physical Universe.
Sometimes I think, while talking about Theism and Atheism that Absolute Ignorance (Theism) fully qualifies itself to take the place of Absolute Wisdom (Atheism)
Insomuch our discussion on the Idea of Theism and Atheism goes, I think we (Atheists) have proposed a more complete, logical and scientific explanation to support Theism against vagueness of Mythology.
I am doing an extensive work in preparing a complete essay based on scientific evidences, facts and logics to make one of many more assaults on Theism. We (Atheists) have seen and been amongst Theists. I was born to a god believing parents, surrounded by god believing neighbors, friends, colleagues and teachers. Every step of the way I was preached to believe in god, pray, to follow the customs and rituals. But till today nobody has ever preached us into Atheism. NEVER. (as apposed to Theism, where every religion preaches people to be and stay god believing).
It was some point in time a question sprout in my mind. Why do I have to do what I am doing? Is it because we are told to do it? And many questions like these started to arouse. Then on answers to those questions become ideas, deep contemplation on that ideas leads to belief and further reading and further contemplation strengthens that belief. This is the process of becoming Theist to Atheist. The whole journey has never been blind. It was scientific, logical, and practical, being an Atheist is fulfilling.
So the conclusion is, we (Atheists) have seen both worlds and are in better position to make judgments March, 2007 WATERThis is one of the must watch movie for all religious fundamentalists and radicals. Being born Hindu, I have freed myself from God and Religion. Today I am completely free and a happy man. I dare to go on and write this… The day before filming was due to begin; the crew was informed that there were complications with gaining location permits. The following day, they learned that 2,000 protesters had stormed the ghats, destroying the main film set, burning and throwing it into the Ganges protest at the film's criticism of Hindu rites. The resulting tensions meant that Mehta struggled for many years to make Water and was eventually forced to make it in Sri Lanka rather than India The charges were first made by Hindu extremists angered by the touchy subject matter and who attacked and burned the Water set in the holy city of Varanasi, causing over $600,000 worth of damage. Production was shut down until last year, when Mehta secretly finished the movie in nearby Sri Lanka. [Above passage are excerpts from Deepa Mehta’s press interview] Which Hindu Rites the protesters are talking about? Sati? Child Marriage? Widow? Gandhi questioned religious practices and doctrines regardless of traditions or beliefs. On the subject of Christianity, he noted that: "The only people on earth who do not see Christ and His teachings as nonviolent are Christians". Although Gandhi was born a Hindu he was critical of most religions, including Hinduism. He wrote in his autobiography: "Thus if I could not accept Christianity either as a perfect, or the greatest religion, neither was I then convinced of Hinduism being such. Hindu defects were pressingly visible to me. If untouchability and sati could be a part of Hinduism, it could but be a rotten part or an excrescence. I could not understand the raison d'etre of a multitude of sects and castes. What was the meaning of saying that the Vedas were the inspired Word of God? If they were inspired, why not also the Bible and the Koran? As Christian friends were endeavoring to convert me, so were Muslim friends. Abdullah Sheth had kept on inducing me to study Islam, and of course he had always something to say regarding its beauty". In Hindu mythology, Manu is a title accorded the progenitor of humankind, first king to rule this earth, who saves mankind from the universal flood. He is honest which is why he is called "Satyavrata", or with oath of truth. This is what he has written
A widow should be long suffering until death, self-restrained and chaste.
A virtuous wife who remains chaste when her husband has died goes to heaven.
A woman who is unfaithful to her husband is reborn in the womb of a jackal.
The Laws of Manu
Chapter 5 verse 156-161
Dharmashastras (Sacred Hindu texts)
In above verse the word ‘Chaste’, according to dictionary means ‘morally pure (especially not having experienced sexual intercourse)’. I can clearly see this was written to oppress women. This and many vedic texts are followed for thousands of years and women are systematically oppressed in the name of religion. Partly the setup of religion was for few people’s thirst for power and convenience. Not just in Hinduism, this is being done all other religions too. If Manu’s texts are acceptable, why not holocaust? Hitler too believed in a doctrine of his own and systematically murdered Jews. Even more Sanathana dharma (Sanathan is Eternal) says Women are lesser intellect, lesser species etc. One can not say, think, believe or follow these kinds of statements. This is totally absurd. I think religion has had enough. Religious evolution is coming to a point of total transformation, point to which religion is loosing its grip on masses. Church is loosing its power. We are headed toward a free world, a world free from gods and religions. It is the time to listen to your conscience and ask what religion means to me. Religion has done its time, it gave us culture. Now it’s time to give way to new thing. The time has come for us to elevate our thoughts and conscience above and beyond god, religion, race and politics and see the world from an Atheist’s perspective. I bet one can see a brand new world of complete peace and prosperity. I SALUTE DEEPA MEHTA FOR HAVING A COURRAGE TO COMPLETE THIS FILM. I HOPE SHE CONTINUES TO MAKE THIS KIND OF MOVIE TO OPEN THE MINDS OF MILLIONS OF REILIGIOUS FUNDAMENTALISTS AND MAKE THIS WORLD A BETTER PLACE ‘FREE FROM GOD AND RELIGION’ March, 2007 Nasty ChicagoChicago, Sunday, 4th February 2007
Since last two days weather in Chicago is very nasty. It was between 21C to 17C below zero. TV weather channel say this is the worst weather Chicago had since 1988. At present it is colder than Alaska. Chicago, being one of the windy cities in US, brings the Wind Chill factor. This Wind Chill is even worse; it could get to 30C below zero. It is like any part of your body exposed would become numb in 10-20 seconds, especially palm and toes. You feel like they have become wood and there is a danger of frost bite. Frost bite could happen in less than 30 minutes and you don’t even know it happening. Snow all around had started turning into ice. Worst thing about this is that it gets slippery to walk on foot path and frozen ice from top of the sky crapper could fall down on to the foot path. You don’t want to get under those ice slabs falling. No matter how warm clothes you wear, cold drills into the bones. Given this back ground, Sunday late evening, I got down at down town Union train station, it was dark and I was waiting for a taxi to go to Millennium train station. From there I was supposed to take another train to Motel. Because of the nasty weather and some Super Bowl final game (Chicago bears vs. Miami bulls); whole down town was like ice desert. Hustling and bustling city was standing still. Accept few cars and public transport, whole city was empty. I tried to take few snaps of those conditions, my hands for so cold and bad that I couldn’t pull the camera out of my coat’s pocket. That moment I started to think about dialing 311 (number to dial for cold emergencies). Weather was killing. Boy that was a scary situation to be in. Finally I decided there is no point in taking a train to go to Motel, it is better to go by tax. But the question is where these taxis are? There is hardly any traffic on the streets. I can not go out of the station to call a taxi. What do I do? If there are no taxis coming by train station, what are the odds of finding taxi if I were to walk on street to find a taxi? Above all what are the odds of me staying alive for 10 minutes in those conditions? Then I mustered courage to go out on to the streets and walked for about 200 meters to a cinema theater. There somebody got out of taxi. I was so relieved and took that taxi all the way from down town to Motel in suburb (about 30 miles and 100 bucks). Taxi drive was Asian, looked like desi but later I found that he was Pakistani desi It was a nice experience though. One time in life, one has to experience things likes these. I enjoyed it (only when I made it back to the comforts my room). All is well if it ends well.
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