Saku's Stories

 ---- Discovering Religion ----

A few weeks ago, we were travelling somewhere and the topic of religion sprang in the car. I think it was Deepavali and I explained to Seth that Deepawali meant the festival of light. He grumbled, apparently he wasn't happy with Hinduism. When asked why, he explained that a friend of his had done a dance for the school Dusshera festival and he didn't like the dance. So logically, he didn't like Hinduism. But when I explained that many of his friends were in fact Hindu and does their religion play into being friends, the answer was obviously no. He really liked those friends. Religion had nothing to do with their friendship.

Then I reminded him that he and I started reading the Maha Bharatha and that the Maha Bhartha is full of various Hindu deities. (Sadly, we didn't continue reading it, but we should.)

"Deities? As in plural?"

Yep. I said. Christianity has only one God. But there are and have been many religions with multi-deities or Gods. Who did he think Thor was then?

"Ahh.. There's Thor and Odin and Loki and Freya the rest."

Then there's Raa and Set and Amun and the rest. There's also Zeus, and Poseidon, and Hades, and the rest. Multitheism is very common.

Why people from early civilisations invented a horde to Gods has been a topic we had touched several times before. Thanks to Sophie's World by Jostein Gaarder I had been able to very descriptively explain to him the need for Gods of the early peoples.

They had no working knowledge of science. For the longest time, the world was thought to be flat. They didn't know how the world was created. We still don't know how the world was created. What we now have are calculated guesses by experienced scientists. What they had was a need to know just like us. So most major religions have a creation story. Imagination filling in the gaps of knowledge.

The early people didn't know how the seasons were created. So in Nordic countries, when Freya reigned supreme, it was Springtime. When she got kidnapped, Spring ended. For the Greek, when Persephone was above ground, it was Spring and when she was with Hades, it was Winter.

They didn't know how thunder and lightning happened. So for the Greeks it thundered when Zeus used his lightning bolt. For the Nordic, it thundered when Thor wielded his hammer.

Because of the many things which needed explaining, many deities were needed.

His next question was then, are we Buddhist? Because his paternal grandparents are Buddhist. His Paternal grandfather is the principal of a temple Sunday school. Because, our then nextdoor neighbour, I.e. his best friend's family are Buddhist. And he didn't know if he was.

So I explained to him how thaththi and I had been Buddhist most of our lives while having a Christian influence as kids, we longer practiced the traditions or rituals that identify one as Buddhist per se.

What does he want to be? He can be anything he wants. Only thing that we ask him is that before choosing one, read up on everything as much as he can. Be informed. Pick something which answers his questions. Something that makes him a better person. Something that agrees with his worldview. As a nine year old, his worldview right now is rather limited. But as he grows, I'm sure his worldview will grow with him.

"Can I be Egyptian?

Sure thing.

Can I be Greek?

Sure thing.

Because they're really cool.

Of course babi. (Did I mention he has read Rick Riordan way too much?)

They have magic. They have magic amma.

Yeah, exactly. They have magic. In most religions, Gods can do magicky things. So it's like reading a fantasy story isn't it? Most Gods can do feats that regular humans can't do.

So religion is like fantasy?

Yep.

Cool. Even Buddhism?

Yeah, even Buddhism. The stories may or may not have happened. So consider the stories fantasy. Take what you can from it and leave the rest for later. How about that?

Okay.

Okay? Even Hinduism?

Okay. Even Hinduism.

Your friend danced beautifully you know.

Ahhh!! All that jewelry and makeup. I couldn't recognise her. But I get what you mean, so yeah, okay."

P.s I realise that my worldview could very well be different from yours and the way we raise our children could be different from how you raise yours. And both you and I are okay.