Readers' Forum
Flickering faith
- Today our youngsters want to know the "how and why” of everything and want proof to solve their queries regarding religion. It is difficult to convince them. Scholars must have deep insight into religious scriptures to enhance faith among youngsters.
- Why is our community continuously beset by controversies? Why are there differences of opinion among our learned priests and scholars who should be guiding our youngsters? Why can’t they remove the doubts in the youngsters’ minds? Is it because they lack firm conviction?
- The Zarathushti religion expounds universal truths and provides spiritual guidance through long-standing, time-tested tenets. Why should we not accept these tenets with faith and without argument?
- These same youngsters accept without questioning what is taught in college by professors and what is written in text books. They swallow pills and other medicines prescribed by physicians without expressing any doubts. They accept legal advice from lawyers, reposing faith in their knowledge. It is, therefore, strange that they are not ready to accept our tenets and universal truths with faith.
- Such a flickering state of mind results in controversies. People lack faith in our prayers because they are in Avestan. Prayers do have spiritual power and a miraculous effect even without being understood provided we pray with unshaken faith. Doubts and suspicions are hurdles to right thinking and proper understanding. Prayers without yakin (faith) are not effective. The gireban of our sudreh reminds us to have faith (Ahure takaeso) in Ahura Mazda. Faith healing is effective against serious diseases.
- Let us end all controversies, debates and conflicts among us and build closer relations without being led astray by doubt. The light within us will shine and guide us on the righteous path. Faith with understanding and firm conviction will bring better results than blind faith in other religions.
- NOSHIR DABOO
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