Do We Need Religion?-Part II (Contd)

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Diverse though they be, we all have notions of a reality that transcends the phenomenal and the routine of daily life. Whatever our convictions in this regard, we must harmonize them with the rest of our personality and our life. In particular, we must harmonize them with experience. Convictions have to mature into experience. And that experience has to be reconciled with everything else in our life. This harmony is what is meant by unity with Ultimate Reality.

If we understand religion in this sense, as that which unifies, the question 'do we need religion?" becomes moot. In the first instance, regarding harmony within ourselves, there is no question of belief, but very real existential problems that we face and that we want solutions to. How do we gain happiness and peace of mind? How do we gain a sense of fulfillment? These are existential problems. It is clear that every one of us wants unity within as that will solve these problems.

Similarly, the desire for inter-personal unity is also universal. No one chooses to have conflicts, disagreements, divisions and factions. To live in a harmonious family, community, society, nation and world is obviously something that everyone wants. Again, this has nothing to do with belief, but a basic need that all of us have.

Do we want unity with Ultimate Reality? Of the three dimensions of unity, this is the one that requires more probing as it does not seem to address an obvious existential problem. In the first place, what do we mean by 'Ultimate Reality"? And does such a reality even exist?

However, a little probing will show that it also is a necessity. It is said that man does not live on bread alone. When our physical and psychological needs are satisfied, we will still not feel complete. There is another urge within us that asks for meaning, purpose and reality. What is the purpose of all of this? Viktor Frankl, the founder of logotherapy and Existential Analysis, has built an entire philosophy around 'the will to meaning". It is related to the question 'what is real?"

About the author

V.Kumar Murty

The author is a Professor of Mathematics and Chair of the Department of Mathematical and Computational Sciences at the University of Toronto. He gives regular lessons to young students" group attached to the Vedanta Society of Toronto.