I think this interview with Anad belongs in this thread.

I found it a wonderful insight into why everyone likes Anand so much. He doesn't talk much about being religious, but it shows in his behavior.

I don't recall doing any Bible stories at all actually. I do remember an ethics class which consisted of the old and familiar scenario where "Hans" wife was dying and he couldn't afford the medicine that might save her so was he justified in stealing it. The adult would add a new fact and item to the story every day and we'd have to re-evaluate our answers from the previous day. We'd all lie down in the grass, stare at the sky, watch the lake, and discuss our thoughts with each other, with the adult just guiding the conversation here or pointing out inconsistencies in our arguments.

I don't think we were ever taught Bible stories. The philosophy seems to have been you can learn bible stories in Sunday school, here you were going to be taught how to live and think. I remember coming up with my own conclusion about lies: If a lie was something that was intended to mislead people, then even the truth could be a lie if said in the right tone or with the right body language. If a lie was wrong then any actions, words or lack thereof could still be wrong if by your actions, words or lack thereof you allowed someone to be misled. A white lie and/or a lie by omission was just as wrong as telling a lie.

I was 13 at the time and enjoyed those classes and loved that camp. It was on an uninhabited island 7 miles from shore in a large lake in Northern Ontario and it took a rented barge to carry across the tents, gear and people. There were no permanent structures, and there was a lovely sandy beach. Things weren't heavily organized although we were up by 7:30 a.m. We'd play volleyball, go canoeing or do a day canoe trip to other islands to explore (we found some historical artifacts and a grave cairn which we later reported and turned out to be a cairn of one of the fur trading Voyageurs from the 1600-1700s), find fossils, fish, swim, play frisbee, water-polo, tag, and sleep outside, and I think maybe there were one or two classes a day which were more discussion sessions than sitting and rote learning. Don't recall doing crafts either and I don't recall ever being bored or hearing anyone complain about boredom.

So did that camp for a few years, then worked as maintenance at another camp (also very nice) for another few years, and made some wonderful caring friends there. Two of them married each other (20 odd years now) and they run the camp in the summers. When I met them again last year we had a good laugh about that, and they gave me a guided tour of the camp and pointed out the children/teens of some of our other old camp friends from the 70s. Really wonderful to see the features of my old friends living anew in the faces of their young, and seeing them at the age we were when I met their parents all those years ago, making rewarding friendships and memories that will last a lifetime. All felt right with the world and in my heart there was an acceptance of things to come so I felt I could now "go gentle into that good night" (preferably not immediately now though ).

Anyway, for me it was fascinating the way the past, the present and the potential future are all intertwined...it was now a heart knowledge, not just head knowledge. It was a minor epiphany of sorts, I think, and the world suddenly seemed much larger and more complex, yet more understandable at the same time.

Yeah, CF, I didn't learn Bible stories, instead I learned how to live and the lessons from those early days are still coalescing and being realized even now.

That's a good article, Inky. Thanks for posting it.

Interesting interview there Inky. Which religion is Anand following?

The Wikipedia have this introduction about religion in India:

Anand is supposedly a follower of Shaivism , thru his family. His parents I suppose follow the Shaiva Siddhanta, a philosophy/branch of Shaivism that is being followed in some parts of South India. The picture in the first post of this thread is a Shiva in dancing form (also known as Nataraja).

Regarding your Wikipedia article, remember that 3 states (of out 29 I think) in India are ruled by Communists. And all these were elected democratically and they are in power in the states of Kerala, West Bengal and Tripura. In fact, West Bengal state has the longest running communist Government (elected every 5 years) since 1977 till this date. So, a considerably large chunk of folks in India are atheists due to cultural and political affiliations. So, you could find atheists in India although Wikipedia doesn't say that in the first place.

Ken:

Hey, that sounds like some really FUN summer camps that you went to in your "youthful years!"

Also, I DO have a question that I want to ask you about the following quote from your previous post in this thread:

Ken, if you don't mind, please explain a little more "in depth" just what that you meant in your quote above.

Thank you!


Chess Fan

It's from a poem by Dylan Thomas. Here is the first stanza

Do not go gentle into that good night,
Old age should burn and rave at close of day;
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

You can see the rest here.

There has been all sorts of analysis about what he meant (see here for a quick overview at the bottom), but in general going gentle into that good night is synonymous with dying. He says we should rage against death, to fight it all the way. It seems Thomas was afraid of death. But I also thought he was afraid of life. He blunted life by drinking heavily and died aged 39, probably from complications brought about by excessive alcohol among other things. Or perhaps he was so in fear of death he unconsciously hurried its approach just to get it over with. Either way, he didn't get a chance to rage against the dying of the light. If he had lived to old age, would he still agree with "Old age should burn and rage at close of day"? That line was written from the perspective of a young person who lacked the perspective that age brings (actually he lacked common sense and wisdom too, but that's besides the point---it's still a great poem).

Thanks Krish. Shaivism as described in the Wikipedia (which always has to be read with a grain of salt) has some teachings which I find interesting:

Yes. In Christianity we learn that God created the universe and life, but then again, who created God? Has God existed forever? The teaching of Shaivism kind of gives a more complete answer.

In Christianity we lear about Satan. But why did God create Satan? No answer that I am aware of. The concept of "the destroyer" again may give a more complete understanding.

Hmmm, my memory from sunday school is that god created the angels to keep him company. But one of the angels (satan) declared that he was as great as god and wouldn't be worshiping god. This made god angry so satan and those that agreed with him were cast out of heaven.

not sure if this is biblical or even correct, but that's the story I remember.