Whenever people try to 'prove' the existence of God to me, I ask one simple question ( which was asked in Dostoevsky's ' The Brothers Karamazov ' ) : If there is a God and he is all powerful and good, then why do millions of children in the world suffer from hunger, cold, lack of medicines and homes ? In India, half our children are malnourished. Why does god not give them proper, nutritious food ? Many children shiver in the cold in winter. Why does god not give them warm clothes ? Many children are in poor health. Why does not God give them medicines ? Many children are homeless. Why does God not give them proper homes and good education ?
When I put this simple question to these God believers, they become very uncomfortable, as if a bucket of hot water has been poured on them. They start squirming, wriggling, equivocating and hemming and hawing, and regard the person asking this question as impertinent and a crook. They avoid the question like the plague. But, my dear God believers, the question will not go away, however much you may try to avoid it
The Hindus will of course say that children suffer because in their previous lives they did bad deeds. But then for proving the existence of God they are presuming two other things, which themselves require proof (1) the existence of a soul, and (2) transmigration of this soul on one's death.
Muslims will say that God should not be blamed for the misdeeds by men. The answer to this is : even if men are evil, but God is all powerful and good. Why then does he let millions of children suffer ? Why does he not give them proper food, clothes, homes, etc. Since he does not do so, God is either not powerful, or not good, but he cannot be both powerful and good.
Since no real answer is available, the only way to deal with the situation is the simple Wahabi way : behead those who ask the impertinent question. Na rahe baans, na baje baansuri !.
