by 
Are Gods real?
Did they exist at one time on Earth or are
they just a figment of our imagination?
they just a figment of our imagination?
Did God create the first couple on earth?
All these and more questions have been of immense interest to
humans from centuries. The natural curiosity about the origin of life though
documented throughout history has always featured some unexplained parts which
Science has not been able to explain leaving imaginative people at liberty to
spin all kinds of tales to suit their immediate needs.
humans from centuries. The natural curiosity about the origin of life though
documented throughout history has always featured some unexplained parts which
Science has not been able to explain leaving imaginative people at liberty to
spin all kinds of tales to suit their immediate needs.
The Evolution of
Gods
by Ajay Kansal is an effort to utilize Science
to explain the why, how and when of the
evolution of life and the subsequent evolution of the God phenomenon. The
author, being a man of science himself, takes anthropological and historical
facts to explain the evolution of life, religion and God in a simple yet very
interesting way.
Gods
by Ajay Kansal is an effort to utilize Scienceto explain the why, how and when of the
evolution of life and the subsequent evolution of the God phenomenon. The
author, being a man of science himself, takes anthropological and historical
facts to explain the evolution of life, religion and God in a simple yet very
interesting way.
According to the
author,
author,
“Man
could perceive some unseen, unheard, untouchable, non-aromatic divine power
only after the evolution of his imagination.”
could perceive some unseen, unheard, untouchable, non-aromatic divine power
only after the evolution of his imagination.”
And
“Whenever
people encountered some power beyond their control that could harm or help
them, they began to worship that power.”
people encountered some power beyond their control that could harm or help
them, they began to worship that power.”
I was sent a free copy
of the book by the author to read and give my honest review. So here it goes.
of the book by the author to read and give my honest review. So here it goes.
Firstly, I loved the
cover design of the book where an artistically dressed man possibly the Priest
or the Head of a tribe is shown in a “call upon” pose
with lightning in the background. It brings to our minds the image of a tribe
that worships the elements of nature feeling it all powerful because it is
beyond its control!!
cover design of the book where an artistically dressed man possibly the Priest
or the Head of a tribe is shown in a “call upon” pose
with lightning in the background. It brings to our minds the image of a tribe
that worships the elements of nature feeling it all powerful because it is
beyond its control!!
A point made several
times by the author in the book when he links the origin of Gods to the power
of imagination of us, humans and the fact that the power deemed as Gods was
unpredictable and beyond our control.
times by the author in the book when he links the origin of Gods to the power
of imagination of us, humans and the fact that the power deemed as Gods was
unpredictable and beyond our control.
“…they considered thunder and lightning as devastating, mysterious and
frightening. Consequently, their leaders or priests imagined a divine sky god
that was behind the changes occurring in the sky. Gradually, they
began worshipping the sky as a god.”
frightening. Consequently, their leaders or priests imagined a divine sky god
that was behind the changes occurring in the sky. Gradually, they
began worshipping the sky as a god.”
Secondly, the writing
is simple yet leaves us interested and hooked to each event he describes, be it
the first burial instance from the Skhul Cave of Israel to Naskapi- a tribe in
Canada where the Priests were consulted by the people before any venture. Ajay
Kansal is able to dispel myths and shed light to some pretty exciting things
which are generally unknown to people like “…the Vedas do not assert
the concept of punishment for past karma, and do not advise any meditation to
liberate people from them. The Buddha was first to invent the idea of past
karma, and he came several centuries after the compilation of Vedas.”
is simple yet leaves us interested and hooked to each event he describes, be it
the first burial instance from the Skhul Cave of Israel to Naskapi- a tribe in
Canada where the Priests were consulted by the people before any venture. Ajay
Kansal is able to dispel myths and shed light to some pretty exciting things
which are generally unknown to people like “…the Vedas do not assert
the concept of punishment for past karma, and do not advise any meditation to
liberate people from them. The Buddha was first to invent the idea of past
karma, and he came several centuries after the compilation of Vedas.”
Thirdly, a lot of
research is evident and the book stimulates discussion and debate. Thought
provoking statements backed by solid well researched examples are abundant.
research is evident and the book stimulates discussion and debate. Thought
provoking statements backed by solid well researched examples are abundant.
Fourthly, though the
book seems like it is a work of an atheist yet it does not
preach against religion or our faith in the existence of Gods. It’s a venture
to try and explain each and every belief of ours using modern Science.
book seems like it is a work of an atheist yet it does not
preach against religion or our faith in the existence of Gods. It’s a venture
to try and explain each and every belief of ours using modern Science.
Lastly, it’s a well
written book and keeps the reader bound, quickly turning pages till the end.
All explanations to our beliefs are well backed with scientific discoveries,
dates and suitable data. It’s written in a timeline fashion which I think
increases its appeal as we get to see a scientific perspective to all events
till date.
written book and keeps the reader bound, quickly turning pages till the end.
All explanations to our beliefs are well backed with scientific discoveries,
dates and suitable data. It’s written in a timeline fashion which I think
increases its appeal as we get to see a scientific perspective to all events
till date.
All positives done, it’s
time to count the negatives.
time to count the negatives.
Firstly, the sentence
structure could have been made more appealing with a little more editing.
structure could have been made more appealing with a little more editing.
Secondly, some small
footnotes or end notes could have been added to support the author’s
explanations and assertions.
footnotes or end notes could have been added to support the author’s
explanations and assertions.
Thirdly, I felt an
addition of a few pictures and diagrams could have greatly added to the overall
appeal of the book.
addition of a few pictures and diagrams could have greatly added to the overall
appeal of the book.
All in all, a
fascinating read from a very promising author. It’s written to the point and
greatly adds to our understanding and knowledge of the origin of life, religion
and evolution of Gods. I have always
believed that there is a God and that everything that happens is part of a
bigger plan known and devised by him. But The Evolution of
Gods,without preaching
against the existence of God, has made me question if all my beliefs are
true or just made up tales to inspire fear and reverence to something greater
than us!!
fascinating read from a very promising author. It’s written to the point and
greatly adds to our understanding and knowledge of the origin of life, religion
and evolution of Gods. I have always
believed that there is a God and that everything that happens is part of a
bigger plan known and devised by him. But The Evolution of
Gods
,without preachingagainst the existence of God, has made me question if all my beliefs are
true or just made up tales to inspire fear and reverence to something greater
than us!!
“…Humanity itself imagined all the divine powers called Gods. The
concept of Gods was the projection of ancient humans’ need to have something
greater than themselves.”
concept of Gods was the projection of ancient humans’ need to have something
greater than themselves.”
But apart from creating queries, it is also successful in satisfying our
curiosities and answering our questions without being boring and stilted. Thus
making it a very promising book; with a fresh perspective to our origin,
history, our morals, beliefs, faith in God etc. It states hard facts without
compelling the reader to take sides; leaving him enough freedom to come to his
own conclusions.
curiosities and answering our questions without being boring and stilted. Thus
making it a very promising book; with a fresh perspective to our origin,
history, our morals, beliefs, faith in God etc. It states hard facts without
compelling the reader to take sides; leaving him enough freedom to come to his
own conclusions.
I was kindly sent a free copy of the book by the author, Ajay Kansal in exchange for a review and I am very thankful to him. This review of the book is my own and in no way influenced.
Finally after a long time…. I got this kind of book..
This has been always my interest to find why god was created…
was it god who created mankind.. or was it man to created god..
Amazing Review indeed.. explains what all one can find in this book..
even I had some views long back.. but coudnt pen down in a sequential and structured way….
http://me-sometimes.blogspot.co.uk/2009/10/hmm.html
Thanks … I really enjoyed reading this book.. 🙂