Why am I an agnostic?

 Today, I had the pleasure of immersing myself in the pages of "Why I am an atheist?" authored by Bhagat Singh in 1930, during his confinement in Lahore jail, a year before his tragic execution in 1931. What strikes me profoundly is the remarkable clarity of thought displayed by Singh, who penned this profound work at a mere 21 years of age, with limited access to books. The depth of his understanding and interpretation of texts such as Charles Darwin's "Origin of Species" and the elusive "Common Sense" by Soham Swami is nothing short of astonishing.

As I delved into the book, I found Singh's mention of Karl Marx and Dostoevsky, both influential atheists, to have significantly impacted his own beliefs. I savored every word, finding resonance with the ideas presented. While I consider myself agnostic, unconvinced by conventional notions of God and religion, I sometimes find myself assuming a role to conform to societal expectations and maintain familial harmony.

While I wholeheartedly reject the dogmas associated with organized religion like Singh for the same reasons mentioned in the book, I can't help but ponder the vastness of human knowledge in comparison to our understanding of the universe. It is as if we have observed but a single glass of water when confronted with the immense oceans of knowledge that lie before us. Just as we cannot claim to comprehend the entirety of the ocean from a solitary glass, we are limited in our ability to answer life's most profound questions with the information and experiences at our disposal. Thus, I find solace in leaving the question of God unanswered—an agnostic stance, rather than fully embracing atheism.

I am awestruck by the grandeur of our universe, yet I cannot help but lament our insignificance within it. Mother Nature's boundless diversity and the wealth of knowledge available to us in this modern era are causes for celebration. I revel in being part of an era where we have the audacity to question everything and forge our own personalized belief systems. While such autonomy has been suppressed by organized religions, institutions, and governments throughout history, the advent of the internet and the digital age has granted us the ability to voice our inquiries and opinions freely. The democratization of information and ideas has infused life with purpose during this remarkable age. The knowledge that was once the privilege of a select few is now within our grasp through the vast expanse of the internet.

Critics may lament the frivolous entertainment offered by the internet, yet they fail to recognize the vast reservoir of information it provides. Undoubtedly, the search for genuine knowledge remains obscured beneath layers of falsehood, triviality, and misleading content. It is our responsibility, as seekers, to delve deeper, to pose the most thought-provoking questions, and unearth the deepest secrets of our world. I hold Bhagat Singh in high esteem for his courage in asking such questions over a century ago and arriving at logical conclusions with the limited data available to him.

With an insatiable appetite for intellectual stimulation, I eagerly anticipate continuing this enlightening journey by exploring further works of profound significance and persistently questioning the fundamental aspects of life. I am aware that this pursuit will invariably shape and reshape my belief system, allowing it to evolve into new dimensions and shapes. And it is within this process of evolution that I find the true purpose of life—the unending quest for knowledge and understanding.