Page Text
________________
Whether a Belief in God is Essential
for Good Conduct? The question is answered in the affirmative for the following reasons.
1. In the ordinary world a superior power or a higher authority than one self is essential to prevent one from doing wrong and to punish one when one goes wrong. The presence of laws and regulations for good conduct has a deterring effect on the human psychology not to disobey such laws and regulations and the certainty of getting a punishment for wrong-doing and the consequent fear of such punishment effectively prevent most people from committing a crime.
2. Every man in his childhood is controlled, punished and directed by his parents. The sort of fear mixed with love and reverence has a healthy influence over the child's conduct. One should not confound this gentle fear with dread or care which no doubt spoils one. Extreme fear and dread have turned black hair grey in a single night as in the case of Cordelia in King Lear and the late Czar.
Great fear may turn one mad and may even cost one's own life but such a fear is not present in the minds of children or even grown up men who refrain from wrong-doing.
This gentle fear which may even be called respect for higher authority is a very good training master which shapes, moulds and fixes the good conduct of children and women.
3. The influence of teachers during the life of a student is the next great force which also binds over the student for good behaviour.
4. The influence of relatives and friends and of the public next have a potent power over the conduct of all men and women.
Punishment is meted out to one only when one's crime is detected. It is possible to do several wrongs on various occasions without being detected. Still there are many who do not commit wrongs though several opportunities present themselves to
them for so committing. What is it that prevents such people Shree Sudharmaswami Gyanbhandar-Umara, Surat
www.umaragyanbhandar.com
| SR No. | 034890 |
| Book Title | Jaina Gazette 1928 |
| Original Sutra Author | N/A |
| Author | Ajitprasad, C S Mallinath |
| Publisher | Jaina Gazettee Office |
| Publication Year | 1928 |
| Total Pages | 502 |
| Language | English |
| Classification | Book_English |
| File Size | 33 MB |