View source for The present situation is the so-called modern civilization, they have no knowledge of God, although they are trying to study the laws of God

<div id="compilation">
<div id="facts">
{{terms|"the present situation is the so-called modern civilization, they have no knowledge of God, although they are trying to study the laws of God"}}
{{notes|}}
{{compiler|SharmisthaK}}
{{complete|ALL}}
{{first|2022-09-10T13:15:46Z}}
{{last|2022-09-10T13:15:46Z}}
{{totals_by_section|BG=0|SB=0|CC=0|OB=0|Lec=1|Con=0|Let=0}}
{{total|1}}
{{toc right}}
[[Category:Present - Time]]
[[Category:Situation]]
[[Category:So-called Modern]]
[[Category:So-called Civilization]]
[[Category:Modern Civilization]]
[[Category:They Have No]]
[[Category:No Knowledge of God]]
[[Category:Although]]
[[Category:They Are]]
[[Category:Try To]]
[[Category:Study the Law]]
[[Category:Studying God]]
[[Category:Laws of God]]
[[Category:Pages Needing Audio - SHARMISTHA]]
</div>
<div id="section">
<h2>Lectures</h2>
</div>
<div id="sub_section">
<h3>Srimad-Bhagavatam Lectures</h3>
</div>
<div class="quote">
<div class="quote_heading">
The present situation is the so-called modern civilization, they have no knowledge of God, although they are trying to study the laws of God. But they should accept at least theoretically there must be God.
</div>

<div class="quote_link">
[[Vanisource:710807 - Lecture SB 01.01.01 - London|710807 - Lecture SB 01.01.01 - London]]
</div>
<div class="text">
Generally religion means the process of understanding God. That is religion. Religion without God is just like Hamlet without Hamlet. Playwright, Hamlet. Religion cannot be . . . without God, the so-called religion, that is cheating. That is, it will be explained in the next verse, dharmaḥ projjhita-kaitavo 'tra ([[Vanisource:SB 1.1.2|SB 1.1.2]]). Any kind of religion which is going on under the name of religion but the system has no information of God, that is cheating religion. Cheating religion. Because religion means the laws of God. But if you do not know what is God, then how you can know His laws? If you do not know the king, how you can understand the king's laws, even though you try to understand?

Just like scientists, they are trying to understand the laws of God, but because they are imperfect, therefore they cannot understand what is God, in spite of their scientific improvement. They do not know. Ask any scientist, "You are great scientist. Can you say what is God?" The reply will be, "No. We don't believe in God. We don't believe." "Why? You believe in the laws of God?" "Yes, that we are studying."

But the laws means somebody has made that law. That is our experience. Just like when we understand government laws, we understand also the government has enacted this law. We understand that. Just like on the street when you go, it is written there, "Keep to the left." It is the order of the government. You have to abide by that. That is obedience to the government. Discipline. Discipline is the first law of obedience. If people do not care for the government laws, then there will be chaos.

So the present situation is the so-called modern civilization, they have no knowledge of God, although they are trying to study the laws of God. But they should accept at least theoretically there must be God. How I can say God is dead? Because if God is the law-giver, by His order everything is moving nicely. The sun is rising exactly at the time, the moon is rising exactly at the time, the seasonal changes are taking place exactly in due course of time. Everything is going on. Foods are grown for our feeding, for animals. Everything is going on nicely. So how I can say the manager, who is managing all these things, He is dead? How we can accept? These are imperfect knowledge, or demonic knowledge, or rascaldom.

So our Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement is against all this rascaldom. All this rascaldom. We present, "Here is God." "Here is God. Take His name. Take His address also." (laughter) That is also . . . it is so perfect. They are searching after God: we are giving the name, address, activity, everything, quality, all. Nāma, rūpa, līlā, parikara, vaiśiṣṭhyam, everything. Nāma means name. Here is Kṛṣṇa, God's name. Form, here is the form. He is engaged in enjoyment with Rādhārāṇī and playing on His flute. Veṇuṁ kvaṇantam aravinda-dalāyatākṣaṁ bar . . . (Bs. 5.30).

We are not imagining. Not that this artist imagines, the poet imagines. No. We don't do that rascaldom. We don't do that. We take information from the Vedas. Kṛṣṇa, when He was present personally, He played on His flute. The gopīs saw and the cowherds boys saw five thousand years ago. And the ācāryas took information. Even if you don't believe in the history, then come to śāstra. The śāstra says, veṇuṁ kvaṇantam aravinda-dalāyatākṣam (Bs. 5.30): "Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, is always engaged in playing on His flute." This is Vedic statement.
</div>
</div>
</div>