Why can't theists accept the fact that science is progressing and that god was made up to explain things?

It is no doubt a very discouraging phenomenon and the greatest test for one's faith. The only way one can make sense of it is through understanding the process of reincarnation and that everything will eventually balance out over many lifetimes. The people who are suffering needlessly for doing the right thing are either paying the price for their past karma or earning special points for their future karma.

And those who are progressing despite their spiritual flaws are enjoying the benefits of past karma but incurring new debts for their future karma. When you realize that Atman and Brahman are beyond the dualities of pleasure and pain and success and failure, then you also realize why true yogis never seem fazed by the vagaries of life. For they have transcended it all.

Hence a true yogi should feel blessed when such situations arise for if he can truly become immune to being disheartened over the perceived inequality of life, he will have passed the test to have progressed to the next stage of his evolution. Why do you think that yogis leave their worldly possessions and abodes and even families and names? For they want to move on to a higher plane where they can focus on the true connection between their Atman and Brahman -- not be distracted by Samara.

Yet some people do not have the option of doing this due to family commitments etc. So if you cannot renounce it all and move out to the forest, then at least you can stay in the real world and refuse to let the inequalities of life hamper your own spiritual growth. In so doing they become blessings to actually help you achieve the same enlightenment that the yogis in the forest do. For a forest yogi has to physically move himself away from society and the injustices of the world to seek his union with the divine, you can do it in the real world if you are prepared to actually not allow the inequality and superficial problems of samsara distract you from your spiritual goals.

Therefore a question like yours would "baffle" a non devotee but would inspire an encourage a true bhakta. For it is a chance for him to prove that although he may still dwell in samara, he does not let samsara affect him. Also at any stage the rich but corrupt person can die and then he cannot bring any of his money or fame or ill-gotten gains with him.

All he brings with him is his karma. If a true disciple dies, he brings that which he treasures most -- his devotion. Who do you think is better equipped and has a more long term view of true success?

Death is the finishing line of this race -- who do you think is better prepared for it when the line is crossed? Finally Poondi, you are wrong. Vivekananda never said that a sinner who repents has more spiritual power than a devotee.

Yes he did caution against having any pride in doing good work for pride can tarnish one's intention and thus stain his karma even if it is positive. Yet a sinner who repents does not automatically gain even greater spiritual standing than a devotee. What he does get is a moment of bodhicitta where he decides to really change his karma and his ways.

In so doing he automatically changes his life direction. It is never wise to use extreme descriptions and Vivekananda knew that. He would caution against pride in a devotee and urge repentance in a sinner but he would never say that a sinner who repents is that much more worthy than a devotee who is proud.

What happens when the devotee who becoming proud then repents? Spirituality is not a competition of who is more worthy and who is less. Pride is a blemish that should be removed, repentance is a quality that should be cultivated.

There is no need to draw this into a competition.

I cant really gove you an answer,but what I can give you is a way to a solution, that is you have to find the anglde that you relate to or peaks your interest. A good paper is one that people get drawn into because it reaches them ln some way.As for me WW11 to me, I think of the holocaust and the effect it had on the survivors, their families and those who stood by and did nothing until it was too late.