Religion- I sometimes wonder how good this cult entity is and also if it has not done more harm than good in this world. Hindu-Muslim riots, the mass killing of Jews, and on a micro level, the suicidal deaths many a rustic Indian couple commit, on experiencing their parents’ staunch disapproval of their (inter-religious) marriage – all these are reminders of how religion causes the very events that it is supposed to foreclose.
Now, for the rest of this article, let us just assume the absence of religion as we now know it and the presence, instead, of one all pervading set of truths and principles, or guidelines for good-living (as I prefer calling it), in the world. Let us assume there are no Hindus or Muslims or Christians; no Iyers* and Iyengars*; no Shias or Sunnis or no Catholics or Protestants. Let us assume that all are one and there is just one catholic religion called the Good4All (the name won’t be unseemly in today’s sms world).
Under such placid circumstances, in the Indian context, Mr. Advani would not have had the chance to grudge the presence of a mosque at the RamJanmaBhoomi as a result of which thousands of lives could have been saved directly and indirectly (the Mumbai bomb blasts of 1993 are strongly linked to the demolition of the mosque). In a more International context, a certain (in)famous man called Adolf had a certain passion towards practicing militant Anti-Semitism which cost the lives of about six million Jews (that’s slightly less than the current population of Austria, Adolf’s birth place). Can anyone dispute the thought that these events could have been prevented in the absence of multiple religions and the consequent multiple egos?
Not only on a universal scale, even on a micro level wherein you and I are affected, inter-religious or inter-caste marriages bring grief and in some cases, even death, upon many of the parties involved in the marriage, including either the couple itself or in some cases, even the parents. There have been numerous reported (and unreported) instances in India where a couple (owing their genesis to varying castes/religions), have committed suicide unable to withstand the pulls and pressures of their constantly nagging and objurgating communities and succumbing to the frustrations of not being able to lead their lives with a person of their choice. And more incredible is the fact that there are groups in Nigeria in which the parents of children who do the ‘heathenish’ by marrying people of a differing community, thereby casting a forever indelible shadow on the purity of their own communities, take away their own lives.
Apart from obliterating all vestiges of peace, assuming such fundamentalist mental postures only leads to slowing down the rate of human development and more dangerously, reversing what progress has been tortuously made. The human mind cannot be blamed if it loses faith in all humanity when it experiences such frightful vicissitudes in its already short life-span.
Now wouldn’t using the Men-In-Black forget-all device on the citizens of our world and installing this Good4all religion in their minds, lead to avoiding such a condition and restoring faith in humanity and all that are God’s creations? Wouldn’t the absence of superior feelings in peoples’ minds lead to tranquility in the world?
Accepted, different religions preach their own ways for good-living and teach us wonderful practices and principles, and ways of living life. From tolerance to equality of rights, to the virtues of honesty and compassion, the list is endless. But if these are the only reasons for religion, why shouldn’t Good4All encompass all these spirits and replace every religion in the world, if that means no further disputes or killings in the name of religion? Why should not Good4All act as the ideal emancipator of us all from this evil called religion?
It does not come as a surprise to me that the two illuminating personalities of the 19th century, Swami Vivekananda and Karl Marx held similar views on religion (though the former never out rightly espoused the abolition of the same). Marx held views such as ‘Religion is the opiate of people’ and that ‘exploitation of human ignorance and credulity are made possible through the presence of religion’. Swami Vivekananda, though not as blunt, said that ‘…although social customs had been formed in the past with religious sanction, it was not now the business of religion to interfere with matters such as marriage, inheritance and so on’ and also that ‘Mankind ought to be taught that religions are but the varied expressions of THE RELIGION, which is Oneness, so that each may choose the path that suits him best.’
In conclusion, though I am not against religion per se (and if anything, am all for the vibrancies of the assorted paths to reach God (As Swami Vivekananda quotes)), taking into consideration the gruesome events that have been narrated in the third paragraph, I am not able to remove the idea of Good4All out of my mind. Let all paths suggested by this religion lead to the God of Good4All who will at least not be disturbed by the loud anger of the Hindutvas or the Nazis who forever would continue to charge with their hackles up!
*Iyers and Iyengars: Sub castes of Brahmins, who are in turn, Hindus
P S: The thoughts expressed are from a neutral mind and anything in this passage hurting the sentiments of any religious community, is purely unintentional.
Now, for the rest of this article, let us just assume the absence of religion as we now know it and the presence, instead, of one all pervading set of truths and principles, or guidelines for good-living (as I prefer calling it), in the world. Let us assume there are no Hindus or Muslims or Christians; no Iyers* and Iyengars*; no Shias or Sunnis or no Catholics or Protestants. Let us assume that all are one and there is just one catholic religion called the Good4All (the name won’t be unseemly in today’s sms world).
Under such placid circumstances, in the Indian context, Mr. Advani would not have had the chance to grudge the presence of a mosque at the RamJanmaBhoomi as a result of which thousands of lives could have been saved directly and indirectly (the Mumbai bomb blasts of 1993 are strongly linked to the demolition of the mosque). In a more International context, a certain (in)famous man called Adolf had a certain passion towards practicing militant Anti-Semitism which cost the lives of about six million Jews (that’s slightly less than the current population of Austria, Adolf’s birth place). Can anyone dispute the thought that these events could have been prevented in the absence of multiple religions and the consequent multiple egos?
Not only on a universal scale, even on a micro level wherein you and I are affected, inter-religious or inter-caste marriages bring grief and in some cases, even death, upon many of the parties involved in the marriage, including either the couple itself or in some cases, even the parents. There have been numerous reported (and unreported) instances in India where a couple (owing their genesis to varying castes/religions), have committed suicide unable to withstand the pulls and pressures of their constantly nagging and objurgating communities and succumbing to the frustrations of not being able to lead their lives with a person of their choice. And more incredible is the fact that there are groups in Nigeria in which the parents of children who do the ‘heathenish’ by marrying people of a differing community, thereby casting a forever indelible shadow on the purity of their own communities, take away their own lives.
Apart from obliterating all vestiges of peace, assuming such fundamentalist mental postures only leads to slowing down the rate of human development and more dangerously, reversing what progress has been tortuously made. The human mind cannot be blamed if it loses faith in all humanity when it experiences such frightful vicissitudes in its already short life-span.
Now wouldn’t using the Men-In-Black forget-all device on the citizens of our world and installing this Good4all religion in their minds, lead to avoiding such a condition and restoring faith in humanity and all that are God’s creations? Wouldn’t the absence of superior feelings in peoples’ minds lead to tranquility in the world?
Accepted, different religions preach their own ways for good-living and teach us wonderful practices and principles, and ways of living life. From tolerance to equality of rights, to the virtues of honesty and compassion, the list is endless. But if these are the only reasons for religion, why shouldn’t Good4All encompass all these spirits and replace every religion in the world, if that means no further disputes or killings in the name of religion? Why should not Good4All act as the ideal emancipator of us all from this evil called religion?
It does not come as a surprise to me that the two illuminating personalities of the 19th century, Swami Vivekananda and Karl Marx held similar views on religion (though the former never out rightly espoused the abolition of the same). Marx held views such as ‘Religion is the opiate of people’ and that ‘exploitation of human ignorance and credulity are made possible through the presence of religion’. Swami Vivekananda, though not as blunt, said that ‘…although social customs had been formed in the past with religious sanction, it was not now the business of religion to interfere with matters such as marriage, inheritance and so on’ and also that ‘Mankind ought to be taught that religions are but the varied expressions of THE RELIGION, which is Oneness, so that each may choose the path that suits him best.’
In conclusion, though I am not against religion per se (and if anything, am all for the vibrancies of the assorted paths to reach God (As Swami Vivekananda quotes)), taking into consideration the gruesome events that have been narrated in the third paragraph, I am not able to remove the idea of Good4All out of my mind. Let all paths suggested by this religion lead to the God of Good4All who will at least not be disturbed by the loud anger of the Hindutvas or the Nazis who forever would continue to charge with their hackles up!
*Iyers and Iyengars: Sub castes of Brahmins, who are in turn, Hindus
P S: The thoughts expressed are from a neutral mind and anything in this passage hurting the sentiments of any religious community, is purely unintentional.
7 comments:
If not religion, there will be something else that will come in to do the damage.
What needs to be instilled in everyone's mind through your "Men-In-Black" device is that he (& the community he belongs to) is NOT superior to anyone else (& his community).
Well, what is happening to your stories? Are they getting completed?
Agree with Karthik.....If not religion they will find some other means to fight and kill......
Same about refusal to lead ones own life....accepted this is the primary reason...if not this people will find some other means to stop.......
Hmmm.....finally keep fuming..a few more may join u.....nothing is gonna happen :-) U know it and so I..
To say that religion is the genesis of all peoblems is like not seeing the forest for the trees. A demagogue has as much influence as a spiritual guru would have on an average human being's mind. The problem with the present state of affairs is that there are'nt many good spiritual gurus who can interpret the religious texts the way they should be and show the right path to people. Riots like the one you mentioned take place because people are only made to believe that they are fighting in the name of religion. Religion is for the larger good of the people.
Hi Varun,
Interesting post. However, you seem to be confused about Hindutva which is a state of being and is not some sort of war tribe. (I think it's a little unfair to blame all our religious strife on the Hindus -- just my personal opinion).
But more than religion itself, the problems you have spoken about arise out of politics and the political spin used to turn one religion against another.
As someone else has commented here. If not religion, it would be something else.
In an ideal world, your one religion fits all model might work. Till then, we have to realise that religion continues to structure the lives of a lot of people, not just in countries like India, but also in the West.
As long as that is a fact of life, the politicians and the terrorists of the world will continue to take advantage of it.
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aahn
Good thought. I had the same, infact slightly different two days back. Inspite of being a practising hindu, I thought there should be no religion. The reason is a looong list.
There are two points which I want to say
1. First of all what they call religion today are political parties, including "Hinduism". Christianity, Buddhism, and so many religion were created by the followers of their masters (or prophets), but not by the masters themselves.Though Sakyamuni Gautama formed a monk order, He never gave a name called Buddism and this also applies to christianity and even Islam to some extent.
2.Hinduism was never a religion. Because it is NOT one central faith, with a central authority.this name Hindu, and an ism was given by the foreigners who came from outside. Unfortunately this great culture became another ism.The castes given in our Varnashrama was not initially based on birth, but actually based on your volitions and mind set (Like somebody who is interested in trade or spirituality cannot marry a soldier or his daughter, which we call these days as incompatibility when a couple goes for divorce). Distortion of this system happened later. Since caste is not affecting the volition and mind set (or viceversa) in todays life, Swami Vivekakanda told that it should not interfere with the peoples lives and their decisions.Swamiji hismself was a kshatriya, not a Brahmin.
Finally one thing nags me always, when I think about religion. Through out the world I have many friends (Indians, europeans etc etc). I have always found people who dont beleive in anything (inlcuding atheism) are so beautiful and evolving. 8/10 religious people brings lot of pain to themselves and others (there are few Beautiful exceptions among the religious people). Varun, even your Good4all will bring only the same effects, as What is good? will become a matter of argument.
Love :)
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