Religion
– Then and Today: Belief in supernatural power is
as old as the human civilisation and could be traced as back as the 5th
millennium. Since then, organised religion took various shapes but faith in God
remained cardinal to the central idea that the universe was created by God. It
led to many wars. It is believed that billions of people were massacred
brutally in the name of religion. Even today, a majority of the population all
over the world practice one or the other form of religion.
Why
this belief? God is seen an entity that would fulfil
one’s needs and desires and also someone who can give you a free ticket to
paradise!
Economic
and political strife: Many wars considered as
religious have economic or political ramifications- control of trade, route, and
acquisition of wealth, plunder, and so on. Fundamentalists always use the intra-religious
struggle to further their vested interests. So many wars were waged by them in
the name of religion and to subjugate people for exploitation.
Do
we really need a religion? Curiosity to know
the unknown phenomena led to many discoveries and revolutionized our life.
Transformation of one’s life and living conditions are no more determined by
supernatural forces but scientific and technological impact.
Fear is a powerful emotion but it is not an
innate drive. Primeval drives are acquisition of food, sex, and territory or
material prosperity. But spirit is omnipresent. It gives individuals drive for
self-esteem.
Christian, Judaic, Islamic religious
believe that their holy books contain absolute truth. Truth is that there is no
God, devils, no angles, no hell or heaven exists. Religion is a myth and
superstition. They harden hearts and enslave minds.
Do we need God to know the right from wrong?
Is it the God who is the creator of all, such as human emotions, jealousy, and
anger? Can God stop the atrocities and
contradiction of society?
Human rights give freedom to think and act
without harming others. Religious morals are archaic and unnecessary compared
to morals and ethics of today. Religion plays a very small role in our life.
Every human knows right from wrong. It is
our survival instinct. Religion has caused more conflicts than compassion. It
proclaims that it is a religion of peace. But they’re responsible for large scale
wars, death and destruction.
Human beings are myth makers. They perpetually
create mysteries to explain the present when we are in distrusts. People love peace and happiness. Whatever may
be one’s religion, if he pursues his belief without imposing upon others their
belief it will bring harmony. But reality is different.
Human solidarity is commitment to certain
fundamental values which we have to follow to sustain life on earth. We have to
look within us dispassionately transcending religious, national boundaries. It
will liberate us from our own secluded world view. It will empower us to see
the reality as realistic as possible and lead to global human solidarity.
Do we value religion more than compassion,
love and ethics? We need to revolutionise our values. Each religion preaches compassion
and certain ethical values to bring harmony within oneself and with others. But
in reality it does not help to solve the problems we face.
Survival, expansion and advancement of our
own race require certain fundamental values, applicable to all human beings, irrespective
of one’s religion, racial or ethnic outlook. Human beings are finite and often
do not live up to their full potential and even commit evils.
So we need to find the real reasons for
human solidarity. Where there is reason for what we believe, we do not need
faith. Diversity of religious beliefs constitutes as obstacles to human solidarity.
Will faith in God ever help us to identify the problems we face? It requires
empirical outlook and development of one’s own consciousness. So, let’s look
beyond religion and gather our forces to bring peace on this earth. Amen!