For God's sake

In the Webster Universal Dictionary, religion is defined as ‘reverence for gods, fear of God, religious awe, consciousness of wrong and religious scruple.’ It is also elaborated further as, ‘belief in, acknowledgment of, a supernatural power which controls the universe and directs man’s destiny; belief in the existence of some personal God or gods to whom some form of worship and obedience is due; often contrasted with atheism’.

Durkheim had propounded a theory that religion was born due to fear of awesome natural phenomenon. Hence man devised specific rites, means of worship to dispel this fear and to avoid catastrophe. For Karl Marx, religion was an ‘opium’ to exploit the common mass.

In the early part of this century, there was an upsurge in Europe and a communist state was born. It made an immense impact on common people, especially middle class intellectuals. We saw the emergence of the Soviet Union as the second great power in the world. But in the last phase of the 20th century, the same collapsed like a house of cards. Now we see Russia reverting to democratic politics and partly going back to its orthodox religious beliefs.

This change has also affected other parts of the world. Apparently, China and Cuba are also on the road to democratic, reformed institutions. It is a fact that today most of the communist countries are coming to compromise with a rationalistic view of religion.

We see that religion or religious thought still has a strong hold over the masses. Modern scientific development has not done much to dilute its impact on people leaving aside the intellectuals. Why does religion still have such a strong appeal despite the odds it faces in today’s world of modern scientific ‘thoughts’ and despite various theories and disputes over the genesis of religion?

Although religion has many forms, no one can deny the existence of some kind of religious instinct in him or her. Otherwise, no committed rationalist or totalitarian socialist would have asked in his/her will to bury his/her body after death or to scatter his/her ashes over the water in accordance with religious belief. This attitude of man in any age or any social milieu shows that man cannot do away with the spiritual side of his self. On the other hand, we also find that with the passage of time simple religious thought and practices become institutionalised and grow more and more complicated and controversial. In the past many religious wars were fought and won.

Today, religion has become a non-entity in many western countries. However, it still holds its sway over Asia and other parts of the world. Because religion is more emotionally oriented in these countries, fundamentalist tendencies are growing. Truly speaking, this tendency has always a negative effect. Hence progress is stunted except in few countries, like Malaysia, because of its progressive politics and a personality like Prime Minister Mahathir Bin Mohamed…

Irrespective of the differences between them, all faiths revolve around a single nucleus — Spirit. Evidently, every man’s destiny is one — God. Then, why do people fight for their religious beliefs? Why can’t people like Swami Agnivesh and other religious leaders go to the common man and speak in one language instead of creating discord and chasm among people.

No religion is superior in the eyes of God. But all our religious leaders in India are making it a controversial issue causing great loss to life and property. They show least sanctity for one another’s religions and are thus becoming tools in the hands of politicians and self-seekers. No religion is any one’s personal property.

I do not find any issue to be sorted out by the religious leaders as such. Swami Agnivesh seems to beat his own drum and damages his image as a secular person and a social activist. He must remember that our Hindu brethren are happily settled in western countries where they are free to profess and practice their religious duties. Presently there are temples, mosques, gurudwaras and stupas built in the heart of metropolitan cities of America and Europe.

Our god-men are freely moving and establishing their meditation centres and attracting huge followers among the white people. Isn’t it the magnanimity of the western countries that we are being asked to overlook? It is not wise to peep into somebody else’s house when my own house is in shambles. Let me first set my own house in order before criticising others.

I would like everyone to read the last page of the February ’98 issue of Communalism Combat where Mahatma Jyotiba Phule’s brief exhortation was published. I wish every religious leader in India should speak in the same language to bring peace and unity among our people. We want peace and feeling of brotherhood, not debate and discord.