Finding The God Through Religion

May your religion help you find God

Enshrined in the institution of humanity is the freedom to acquire the faith one finds solace in, and to believe in the God one finds comfort in. That being asserted, it becomes logically appealing that faith and religion can never be forcefully imposed on an individual. Advocating freedom of religion on grounds of spiritual satisfaction on one hand and coercing an individual to abandon his or her faith and acquire a new one on the other hand, is as absurd as it can ever get. The hypocrisy darkens even more when the secret goals are on the political, financial, geographical and rebellious fronts. With the realization that an agenda-driven instinct has started to catapult an unjustifiable act of forced conversion, comes a question for contemporary human race - Are we killed by religion?

We have all been hearing those well placed, short words that say 'God is one, religions many' and 'Many roads to the same destination', since a really long time. Religion was a by-product of civilization. I have cited a philosophy at this instance from the Upanishat, not because I belong to the Hindu faith, and when I say I'm a Hindu, it is with the least fervour of religious fanaticism. I recollect having heard from an ascetic during one of his discourses on the Upanishats that everything in the world happens with an objective, and there is a reason for everything that happened and is about to happen, the goal of civilization being spiritual elevation of the mind. If you found that incomprehensive, it gets even more complicated to know that, while technological advancement is never limitless, spiritual realization of the self is an intangible goal.

The violent standoff between Muslims and Hindus over the conversion row lacks justification even on the religious front, let alone a spiritual explanation. I'm against forced conversion. I would not comment another word on forced conversion here, as it is, to certain extent, the politicians' ballgame and voicing my opinion on their bone of contention would certainly prove a dangerous game. Talking about religion, generally synonymous with 'faith', practised by all, yet, only known to a few, is everyone's prerogative, for exercise by virtue of freedom, liberty and audacity. Religions were created by men for the ease of understanding God. Religious books are gospels that advocate righteousness and peace. It is miserably pathetic to face the contemporary scenario of inter-religious tensions arising out of intolerance against one's religious practices. Religious books have clearly understated principles of tolerance and no scripture has ever glorified violence.

The only solution towards putting an end to the blown-out-of-proportion menace of religious intolerance would be making sure that the so-called 'soldiers of religion' read from their scriptures, critically analyze the teachings in the light of spirituality and philosophy and take efforts at attaining spiritual elevation of the self. Until this homework is undone, the 'secular republic' tag of our nation continues to stay untied.