God is a product and religion is a marketing tool. There is no better form of advertising for God than religion.
God is not in the business of running temples, churches, mosques etc. It is the sole prerogative of religion to do so.
In order to propogate itself and therefore get more users, religion uses tools such schools, hospitals, social, soceital and other mores and means to milk god and therefore grow its followers or customers.
It is inevitable therefore that religion will have clashes (dont Pepsi and Coke clash in the market place) -God to me is like Cocoa thats there in both Pepsi and Coke-Religion is like the brand Coke and Pepsi which uses the same ingredient in a different way.
So if we consider Pepsi and Coke as Islam and Christianity then Hinduism is like fruit juice brand or something-not similar yet a competition to Pepsi and Coke, this means that there will attempts periodically to wipe it out.
So in sum and substance it is us who allow ourselves to get dragged into this morass of religion-If we individuals as some enlightened ones do rise above religion they find eternal peace as God is one and does not care for the path you choose to reach him.
Dude, Chinese communism practiced the worst form of intolerance & destroyed all religions (and in classic Orwellian double-speak, called it a Cultural revolution). In China, no power can be recognized that is higher than the communist party, and hence the ban on religion. What is more important is the freedom to choose, and here, the Chinese are far, far lagging behind. If you go to Chinese rural areas & compare it with India's, you'll understand. Swami
Yes, agreed religion when used with fanaticism and supported by power (read state) leads to problems in societies, communities. There is however a difference. Hinduism seen from outside is a religion and those who practice know it as a way of life (Sanatana Dharma). This is why it is impossible to stir people to action to defend anything as a threat to Hinduism. But in the so called secular republic of India, other religions in the name of minorities have always gelled as one group and politicians (taking a cue from Nehru dynasty) have always exploited this situation to win 'vote banks' thereby using affirmative action to disadvantage Hindus. Actually the situation has created a deeper divide in the society where everyone sees views each other with suspicion, a situation which helps no one but a non performing politician who wins with this distrust. Hinduism has always stressed on the underlying one-ness of every living being and the concept of tat-tvam asi and sarve jana sukhino bhavantu has always ensured that people work with unity for the prosperity and well being of the whole society. But this works against the numbers game that Indian democracy dictates!
PKL. Sunday , 18th Dec. 2005. Senguta's quotes some Tom Robbins'article in us pubcn. which supports his global survey of horrendous consequences of political atheists as of Mao Xedong , Joe Stalin or Corp. Adolphof 20th cent. against other horrendous doings of fanatics of histoty as Crusades,Zehadis and inter-communal violence has witnessed over ages in global scenarios over last several centuries.Facts are too many and too sordid. Yet which is less blameworthy ,Zealotism or Atheism.D goel
Well thought out article. I always say one thing to many about religion, none of the contemporary religions have origin more than 7000 years. But it is established that humans are there on Earth for the last 50,000 years atleast. Inspite of that all Humans think that the religion is there for thousands of years. I think religion is a medium used by some to control others. Time and again it has been proved that religion is invoked by some who is powerful to invoke bloodbath.
I always say to many of my friends, If the world is going to come to an end its going to be due to religion. I also say Castiesm is a curse to India and Religion is a curse to the world.
Though being Indias reinforced the religeon within ourself as a thing or a system to follow. This peice of article is quite appropite in the sence that the religion will be disasterous when seen relativeto other. But I feel that when the so called the budhijivis (intellengensia) founded the roots of the religion they made it so stringent so that people fear god and follow it, but they didnt give the reasons to it. And no one even bothered to qiestion who has the guts to question the mighty's words. But The main concept that the religion was never build or written in the context that it will come in contact with other religions (which was the concept that man cannot travel long distances and would not travel ). it was not predicted that the galelio will tell there is earth moving around the sun and a man will discover a land red indians or reaching the space or moon is possible. But it happened. SInce this does not happened before the roots of the religion being established the theologists and the wirtters of many religion(which are very young nearly 2000 years).thus religions are made without thinking of future hence the follewers can preach in a wrong way and still not be betray
In these troubled times it is tempting to make sweeping generalisations with regards to what ails mankind. Religion happens to be one of such a bugbear.
Agreed, religion is at the centre of most of the conflict situations prevalent in the world today.
Any institution; political, social or religious can at the most work as an organising force. It must do so. But it is only when the urge to control, rule and dominate overwhelms the individual and collective objectives that the problem begins. Even religion than becomes a tool towards that end. Running down the 'other' and proving oneself as the harbinger and apostle of truth and all, than becomes the favourite passtime. It is necessary that every human being realise his / her true 'Dharma' towards himself and his surroundings. Only then can he be truly free fom all forms of 'authority' (religious in this case) which otherwise drives him into an abyss of self-deluding venture-altruism.
To organise is another of the basic inclinations of man. To institutionalise is not wrong but to accept the domination and enslavement of such institutions / organisations and rush into blind imitation is what is fatal and unintelligent.
Do not despair! In the near future, the radical elements in the UNO will destroy every vestige of false religion that has misleaded mankind over the centuries.
Just Wait and watch!
For more information on this you can mail me at allnats@rediffmail.com
Objective analysis would show that Not Hinduism But, other religions Preach Hatred and non tolerance of other religion. Yet author Clubs all religions together and condemns them equally. Hinduism alone prays for every human being. Blaming Hindu religion for the mistakes of individuals is wrong. But in case of Christianity and Islam it the religion itself that teaches hatred, nontolerance and voilence. Author should show the the courage of critising the fanaticism ingrained in those religions
