I Think - About Religion

If you get a briefing about the different religions of the world, it is not difficult to spotlight the similarities. They all profess:

• One God and we are His children
• God in the form of creator, preserver and annihilator
• Peace for all, irrespective of race or caste
• Unconditional love and harmony
• Private space and time for meditation and prayer

Probably the only areas of difference are the foods considered 'clean' and 'unclean' and/or the form of God. Those who profess and swear by NO FORM, yet have images in the form of 'holy writings' and 'symbols', which they deny being images!

Rituals are present in every faith. Whether it is prayer time, or the way the prayers are said; the 'to-do-list' prior to festivities or 'culmination practices' thereafter. Denial simply means a misconception of the term 'ritual'. It is so uncanny, but I think about how the similarities outnumber the differences and yet man is willing to raise the sword in the name of religion!

Come on...let common sense prevail.

IS NOT THE HOLY WORD WITHIN EVERY FAITH WRITTEN BY SOME MORTAL OR THE OTHER, IN THE COURSE OF HISTORY AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF RELIGION?

ARE MORTALS ABOVE ERROR?

Don't you think we need to retrospect on the fact that the Holy Texts were all written by mortals, at different times in history and all the wise and holy men who put the scripts together did so in response to the social practices prevalent then and the social evils that ravaged humanity?

There is no denying that religions developed after much persecution and after the 'persecuted' perished in the effort of securing a healthy mind-set. Christ never declared that he was Christian and neither did Buddha swear by his being a Buddhist. The 'caretakers' and Heads of every religion cannot deny changes made to the Holy Word in the course of time. The dictates as we know today are subject to error while 'word-of-mouth' proclamation and changes willfully introduced by the Heads.

INSTEAD OF SIMPLY GLORIFYING THE PROPHETS, WE SHOULD LEARN TO LIVE OUR LIVES LIKE THEY DID.

They were as human as we are and went through the same trials and tribulations of acceptance as we do. However, they were above temptations and displayed immense self-control. Still they were persecuted when alive and glorified after death!

When every religion proclaims peace, love and charity, where on God's good earth is there scope for terrorism, viciousness and poverty. But, they are there...large and glaring. Undeniable. True and as real as life itself. The biggest joke, right through the centuries, has been the 'Holy War'. God! The guy up there must be having nightmares! Look at the state of affairs around us. We have polluted the world beyond the air and water pollutants. We have spread vindictiveness all around and are plunging deeper and deeper into the evil of 'selfishness'.

WHERE IS THERE SCOPE FOR TERRITORIAL DIVISIONS ON THE BASIS OF RELIGION WHEN BROTHERHOOD SCREAMS OFF MOSQUES, CHURCHES AND TEMPLES?

HOW CAN WE ENGAGE IN HOLY WARS WHEN ALL RELIGIONS TEACH LOVE AND PEACE AS THE TWO RIGHTS OF ALL HUMAN BEINGS?

WHAT DO THE SO-CALLED 'WISE AND ALL-KNOWING ONES' MEAN BY PROFESSING THAT THERE IS THE ONLY TRUE FAITH AND DESTRUCTION WILL BEFALL THE 'DISBELIEVERS'?

WHY DO WE TEACH OUR CHILDREN TO BE 'GOD FEARING' INSTEAD OF 'GOD LOVING'?

With so much of similarity, and for the sake of peace, isn't it better to view world religions with equal respect and observe them as DIFFERENT COLORED STRAWS DRINKING THE SAME NECTAR!

We have designed the differences with bias and personal assumption, so let's take on the responsibility to correct the 'wrong'. Or does it kick bloated ego? Why are we allowing the religious fanatics to get away unquestioned. They are scared of query and all through human history, they have declared the 'bold ones' as blasphemous. But, do we care? Or shall we follow the 'herd policy' and leave the wounds for our children to heal or succumb to?