FOREWORD:The series of articles being published on “Religion” are my wild and random thoughts, only to explore and understand the validity and existence of its realistic purpose over the lives of the human beings. The thoughts reflected need not be my exact belief. And I do not intend to influence the readers to change their existing religious beliefs and religious attitude. The purpose of the blog is only to help me and the readers to think and re-think at a higher profile of self-evaluation of mind to seek the various possibilities of arguments of understanding and comprehension in regard to a harmonious religious existence. While writing this series of articles on religion, I am not influenced by any other individual/s or by any organised system of religious and non-religious entity. I am not a theologian or a religious expert but the impressions are based exclusively on seeing what is happening around me on a day-to-day basis. Any criticism within the articles is not aimed at any individual or associations or organisations. Short and realistic comments and impressions are welcome for an unbiased debate.
The demands of the Religion over the individuals, the community and the society are becoming very unrealistic and blown out of proportion than necessary. It has become the "Impractical Religion", hounting and interfering the very essence of the natural human growth. The intention of every religion is an attempt to systemise or codify the way of the life of human beings with the necessary values required for a homogeneous and comfortable communal life in this earth.
Various religions have their own differences and proclaimed identity probably because of their origin in different parts of the world, where the local tradition and way of life has influenced in the codification of the process to regulate, control and influence the individuals, the communities and societies. However, we see that the general focus of all religions is the same, except in the mode of interpretation, practice and rituals. It looks as if the difference in the mode of this interpretations, practices and rituals between each religion is only to give a different identity or a different colour to each one of them in an effort to claim supremacy over the other. However, I feel that we get misguided always by the arguments and counter arguments spread out by the religious teachers or interpreters to impress us that each religion is different and superior to the other.
It is hard to agree that one religion is superior to the other and can provide what others cannot. Every religion professes the existence of a supernatural power and also prescribes salvation in different styles. The package includes freebees and assurances like curing of diseases, attaining the various wishes and aspirations especially on wealth and material benefits, long life and a comfortable life after death if there is one. When we analyse all these packages we see that all the assurances are only to calm down the very agitated mind of the human being, from the greed to outlive as much as possible in both the material and spiritual environment. Basically we human beings are a selfish lot. It’s in our blood, though the degree varies from individual to individual. This creates a very conducive environment for the various religions to thrive. I would call it “fishing in the muddy waters”.
To me at the moment, religions look like the same product being marketed by different companies, in different brand names and wrappings. One would try to out-run the other by claiming better quality. And it uses very aggressive marketing strategy to win popularity in competition with the other !!
Where do I stand? If I say "my religion" is the only right one and others are not, I stand to be very selfish and arrogant in my thoughts. Religions teach us "not to be selfish" and at the same time if they prescribe intentions which are nothing but selfish, what logic does it represent? This attitude itself questions the very validity of religions in our lives. As I see things around me, religions have only devided people and never unified them. Therefore, I am forced to conclude within my thoughts that there can be only one entity of a religion, a process of codes of conduct which do not dictate terms (or scares people with consequences), but guides and counssels human beings for a desired and comfortable conducive life here on earth.
Do we need these religions? Are they in any way doing good?
Various religions have their own differences and proclaimed identity probably because of their origin in different parts of the world, where the local tradition and way of life has influenced in the codification of the process to regulate, control and influence the individuals, the communities and societies. However, we see that the general focus of all religions is the same, except in the mode of interpretation, practice and rituals. It looks as if the difference in the mode of this interpretations, practices and rituals between each religion is only to give a different identity or a different colour to each one of them in an effort to claim supremacy over the other. However, I feel that we get misguided always by the arguments and counter arguments spread out by the religious teachers or interpreters to impress us that each religion is different and superior to the other.
It is hard to agree that one religion is superior to the other and can provide what others cannot. Every religion professes the existence of a supernatural power and also prescribes salvation in different styles. The package includes freebees and assurances like curing of diseases, attaining the various wishes and aspirations especially on wealth and material benefits, long life and a comfortable life after death if there is one. When we analyse all these packages we see that all the assurances are only to calm down the very agitated mind of the human being, from the greed to outlive as much as possible in both the material and spiritual environment. Basically we human beings are a selfish lot. It’s in our blood, though the degree varies from individual to individual. This creates a very conducive environment for the various religions to thrive. I would call it “fishing in the muddy waters”.
To me at the moment, religions look like the same product being marketed by different companies, in different brand names and wrappings. One would try to out-run the other by claiming better quality. And it uses very aggressive marketing strategy to win popularity in competition with the other !!
Where do I stand? If I say "my religion" is the only right one and others are not, I stand to be very selfish and arrogant in my thoughts. Religions teach us "not to be selfish" and at the same time if they prescribe intentions which are nothing but selfish, what logic does it represent? This attitude itself questions the very validity of religions in our lives. As I see things around me, religions have only devided people and never unified them. Therefore, I am forced to conclude within my thoughts that there can be only one entity of a religion, a process of codes of conduct which do not dictate terms (or scares people with consequences), but guides and counssels human beings for a desired and comfortable conducive life here on earth.
Do we need these religions? Are they in any way doing good?
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NEXT atricle : The Economics of Religion...
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