Religion and Violence

Religion is a great force that binds humanity. At the same time, it has led to the division of mankind as violence is being perpetrated in an increasing measure in the name of religion, leading to maiming and deaths of innocent people. It is time all of us sat together and pondered on how to make religion a truly uniting force for the welfare of humanity. 

At the dawn of civilization, man was basically concerned about his securing food for his survival than the demands of religion. As and when he was able to ensure the availability of food to eke out his livelihood, his thoughts began to centre on religion or his inner spiritual needs and other qualitative pursuits like the arts and literature. 

Though religion, in the beginning, was mainly a personal affair of man, signifying an inter-relationship between him and God, it soon became an all-pervading influence with the advent of seers and prophets who interpreted religion as man’s love for God and all His creatures. However, in course of time, with the entry of self-seeking, narrow-minded individuals into the religious fold, religion became corrupt and the word ‘hatred’ was popularised in order to desist followers of a particular sect from joining some other sect or religion. Worse still, he self-seeking individuals started funding their own brand of religion or creating factions within the existing religions in order to become centres of power and influence within their own territories. 

Today, we have a multiplicity of religions and sects. While the avowed objective of any religion is to bring about universal peace by promoting love and brotherhood, history is replete with instances of people who have resorted to persecution and violence in the name of religion. It is distressing to note that even at the beginning of the 21st century which is marked by tremendous advances in science and technology, people still talk in terms of their affiliations to temples, churches or mosques, relegating to the background the principle of oneness of mankind. This is discernible from the fact that a few countries are still engaged in cold or open wars triggered by religious animosities.

Victims of sectarian violence.

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As one goes through the pages of history, one comes across several instances where places of worship have been razed to the ground and people killed or proselytised by force owing to religious intolerance. In fact, religion has caused considerable havoc to mankind through its pseudo-practitioners. This does not mean that religion as such should not be practised at all, but it only requires to be understood in its proper perspective and practised accordingly. Love should be the motive force behind all our actions in our daily life. 

Now the time has come to stop using the world ‘religion’ in our day-to-day life which, in the present context, connotes a destabilising influence. Instead, why can’t we think of a more acceptable word like’spirituality’or ‘spiritualism’? As religion is essentially a matter of spirit, let us start talking in terms of whether a man is spiritual or unspiritual, or human or inhuman. If at all, we still prefer to stick to the word ‘religion’ in our day-to-day life, let us not forget Thomas Paine’s memorable words: 

’The world is my country, all mankind are my brethren, to do good is my religion, I believe in one God and no more’.