The recent incident of the Boston Marathon bombing is another example of how religious fanaticism can drive people to do insane things. This bombing is not the first example where some crazy person (or a group) attacked innocent civilians to take revenge for some incidents in the past where they felt their religion was targeted unfairly. Every day we read news about these types of attacks all over the world. Some places are more prone to these types of attacks than others, but this happens all over the world and no country is immune to this.
Religious fanaticism can drive people crazy. It can push them to do unimaginable things, they can do extremely good things (Mother Teresa is one example of this) or can do extremely crazy or cruel things (mass killings of non-believers, religious riots and terror attacks are some examples). The problem is not the religion itself but the feeling of "fanaticism" which is encouraged in almost all relations with the hope that it will motivate people to become devotees and totally surrender to their God. Religion wants to create a group that will practice and defend its beliefs without questioning them. However, it doesn't work this way all the time. People not only practice their own religion but they also force others to practice it, this is where the problem begins. No other discipline preaches fanaticism as much religion does. The closest second can be politics (actually both are like twins of each other). Religion needs devoted followers, who don't question the basic foundation of that religion, and submit themselves totally to serve the purpose of that religion. Religion recruits a dedicated force to propagate its values and protect it against any outside attacks. These things sound very benign but they can instill fanaticism and hatred about others who don't subscribe to the same ideology. This hatred can be in many forms. A subtle form of it makes people discriminate against others based on their faith. Devotees may form exclusive societies or cults which only cater to people with particular beliefs system, they may stereotype particular gender or group (like gays or transgenders). The extreme form of this hatred can result in violence, like mass killings or communal riots. The problem is that there is a very thin line between a devotee and a fanatic. You never know when any devotee can cross that line and become a fanatic or terrorist.
Many people who carry out all these barbaric attacks look and behave like normal people most of the time. The only difference if at all they have is they are very passionate about their beliefs and faith which is not a very unusual thing as many devotees are also passionate. These terrorists or fanatics also go to the same temple, church, mosque, or any other religious center, like any other devotee. They listen to the same sermons, but they interpret everything differently. Also, some religious gatherings preach fanaticism and extremism, they also ridicule other religions while trying to glorify their own religion. All religions should abstain from preaching hatred of any type against any group. This is the need of today and every religious group or leader must understand this. All religions need to update or revise their syllabus, the one which they are using is too old, totally outdated, and not at all suitable for the current world in which we live.
Just for the sake of not hurting the feelings of its followers or for diplomacy, many people say that no religion teaches hatred and they all teach truth and love. NO, this is only the half-truth. All religions teach love and compassion for their own followers but not for others. At least this is how the preachers and followers of every religion interpret the message. In some way, directly or indirectly every religion in its current form says that people who don't follow the path prescribed by them are either on the wrong path, are misguided, or plain evil. This is why we see so many attempts of conversion (from one religion to another), riots, and killings in the name of religion. Otherwise, what can be the reason for all this? Where is the love which all religions claim to teach? If they all teach only love then from where this hatred and violence is coming? Time has come to acknowledge that this current system has a problem, a serious problem that teaches people to hate or discriminate against people with different sets of values. Even kids in these families are not spared from such divisive teachings. From a very young age when they cannot decide what is good or bad, these kids are fed with a dose of sectarian beliefs which limits their intellectual growth in so many ways. By doing this these groups feel happy that they created obedient followers who will follow their respective beliefs and rituals to the core but at the same time, some of these kids become like a time bomb (with so much hatred in them about non-believers) which no one knows when it will explode.
Many of these religions and cult movements teach one totally ridiculous thing that any crime (no matter how heinous it is) if done in the name of religion or to protect it is forgivable or rather rewarded lavishly by their super powerful God. They all also promise some imaginary, unrealistic, and outrageous after-death rewards. To encourage conversion (to attract new customers) they promise that all your sins and crimes will be immediately pardoned/forgiven once you surrender to their deity or God and not only that you will also be eligible for lucrative rewards just for surrendering to their almighty. It all sounds so stupid, and outrageous, something like a bumper offer to wash all your sins. This is a very clever marketing tactic. Many people believe in this propaganda and fall for it and this turns out to be a big selling point for all religions.
Fanaticism in any form is the ugly side of all religions and cult movements. This ugly side shows its presence more than often in various forms. Sometimes in the form of suppressing a particular gender or group. Sometimes in the form of physical or psychological violence within that religion. Sometimes in the form of terrorism. This is the aspect of religion that its followers don't even want to discuss and many don't even accept that this even exists and is a serious concern. As long as we keep on pushing this issue under the carpet for the sake of not hurting religious sentiments it will keep on hurting all of us in some form or other. Let's first acknowledge that this problem exists and then search for possible solutions. We need to talk about this and talk loud so that everyone concerned with this issue can hear it. Our silence has been way too long and if we remain silent then it will be considered as our approval of such violence.
Thanks for reading and please share your views on this topic.
Religious fanaticism can drive people crazy. It can push them to do unimaginable things, they can do extremely good things (Mother Teresa is one example of this) or can do extremely crazy or cruel things (mass killings of non-believers, religious riots and terror attacks are some examples). The problem is not the religion itself but the feeling of "fanaticism" which is encouraged in almost all relations with the hope that it will motivate people to become devotees and totally surrender to their God. Religion wants to create a group that will practice and defend its beliefs without questioning them. However, it doesn't work this way all the time. People not only practice their own religion but they also force others to practice it, this is where the problem begins. No other discipline preaches fanaticism as much religion does. The closest second can be politics (actually both are like twins of each other). Religion needs devoted followers, who don't question the basic foundation of that religion, and submit themselves totally to serve the purpose of that religion. Religion recruits a dedicated force to propagate its values and protect it against any outside attacks. These things sound very benign but they can instill fanaticism and hatred about others who don't subscribe to the same ideology. This hatred can be in many forms. A subtle form of it makes people discriminate against others based on their faith. Devotees may form exclusive societies or cults which only cater to people with particular beliefs system, they may stereotype particular gender or group (like gays or transgenders). The extreme form of this hatred can result in violence, like mass killings or communal riots. The problem is that there is a very thin line between a devotee and a fanatic. You never know when any devotee can cross that line and become a fanatic or terrorist.
Many people who carry out all these barbaric attacks look and behave like normal people most of the time. The only difference if at all they have is they are very passionate about their beliefs and faith which is not a very unusual thing as many devotees are also passionate. These terrorists or fanatics also go to the same temple, church, mosque, or any other religious center, like any other devotee. They listen to the same sermons, but they interpret everything differently. Also, some religious gatherings preach fanaticism and extremism, they also ridicule other religions while trying to glorify their own religion. All religions should abstain from preaching hatred of any type against any group. This is the need of today and every religious group or leader must understand this. All religions need to update or revise their syllabus, the one which they are using is too old, totally outdated, and not at all suitable for the current world in which we live.
Just for the sake of not hurting the feelings of its followers or for diplomacy, many people say that no religion teaches hatred and they all teach truth and love. NO, this is only the half-truth. All religions teach love and compassion for their own followers but not for others. At least this is how the preachers and followers of every religion interpret the message. In some way, directly or indirectly every religion in its current form says that people who don't follow the path prescribed by them are either on the wrong path, are misguided, or plain evil. This is why we see so many attempts of conversion (from one religion to another), riots, and killings in the name of religion. Otherwise, what can be the reason for all this? Where is the love which all religions claim to teach? If they all teach only love then from where this hatred and violence is coming? Time has come to acknowledge that this current system has a problem, a serious problem that teaches people to hate or discriminate against people with different sets of values. Even kids in these families are not spared from such divisive teachings. From a very young age when they cannot decide what is good or bad, these kids are fed with a dose of sectarian beliefs which limits their intellectual growth in so many ways. By doing this these groups feel happy that they created obedient followers who will follow their respective beliefs and rituals to the core but at the same time, some of these kids become like a time bomb (with so much hatred in them about non-believers) which no one knows when it will explode.
Many of these religions and cult movements teach one totally ridiculous thing that any crime (no matter how heinous it is) if done in the name of religion or to protect it is forgivable or rather rewarded lavishly by their super powerful God. They all also promise some imaginary, unrealistic, and outrageous after-death rewards. To encourage conversion (to attract new customers) they promise that all your sins and crimes will be immediately pardoned/forgiven once you surrender to their deity or God and not only that you will also be eligible for lucrative rewards just for surrendering to their almighty. It all sounds so stupid, and outrageous, something like a bumper offer to wash all your sins. This is a very clever marketing tactic. Many people believe in this propaganda and fall for it and this turns out to be a big selling point for all religions.
Fanaticism in any form is the ugly side of all religions and cult movements. This ugly side shows its presence more than often in various forms. Sometimes in the form of suppressing a particular gender or group. Sometimes in the form of physical or psychological violence within that religion. Sometimes in the form of terrorism. This is the aspect of religion that its followers don't even want to discuss and many don't even accept that this even exists and is a serious concern. As long as we keep on pushing this issue under the carpet for the sake of not hurting religious sentiments it will keep on hurting all of us in some form or other. Let's first acknowledge that this problem exists and then search for possible solutions. We need to talk about this and talk loud so that everyone concerned with this issue can hear it. Our silence has been way too long and if we remain silent then it will be considered as our approval of such violence.
Thanks for reading and please share your views on this topic.
(Copyright: Vinay Thakur. Please contact the author for re-posting or publishing)
your all post are really so good.and the way you narrate it is so simple and understandable.
ReplyDeleteThanks a lot Hitesh for visiting the blog and also for your kind words. My intention behind writing this blog is to share my ideas and listen to others views and also if possible initiate a healthy and positive discussion or at least stimulate some concern in others mind about these issues, encouragement from people like you definitely helps. Thanks again.
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