In The Name of Religion
Senseless deaths distress me and when it is to uphold a religion, it affects me so profoundly that i need to find a quiet corner to exhaust the rage i feel inside...
i rarely discuss religion with anyone because it is a subject matter so sensitive that you risk losing a good friend...which i did at the tender age of fifteen.Believe me when i say it left me completely raw emotionally and scarred me for life.i avoid the topic like the plague.
Apparently,the topic of religion is used by many to gain political mileage. Religion is used to wage wars and it is the vulnerable people who are caught in the midst of the madness. Religion, is used to provoke anger and cause strife in schools and instituitions of higher learning, in offices and just about everywhere else these days.
Why?. Who gave the right to speaking about something so sacred with neither care nor caution to the sensitivities of fellow humans?.
It is a free for all scenario these days to comment and criticise without knowledge and respect to the sanctity of the subject matter at hand. The mind boggling truth is most of the netizens of know it all land hardly ever have leafed through religious texts of any kind!. There are very few who truly read and know about religions of the world and their opinions are humble and you can understand as well as admire their knowledge.They are simply well read,well versed and open minded.
i am no expert on religion but i have a curious mind, couple that with the thirst for knowledge has led me to readings that have taken me on fascinating journeys of discovery of the self and those around me.i abhor any form of discrimination by virtue of a person's faith and i seriously advocate reading and respecting the 'difference' that has so many similiarities.
i detest anyone using the phrase, 'in the name of religion' and it pains me to read about the senseless deaths caused by upholding religion. Even in this century, religion is used to get even, to perpetrate hostility among people, to create such vast gaps that erode humanity. i see this as a destruction that can be prevented but alas, does everyone share my sentiment?
i wish to share this beautiful and remarkable piece by Jalal-ud-din-Rumi :-
In the adorations and benedections of righteous man,
The praises of all the prophets are kneaded together.
All their praises are mingled into one stream,
All the vessels are emptied into one ewer.
Because He that is praised is, in fact only One.
In this respect all religions are only one religion.
Because all praises are directed towards GOD's Light.
These various forms and figures are borrowed from it.
Rumi's words have moved me to tears on numerous occasions and i hope everyone takes the time to reflect on the human spirit.i was raised with religious beliefs that i started questioning because some i found too tedious to follow and others unacceptable. i am deeply grateful to my mentor who introduced me to the philosophical aspect of religion some two decades ago that opened up a whole new world to me.i let go of lots of guilt and felt liberated. My legal studies too exposed me to the philosophical and moral aspect of Law and that also was an amazing journey.i feel so fortunate and blessed to have been exposed to both Western and Indian Philosophy.It is something i treasure and i have had many interesting debates with my father and mentor because of my questioning mind.
Like i said earlier, i do not discuss religion and this piece is written because i am upset with the killings that are going on around the world in the name of upholding a religion.
*i wish all a peaceful weekend.
i rarely discuss religion with anyone because it is a subject matter so sensitive that you risk losing a good friend...which i did at the tender age of fifteen.Believe me when i say it left me completely raw emotionally and scarred me for life.i avoid the topic like the plague.
Apparently,the topic of religion is used by many to gain political mileage. Religion is used to wage wars and it is the vulnerable people who are caught in the midst of the madness. Religion, is used to provoke anger and cause strife in schools and instituitions of higher learning, in offices and just about everywhere else these days.
Why?. Who gave the right to speaking about something so sacred with neither care nor caution to the sensitivities of fellow humans?.
It is a free for all scenario these days to comment and criticise without knowledge and respect to the sanctity of the subject matter at hand. The mind boggling truth is most of the netizens of know it all land hardly ever have leafed through religious texts of any kind!. There are very few who truly read and know about religions of the world and their opinions are humble and you can understand as well as admire their knowledge.They are simply well read,well versed and open minded.
i am no expert on religion but i have a curious mind, couple that with the thirst for knowledge has led me to readings that have taken me on fascinating journeys of discovery of the self and those around me.i abhor any form of discrimination by virtue of a person's faith and i seriously advocate reading and respecting the 'difference' that has so many similiarities.
i detest anyone using the phrase, 'in the name of religion' and it pains me to read about the senseless deaths caused by upholding religion. Even in this century, religion is used to get even, to perpetrate hostility among people, to create such vast gaps that erode humanity. i see this as a destruction that can be prevented but alas, does everyone share my sentiment?
i wish to share this beautiful and remarkable piece by Jalal-ud-din-Rumi :-
In the adorations and benedections of righteous man,
The praises of all the prophets are kneaded together.
All their praises are mingled into one stream,
All the vessels are emptied into one ewer.
Because He that is praised is, in fact only One.
In this respect all religions are only one religion.
Because all praises are directed towards GOD's Light.
These various forms and figures are borrowed from it.
Rumi's words have moved me to tears on numerous occasions and i hope everyone takes the time to reflect on the human spirit.i was raised with religious beliefs that i started questioning because some i found too tedious to follow and others unacceptable. i am deeply grateful to my mentor who introduced me to the philosophical aspect of religion some two decades ago that opened up a whole new world to me.i let go of lots of guilt and felt liberated. My legal studies too exposed me to the philosophical and moral aspect of Law and that also was an amazing journey.i feel so fortunate and blessed to have been exposed to both Western and Indian Philosophy.It is something i treasure and i have had many interesting debates with my father and mentor because of my questioning mind.
Like i said earlier, i do not discuss religion and this piece is written because i am upset with the killings that are going on around the world in the name of upholding a religion.
*i wish all a peaceful weekend.
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