That divisive thing called Religion

That divisive thing called Religion

The word religion evokes different emotions in different human beings. For some it brings to mind the images of worship and devotion. For some it is all about unwavering faith in the almighty. For some it is a part of their identity. Unfortunately there also those for whom it is a reason for terror.

All major religions in the world propagate the message of love and fellowship towards others. They teach us and define the moral boundaries of what is right and wrong. They inculcates in us the dire fate that will befall us if we were to stray from the right path. Mostly their canons follow a carrot and stick approach where good deeds are rewarded and evil ones punished. Some believe this judgment is given in the after life while others believe that it is given out during their lifetime hear on earth. Some religions provide an opportunity to make penance and start again with a fresh slate. The bottom line to all this comes down to a single thing – belief! And beliefs vary from person to person and from religion to religion. Some of these beliefs and customs have been in existence for centuries. What we need to realize is that the existence of all religions depends on the people’s beliefs.

The modern religions have shown adaptability in embracing the ways of the old by keeping some of the old pagan customs from which they were trying to convert people. For example during catholic marriage ceremonies in most parts of South India we have the custom of the groom tying a thali/minnu (a kind of locket) around the neck of the bride. This is a custom that is being followed in Hindu marriages even today. The point I am trying to put across here is that even though we feel that all religions are rigid in their interpretation of canons, they have been dynamic and ever changing according to the time and the social environment.

I would like to quote the immortal lines by the Malayalam poet Vyalar Rama Varma

manushyan mathangale srishtichu
mathangal daivangale srishtichu
manushyarum mathangalum daivangalum koodi
mannu pankuvachu... avar manassu panku vachu

Translated it would mean

Man created religion
Religion created Gods
Men, Religion and Gods divided earth
They divided hearts.

Is there a more universal truth than that? Even if I believe that God exists and that everything was created by him it is tough to believe that he created the plethora of religions that exists in the world. What we need to realize is that religions were created for our convenience by us. Please don’t think that I am an atheist because I do believe that there is an almighty some where that takes care of me. This is more comforting than believing that I am on my own facing all that life throws at me. Men are inherently weak beings and they need hope and faith at times when darkness engulfs them. But do we really need the structures, the rules and the divisions that religions inherently bring in. Do we really need religion to do good for others? From time immemorial to the present day there has been nothing but bloodshed in the name of religion. Don’t you think we have got it wrong somewhere?

The day people start questioning the canons of a religion it stops to exist. The problem is that nobody does this and they start questioning the existence of God if at all they do question something. The problem is not because people believe in God, divisions occur because people believe that their way of worshiping God is the correct one. Maybe someday we will have a world without the boundaries of religion.

How Jesus and Judas are the same

How Jesus and Judas are the same !!!

Well people, this is an awesome spectacular totally rad psychedelic stuff that happened to me that I am gonna relate here. Stay calm and read on.

Bored out of my beautiful body on a Sunday morn or was it afternoon I don’t know, was staring blankly at the sky trying to while away my time when all of a jerky-sudden the guy came to me. Yeah, the big guy, the man himself. The one and only! It was our friendly neighborhood Jesus of Nazareth! ‘Boy, this is his second coming!’ I thought. He came to me with a smile and a peace sign, sat beside me and asked ‘How’s it hanging?’ I didn’t give him a direct answer but a clue and he guessed the rest using his divine power. He then said since boredom usually relates to sadness and seeing me in such a sad state he has come to just hang out with me for a while and give me some company to help push time just like ‘just push play’ before he goes back to playing fiddle with his daddy-o who is the big big big guy.

I told him that thanks for the concern am moved but am not interested in hanging out with him since Judas was my guy. I always had this thing for the guy Judas since even though Jesus and Judas both have the same characteristics; he is not pretentious like Jesus. Both sell people, Judas sold Jesus and Jesus in turn sells people to his daddy-o, at least he tries to. Both take away freedom. I told him this.

People what do u think happened next? The man started crying, like a si..Well excuse me. You know how sensitive the man is from reading the doog n’good book don’t you? We can see in the book how he got sad over the death of silly ol’ Lazarus who in the end turned out to be just an instrument for Jesus to perform a miracle and not a human after all, just like the rest of us. Heck, Lazarus isn’t even a lead character in the 3 act 4 gospel book and our man cried for him?! How sweet!

This time around with me though, he was not crying ‘cause of sadness. It’s just the realization that made him cry. The realization that Judas and he are the same. And to think that it took him this much years to understand this and brainy ol’ me revealed it to him! I patted the guy with understanding on the shoulder and then he stood up, said thanks to me, said”don’t know what I’d have done without you”, made the peace sign and split.

After a moment of ‘do-nothing’ it suddenly struck me. Oh god what have I done! The guy is reputed for his kindness and all and I didn’t even ask him for money. I mean I was and still am completely broke and all I had to do was just ask the man. Producing hard cash out of thin air is bound to be easier than turning water into wine, don’t u think?
Well, that’s it.

Morale of the story: umm…..well…you got me!