Religion , the one word which has contributed immensely in human evolution and the one word which has let to killing of thousands in its name. Religion , the one word which can unite humans and one word which can divide humans.

Nothing has played more sensitive role in human race than religion. People have died for sake of religion , people have killed for sake of religion , people have done unimaginable to fellow human beings in name of religion , people have done totally selfless things which can be said as pinnacle of humanity for sake of religion.

Religion be it be any claims to be divine revelation ,directly from god. In some religion god is said to have manifested HIMSELF as human while in some religion god choose a person or made some special person born as messiah or messenger who brought message of god on earth.

The message of one god which applies to all human beings. God which rates human beings with one eye . God who wants human race to do good , avoid sins and live life as per rules/guidelines which are given in religious scriptures.

So purpose of religion is assisting humans to reach god , live righteous life and attain heaven (as in case of some religion ) or salvation (as in case of some religion).

Now since religion is for entire human race and god views all as equals why do we have fights, killings , murders , riots and such things in name of religion.

A news from pakistan stated that a hindu community was attacked by 150 tribesman. Reason?. A hindu boy drank water from outside of mosque!!!!!!!!!!!!

Similarly when a foreigner entered a well known temple in India , entire temple was washed by milk to clean temple since foreigners are prohibited!!!!!!!!. Similar things had happened when a famous heroine claimed to have entered a temple.

When I was in college , along with my friends I went to a church to celebrate Christmas. I was not welcomed there and people looked at me as if i am from Jupiter as soon as my non christian identity got reviled!!!!!!!!!

Religion fails the purpose if ‘we are better than fellow person because of our faith’ enters the brain. Ego , boasting , differentiating , evaluating , judging is human trait .

Ironically most religion claim to believe in god’s judgment but at first instinct try to judge others on basis of one’s own standards.

When Religion Fails The Purpose , incidents like above occur.

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Pakistan banned facebook and youtube for blasphemous materials. Facebook had a page with title-’Draw Muhammad Day’ which made Pakistan court ban facebook. Later it banned youtube too , citing blasphemous  videos as reason.

The facebook page has sparked protest by Muslims all across the globe while Pakistan being only country (as of now) to have banned this site.

This has sparked debate of freedom of speech v/s religious sentiments. Does freedom of speech gives license to hurt sentiments of people who believe in their faith and get offended by it?. Does being believer in one’s own faith give license to threaten anyone?

Let us first see various incidents where people were killed or death threat were either made or people were dragged to court

because of hurt of religious sentiments :

1) M.F.Hussain :

He drew nude paintings of hindu god and goddess in late 70s but controversy erupted in early 90s. VHP and right wing group cried foul and M F Hussain was dragged to the court.His house was attacked by bajrang dal and  art works were vandalised.His london exhibition was forced to be called off due to protest. Later M.F.Hussain took citizenship of qatar.

2) Salman Rushdie:

He wrote satanic verses which created major outrage in muslim world. Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini issued fatwa for executing salman rushdie. Fatwa still stands and attempts to kill him have been made unsuccessfully. Twice bombs exploded pre maturely killing attackers and salman rushdie survived. While salman has survived few people associated with the book have been killed . Japanese translator of the book was stabbed to death in 1991 , while Italian translator too was stabbed but he survived the attempt

3) Taslima Nasrin :

Taslim nasrin is an doctor turned author who sparked controversy by her book. She has been critical of islam in particular and religion is general. She was forced to leave Bangladesh and lived in exile before entering India. Hardline Muslim groups in India opposed her stay . She was even almost physically attacked by Hyderabad based political party workers . She was later shifted to secret location and finally she moved to Europe.

4) Danish Cartoon :

Series of cartoons published in danish daily sparked controversy in the Islamic world. Attempt to kill the cartoonist was discovered , owing to which cartoonist is under police protection. Latest in the saga was name of jihad jane who was arrested

in USA . Even pakistani born , american citizen headley has discussion with extremist in Pakistan regarding the cartoonist.

5) Van Gogh :

A severe critic of Islam , van gogh was murdered by Mohammed Bouyeri . Van was shot eight times and stabbed twice. Van was Dutch film director, film producer, columnist, author and actor.Van Gogh worked with Somali-born writer Ayaan Hirsi Ali to produce the film Submission, which was critical of the treatment of women in Islam.

Coming to religious sentiments. What is offensive and what is not offensive differs from person to person. Now M.F.Hussain painting might not be offensive for those who don’t prescribe to Hindu religion , it might not be offensive for some Hindus too but it was offensive for many Hindus. Same way I not being Muslim for me cartoon of Muhammad or draw Muhammad day is not offensive but it might be offensive for many Muslims. What is offensive is subjective matter. As leading lyricist javed akhtar said that he does not find taslima’s comments offensive but someone might have found it offensive but does that gives them right to threaten taslima?. Would they get right to burnt her alive?.

Ironically most religion believe in judgment day but themselves turn judges and try to punish those whom they believe have done something which is against their belief system!!!!!!!!

There are laws in every country to approach courts when one feels that his/her religious sentiments are hurt. This is civilized way to approach. Isn’t it?

Coming to freedom of expression. Does freedom of expression give license to hurt other’s sentiment?. If one expresses his/her freedom of expression as reserved by constitutions of many countries , other person too has right to approach court to file case of hurting his/her religious sentiments. I as writer have right to express my views but does that give me right to hurt others?

Freedom and responsibility go hand in hand. There should be balance between what is called freedom of expression and effects of that freedom on masses , in general.

In same way religious sentiments should not take control to the extent that fellow human being gets killed and killers justify their killing. Religion is to make us good human being and there is always civilized way to register one’s protest.

Religious sentiments v/s freedom of speech would continue as it has continued throughout human history. Debate would go on.Isn’t it?

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It is season of fatwas for largest muslim seminary in India , Darul Uloom of Deoband.  Answering to various question posted to them from various people ,all across India , deoband is coming up with new fatwas everyday.

First they had fatwa for working women in which they called for using veil in office and not mingle with male colleagues. This fatwa was slammed by liberal muslims like javed akhtar.

Liberals in every religion are more focused towards essence of religion than traditions and liberals are always threatened by so called religious followers who get confused with religion and tradition. Javed akhtar too received threat for his comments of fatwa for working women.

After fatwa for working women , deoband issued another fatwa against birthday celebrations. According to them such celebrations are jews and chrisitian inititatives and not as per Islam. This too has mixed reactions.

But now deoband have come up with fatwa which would be hailed by liberal muslims as well as any right thinking person , irrespective of religion.

The new fatwa states that every muslim girl should get educated . According to deoband , the  man who educates his daughter , sister , takes care of them and marrys them to nice family gets heaven. Education is must for both man and woman in Islam and the backwardness of muslims (Indian muslims) is largely because of lack of education.

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Religion since thousands of years has definitely played very important part in lives of human beings. The first temple is believed to be as old as 11,500 years.Evacuation is underway and this had led to hypothesis called ‘First Temple , then city’.

Idea of god , what after death , how earth was created , why live on earth and such things have been part and parcel of human brain since thousands of years. Time and again human’s zeal of getting answers to such questions has led to many scientific discoveries as well as evolution of philosophical thoughts and religion.

Religion has had immense contribution in human race. Religion has immense contribution in smooth functioning of social system.

Somebody had asked an eminent scholar (atheist) that “Do we need religion”. To every one’s surprise he replied in affirmation. Now atheist stating that ‘religion is needed’ definitely is something surprising. Isn’t it?

He elaborated about why he thinks that religion is needed. According to him life is not always fair.  At times people do have bad times , have someone who ditches them , have some things which let them down , have times when one feels , why me?.

Religious beliefs do help in those times. It does promise that in the end right would prevail , truth would win and negative forces would be defeated.

It promises that good work would be rewarded . Some religion have concept of heaven while some have concept of salvation. Never the less if you do good,you shall be rewarded is the theme.

Similarly bad deeds would be punished. Some religions have concept of hell for punishment while some have re incarnation with demotion as punishment.

So religion does help humans to keep floating and see through bad days , deal with deaths of loved ones , keep moving with faith , try to be good (out of fear of hell or motivation of heaven).

Of course ideally one should do good for sake of doing good and not out of fear of hell or motivation of heaven but it does work for most that way.

While contribution of religion cannot be rejected , it is also a truth that religion has caused death of human being and history if full of such religious wars . Religion has been time and again used as tool to gain political power either by person who created the religion or by people who used name of religion/prophet/god to gain power.

Having faith in god and one’s religion is personal matter.Obviously most of religious believers believe that their scripture is only true scripture , their prophet is only prophet , their path is only path and their interpretation of god is only god. Now it wont be any problem if one adheres to that belief and keeps it to  oneself.

Problems occurs when this ‘my god is better that your god’ is imposed on others who is turn believes that ‘their god is better than imposer’s god’. This had led to riots , conversions by use of force or bribe in many places in ancient times. Riots do still keep happening in many places where two religious groups are in substantial numbers.

As world is becoming smaller places , religious people need to understand that faith is personal matter and stick to believe that their god, their book, their prophet is best but for them. Communal harmony can be achieved only when one adheres to one’s faith but respect freedom of others to adhere to their faith. Their faith may be disbelief in god , or belief in other religion but respecting his/her right of adhering to it is civilized way.Isn’t it?

Ironically most religion have concept of judgment day.Most agree that it is god who would judge people . It is equally surprising that they themselves turn judge and ridicule people who don’t adhere to their faith.

I had an interesting chat with a person who called himself religious person. I asked him that since I don’t belong to his faith , what are my chances to go to heaven?. He replied-’None , because his religion was only way to get to heaven’. Sort of exclusive right. So according to him more than 50-60 percentage of people wont go to heaven.

I then asked him that what is i have been doing all that has been prescribed in his book ,unknowingly. Can I then make it to heaven?. He said ‘No. You must believe in his god, doing comes later’. Also he doubted that how can I do good prescribed in his scriptures since I never read it?

So according to him first comes believing in his books because god was define in that book and then doing what is prescribed to get into heaven. In other words ‘his god being better than all other versions’.

Now it is fine as long as one believes in whatever book/god one wants to. That is personal matter but trying to impose is something which is not right thing to do.

‘My god is better than your god ,but for me’ this might solve lot of issues.Isn’t it?

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As I was on my way back to home from office , I saw a car which had sticker that read ‘xyz religion is in danger, awaken to protect it’ . This led me think that does religion needs protection?.

Be it be any religion , most believe in source called god. Source which created entire universe and all species. Source which itself came as avtaar (in hindusim) or sent a prophet (as in Islam) or himself came as jesus (as in christianity) . God established a system called religion which had moral , social norms and rules. How to pray , rituals , social systems , sin ,duties and many such things.

Now almost all faiths also have holy books and all three major faiths believe in second coming. While chrisitianity believes in second coming (most of chrisitains) , Islam do believes that christ would come again . One sect of Islam believes that Mahdi would come to establish just system again. While hinduism believes in kalki avatar.

So bottom lines is that all major faiths believe in a divine figure who would come to re establish a righteous system and defeat the negative forces from the other.

Now coming to the sticker. Does religion needs protection?. Is religion so small that it needs to be defended by mortals?. Also defended from whom?. One who doesnot believe in your faith?. At what cost?. Fanatics are ready to kill a fellow living human being in name of protecting one’s own religion. Fanatics believe that they are doing it for god and god would not only like their gesture but also reward for the same!!!!!!

Imagine all powerful god at mercy of mortals to make sure that His way prevails!!!!!!!. Ironically all major religions believe that ultimately His way wont prevail because in the end He would have to send someone or come himself to make sure that His way prevails and so this entire protection thing is meaningless because He would come or sent someone to show the right way and so why fight?

Logic doesnot work in matter of faith , unfortunately . Time and again people do fight in name of god and themselves turn judge to decide what is right or wrong in name of god. Slay others if they dont believe in what you believe. Fight till they become extinct or surrender to your version of god . If you get slayed in the process , you are martyr!!!!!!!. Now this defys religion and god itself. Since if god wanted to differentiate , He would have done that in many other ways and wont have needed humans to do so. But thats how religious fanatics work.

Religion doesnot need protection. It is too big for mortal humans to do so.

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Religious forums are generally last place to visit because many times two people who have faith in respective religions try to ridicule each other and put each other’s faith down.

Yesterday while browsing a networking site I came across a religious forum and my curoisity took over and I decided to read some of posts of that forum.

It was argument going on between two groups belong to two different faiths. Ironically both agreed that of following :

1) There is God who is all powerful

2) God created universe and every species on earth

3) All humans are his creation and He loves all

4) There is a judgement day

Now when all agreed where was the difference . Well difference was for who is right person who brought the religion and whose way is right.

Now both claimed that their way is only way andif one doesnot belief in their way or their figure head , they are going to be cursed into hell.

Had long learnt that one must never discuss religion and politics because generally people tend to become too emotional and close minded in adhering what they think is truth .So remained mute spectator.

It is ironcial that when larger part of people in the world believe in judgement day , why do they themselves turn god and pass judgement. Let god decide what is right or wrong .

But for some god becomes licensed to ridicule , bring people down and even use terrorism as means to silence others!!!!!!!!!

‘All in name of god’ . So what If the people who get killed are humans , so what is blood spilled in same ,all over , if he/she doesnot belong to my faith , he deserves to die. This is philosophy of some who also claim that god is all powerful and forgives , loves everyone!!!!!!!!

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India is land of hero worship. Since thousands of years people have time and again made heros of mortal and at times they have been worshipped. With time legends keep on adding with their personality and thousand years done the line , they become god.

There are endless dieties , gurus who have become god with passage of time. Faith works and it would always work . How faith works in mystery but it works is a fact .

Never the less adding to so many dieties is BSP superemo Mayawati!!!!!!!!. If Statues was not enough , she had cash garlands from her followers and now she may end up having a temple of her too .

One of her follower has asked for permission to build temple of her. If permitted the temple would be formed with her idol. According to this follower , mayawati is like lord buddha and goddess for many downrodden people of India.

Making temple for mortals in their life time is not new. Khushboo too has a temple in her name and dhoni’s fan too wanted his temple which dhoni’s family refused and rightly too.

Well but going as per track record of Behnji , we wont be surprised if permission is granted for the temple and so Mayawati would be not just honourable chief minister but also god mayawati in future.

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Jesus christ is perhaps most respected figure across the world. Christ’s popularity transcends nations and religion. For christians , christ is son of god ,for some he himself is god , for muslims he is one of prophets , for hindus ,jesus doesnot have any religious significance but he is well respected for his non violence , his sacrifice for humanity.

It is well known fact for majority of people around the world that jesus christ was crucified and he dies before late afternoon at Calvary.All four Gospels state this fact.It is also accepted fact among christians that jesus rises from dead on sunday.All the Gospels portray Jesus’ empty tomb. Muslims on other hand reject crucification and believe that he was raised alive up to heaven.

Interestingly there are few other theories which are not popular ones but these theory do form specualtions and controversies. One such theory is that jesus had survived the crucifixion and died later in Kashmir,India.

Jesus linkage to India has two different theories . One being that jesus christ travelled to India and stayed there for 18 years . The supporters of this theory believe that jesus christ’s life span from 12 to 30 are missing in gospels.Other than the generic allusion that Jesus advanced in wisdom, stature, and in favor with God and man (Luke 2:52), nothing is known of this time span.

The Jesus in India idea appears to originate with Louis Jacolliot (1869) and has been repeated by numerous authors since, among them Nicolas Notovitch (1894), Levi H. Dowling (1908), Mathilde Ludendorff (1930).

More recently Holger Kersten’s theory that jesus survived the crucifixion and came to kashmir,India. Here he died a natural death.His body is buried at The Rozabal Shrine ,according to holger.

Time and again such controveries have kept on making news. This time it is in news again because of ban imposed by state government on foreign tourist from entering the shrine.

The idea that the Rozabal shrine, as it is known, contains the body of Christ has existed for at least 100 years.

Holger Kersten’s book, published in 1981, claims there are hidden details at the shrine – such as carved footprints marked with crucifixion wounds – along with other “literary and historical” evidence that make a strong case.

“It is not only possible that the body of Jesus lies buried here; it is very likely indeed,” he wrote, in a suggestion dismissed by Christian scholars.

Many people have suggested for DNA test to confirm jew ancestory but it has faced stiff resistance from people of kashmir. This being a sensitive matter which is related to faith of billions all across the globe , such test doesnot seem to be possible.

As per popular belief of christians , christ had nothing to do with India , while as per muslims christ was rised to heaven , directly. Any deviation from these beliefs might turn to volatile.

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Another riots occurred in Hyderabad , India. This makes second incident of communal riots this year. Earlier bareilly saw communal riots where two main communities of India were involved.

Communal riots are not new in India and first recorded incident of such riots dates back to late 1700s . India has seen many such riots which occur all in name of god.

Now those who get involved in communal riots claim to be protecting their religion. They dont like something which they consider is attack to their religion and since being highly religious people they try to defend their religion!!!!!!!

Religion that exists since thousands of years , faith which prevails since thousands of years and these people who would live for 80-100 years at most try to defend something which is thousands of years old!!!!!!!!!

Unfortunately in their over zeal of defending religion and god ,they defy both. They are perfect case of non believers. Non believers in the religion and non believer in god.

How?. Well almost all religion would say that god is merciful and in name of same merciful god , these people would slaughter fellow human being. Also they wont slaughter someone who can defend him/her self but would slaughter people who are helpless. These so called torch bearers of religion would work in mob and kill people from another faith in totally inhuman way.

Also all religion would say that god is all powerful but all of sudden all powerful god becomes entity which needs to be defended and protected!!!!!!!!!!!

All religion would say that everything happens as per god’s will but slightest deviation from their way would be resisted and all happens as per god’s will , would be forgotten.

Every religion has concept of judgment day. Time and mode may differ but its there and the concept states that god would judge all humans on that day and decide on their fate. But these fanatics would defy this concept at their convenience and themselves turn judge of right and wrong !!!!!!!!

Ironically people involve in riots would say that every species including human being has been made by god and god has not differentiate among human beings but these same people would not think twice in killing another human beings.

Truly communal riots is for totally non believers.

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No religion teaches violence is what experts of every religion would pledge. Religion preaches moral values , moral laws, doing good to people,family . Religion preaches being good human beings , loving all and serving all.

While religion doesnot preach violence , quite often in name of religion violence erupts. Sensitivity of people towards their religion causes bloodshed of innocent people.

Quotes from books which are believed to be divine are used to motivate people to KILL. The experts of religions claim that verses have been mis interpretated to incite violence and has nothing to do with religion.

Fair enough. But here we are not talking about misinterpretation , but here we are talking about a person’s blind faith which can make him kill fellow human beings for revenge ,for community , for heaven , for salvation!!!!!!!!!!!

Religion has been used to gain political powers in past and history is full of such episodes in which actual powers remained with religious heads of the state. Religious heads would read from book and convey to its masses about what is write and what is wrong. How enemy of state is enemy of god and how god wanted enemy to be punished!!!!!!!

Now critics of religion often argue that god who is all powerful doesnot need mortal man to save true religion and god. God who is all powerful could have taught religion to child which he/she was in womb. Human donot need to learn how to eat, how to drink and how to breathe. Its natural and in same way humans don’t need teaching on god.

At same time critics of religion do agree that religion has proved to be glue factor among many and inspired to be good human beings. Largely positives of religion have been much more than its negative. But in era of globalization, terrorism backed by misintepretation of religious book is biggest threat that entire world faces. A mind convinced to kill with incentive of getting heaven is deadliest weapon ever made .

In country like India , communal riots is common in which all inhumans acts occur. Women being raped, men being slaughtered and child being burnt. All in name of merciful god. Is it god that one is trying to defend?. Does god need defense?. Is it religion which one is trying to protect. Is religion so small that it may extinct if not protected??.

It is true that faith can move mountains , but at same time it is also true that blind faith can make animals out of human who can kill fellow human beings. All in name of God.

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