An Effort to Understand Religious Tension

     Religious tension, discrimination, hatred etc. in short issues around religious beliefs are intensifying day by day and making people’s life more uncomfortable, fearful and what not. Deep inside their heart people hate each other just because of difference in their religious beliefs. People don’t think for a second time before taking lives in the name of their religion. There are lot of dark events taken place all around, Gujarat violence 2002 where the official records crosses 900 death troll and unofficial assessments ranges from 2000 to 5000; Kandhamal riot in Odisha 2007; demolition of Babri Masjid and communal violence in Ayodhya 1992 whose impact was also seen in Bangladesh, Pakistan, Iran, Middle east and UAE. On these events thousands of men, women and children are killed in the name of religion mercilessly, huge numbers of women are raped and not even pregnant ladies were left. Was that worthy?

        The spirituality in the religions is the beautiful fruit to be enjoyed by each one on this holy world. Take into consideration any religion; its teachings are on love, kindness, sympathy, empathy, forgiveness, peace, coexistence etc., and the most beautiful things. It helps you to realise, identify and relocate yourself in this extra large universe. But surprisingly followers of a particular religion are full of hatred; treat unfairly to the believers of other religion etc. Hardly anyone follows any religion. The world has changed its behaviour towards religion in such a way that sometimes the religious tensions are of such degree that it feels the religion is a curse to the humanity following which one day the world will come to an end. The world will be full of heavy dead bodies. Why it is so? Because majority of the population don’t really following any religion rather they are living in illusion. The biggest problem beside this is majority has ratified the illusion as reality. A major portion of the sufferers are afraid of questioning the present condition of religion and different issues rising around religion even though they face it in their daily life. They born, grow, get old and die with religious illusion. All these tensions, violence and fearfulness are due to the religious illusion. Why illusion was created intentionally and not spontaneous. The religious leaders are competing with each other and they make religions compete too. They are in a race of making the biggest brand like the corporate sector does. Like in TV advertisement all the fairness cream proclaim ‘it is the best’ like that the religious leaders proclaim ‘it is the only way’. Let’s go to the root. First take into consideration the identity as a Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist, Sikh, Christian etc. All tries to differentiate their selves from others and not just that but they want supremacy of their identity on others. This intention of supremacy will only be possible when they are widely known, become more popular in other words that is the creation of a Brand. Even after the creation of brand they may not achieve what they wanted i.e. supremacy of identity on others so they use some very well finished illusions which silently says ‘this is the only way’. And to create illusion the essence of the religious texts are being interpreted wrongly in front of the masses. Wrong interpretation of religious text leads to creation of illusion and that cater for clash between the beliefs. Though they literally read same thing (language of love) they mean it differently.

       Supremacy of identity requires a Brand, Branding needs Illusion and illusion leads to Religious Tension

            Even though the problem starts with the intention of getting supremacy of identity on others, it can’t be repaired right on the same point. To resolve this we need to work on the illusion. The illusion was created and also can be destroyed. The only way to overcome illusion is digging deep into the religious texts to get the real essence of it. Once the essence is understood properly the problem will be solved. Brand will be created for sure but there will be space for coexistence for others too because once the illusion formed veil is lifted the lust for supremacy of identity will be demolished automatically.

       The day someone understands any particular religion properly with its true sense, (s)he will reject the differences among people on the basis of religion; for him/her religious belief will be as simple as any other beliefs. (S)he will welcome to all the teachings of all the religions because all religion speak the language of love, kindness, peace etc. At that point of time (s)he will not look for from where the knowledge is coming but will be enjoying absorbing the most (s)he can.

         The constitution of India gives Fundamental rights to practice any religion one wishes to. One thing all must understand that religion is a belief and nothing more than that and has nothing to do with any other thing. The religious sentiments should not be used for any personal or political benefit. The illusion has to be crashed for the creation of a better place to live in.

- Bigan Mahakul