Religion is a funny thing. Voltaire said " If God does not exist, it would be necessary to invent Him" It was called the opiate of the masses; it has had and continues to have a stranglehold on the popular psyche. But the irony is that while other countries have more or less discarded bigotry and religious extremism, and have begun moving away from regimented religiosity, we in this country are regressing to the days of the Inquisition and Joan of Arc and Galileo.
It is taught and believed that discrimination of any kind is unacceptable to the Lord. But then what is being done in our temples in Kerala or elsewhere in India? Dr. K.J.Yesudas is not permitted entrance to Guruvayur temple because of him being a 'non-hindu.' Denying him entry is, in my reckoning, offending the Lord who uses Yesudas as a mouthpiece in creating magic through music. Meera Jasmine, the non-hindu actress visits a temple because she wants to pray and the temple gets all outraged and orders a clean up! And the humiliated lady offers to pay for the 'purification' !! Then the hassles Vylar Ravi got into. How narrow minded are we getting to be? There is a muslim shrine of Vavar before you get into Ayyappan's place in Sabarimala, but we often fail to see the message in it.
Sabarimala, yet another case of discrimination where women are not allowed!
I just have a single question – where does one come from at the time of birth? Don't we worship Godesses like Lordess Saraswati?
If a place of worship is kept open, no one should be singled out, and should be opened to everyone irrespective of his or her caste, creed, sex and status. No sort of discrimination should be entertained. Religion should integrate people. Not separate. Unfortunately, we separate. We don't integrate.
It has become such that one cannot say or do anything without offending some religious sentiment or other and the reaction it takes is to get out on the road and set on fire whatever you can lay your hands on. One community sets attack on the other as and when they feel their religion or place of worship has been targeted. Peace cease to exist and violence reigns exhibiting the passion for God where it should have been quite the opposite. Mosques and temples get destroyed in the name of God and people cease to love each other in the name of God! .. Does the presence of a temple or a mosque indicate the presence of God? I think not. The mind is the only temple where one can find God.
Now, if Taj Mahal, the monument of love gets destroyed, would one stop loving his partner or girlfriend?! Curios.
Where is the much vaunted maturity and intelligence and secular 'fabric' of the educated Indian society?
Everything bigoted, everything retrograde, everything intolerant is now on display in the name of God. What is the concept of God then?
A God which bases gender or caste a condition to enter a particular shrine favours discrimination. And a God who favours a person on the basis of the number of 'poojas' done rather than on the basis of love towards his fellow beings is unjust.
My limited sense of logic says any person who shows compassion to others is God.
A person who realizes his mistake, admits is boldly, and seeks forgiveness is God.
A person who treats everyone equally regardless of their caste or social status is God.
The words of a dear friend of mine, though said in a different context, resounds :
"I am true, and therefore I have God" It can't get any closer I believe.
A person who doesn't betray his conscience is God.
Conscience, is God.
-Balu
