Thoughts And Trivia

Religion has become a source of hatred all around the world. To stop this we have to understand why Godly Religion generates so much hate and passion.
As I said, strong identity with ones Religion and believing it to be the best and the "Other" religions to be Pagan, Dumb or worse, arises out of basic Human Psyche. Humans are born without an owners manual. The question that stares us in face is : "Who are we". To answer that people form identity groups. There is a matrix of overlapping groups to which one belongs. I am an Indian, A brown skinned male, Hindu, Son and sibling of a family group, husband and father of another family group, an Engineer, Alumni of IIT, A Railway Manager etc. etc. To heighten this sense of belonging I eulogise qualities of my groups and find faults with the "Other" groups.
That is why it pays me psychologically if I think that Hinduism is the best religion and think that other religions are not as good.
But if we understand the basis of this mind-set, it will be easy for me to think that other Religions are also great and Godly and righteousness isn't a prerogative of my religion alone. I can look at people of other religions and feel an empathy instead of a separation from them.
Can this be spread to reduce the present hatred all-around.
PS: Hi I am back after two months. Thanks for visiting this site.

Posted by Girish Bhatnagar at Wednesday, July 27, 2005