''Religions of the world have become lifeless mockeries. What the world wants is character.'' These were the fiery words of Swami Vivekananda uttered more than a century ago but whose import we feel today evermore as we witness the declining standards of religious culture throughout the world in an age of increasing materialism. This absence of character in people professing to be religious is the bane of all spiritual movements and is the principle reason why so much stress is laid on the inessential elements of religion which in turn is the cause of so much conflict the world over. Religion, today, is in many respects a nefarious influence threatening the peace and stability of the world. And religion throughout history has been the cause of much bloodshed simply because the Semitic religions such as Christianity and Islam have been exclusive and intolerant religions, narrow and provincial in their scope, and devoid of a credible, coherent and rational philosophy that can support the so-to-say revelations which form the fabric of their theologies. In an age of declining moral values these archaic articulations of faith, that have no reasonable basis to stand on save the borrowed reasoning of science and Western philosophy which though are at complete variance with these theological impositions, are resorting to bolstering their ranks with converts among the lay people of the world with bogus propaganda and inducements to follow suit. The result is the proliferation of these religions among the ignorant masses of the world who easily fall prey to crafty machinations of mercenaries masquerading as messiahs. The dilution of spirituality thereof is evident in these burgeoning faiths where increasing stress is laid on social observances instead of spiritual pursuit. As a natural corollary to such externalization of the spiritual process which is inherently an inward movement, religious dogma and doctrinaire violence is on the upswing and the global agenda of imposition of a single faith on all by jihad (holy war) seems to have assumed centre-stage to the horror of all of civilized humanity.
It is here that Vivekananda's pronouncement assumes singular significance. Philosophically bankrupt religions banking entirely on submission to imposed faith are attempting the subversion of world culture purely because they are devoid of the character and sensitivity necessary to appreciate the beauty and naturalness of diversity of culture. If these proselytizing faiths were to adhere merely to the cultivation of character through the prescribed spiritual processes mentioned in their traditions, they would have been absolved of all the sins they commit, the horrors they perpetrate in the name of the Almighty on innocent children of the same Lord. But alas! such is not to be for the sanction of violence on infidels seems to be at the very basis of these proselytizing faiths which stand neither for mother's tears nor for widow's wails but like a cruel fiat go about the business of subjugating masses of more refined men and so sending human civilization ages backward.
But their day is done and a great counter-movement is on, the scientific-rationalistic movement which soon will have put paid to the dubious designs of these diabolic dispensers of destruction. ''The world will rise, but oh! at what a cost! at what a cost! at what a cost!'' So said Swamiji with prophetic vision into the future. And in this rise Hinduism will have to play a major part. For only in the Sanatan Dharma (Hinduism) may be found that expanse of ideas, that catholicity of vision, that universality of approach, that supreme sanity which is the bedrock of all scientific pursuit, as can embrace the whole of humankind with its diverges of culture and aspirations, allowing the free development of each according to his or her own peculiar predisposition onward to the grand goal of eventual fulfilment in self-realization. And here it must be stated that only Hinduism has the concept of the Ishta or the Chosen Deity or Ideal which may be worshipped or adhered to in order to find spiritual fulfilment. Of all the religions in the world, Hinduism is, thus, the only spiritual democracy that allows each individual to be the sovereign in his journey towards godhead. There is no almighty to whom the Hindu must offer obeisance save the one which is his true Self, the Atman, and here also, what fear one when one is oneself the supreme Lord in all one's singular majesty. There is no question of shaking in fear of an omnipotent tyrant who kills at will all those who disbelieve in him, no one to hold above oneself as being holier and, so, superior. It is a process of self-discovery that is the essence of Hinduism and it suits the needs of pluralistic modern man fair enough. It has no conflict with science nor with any religion as such for it holds the rational course in high esteem, itself being supremely rational, and it adheres to its age-old dictum that truth is one although sages speak of it variously. As such, Hinduism holds every religion as a valid path for the realization of the divine but subscribes to none as being the exclusive path towards godhead.
This then is the stand of the Hindus that all men are struggling towards the same goal although their mode of such traversing differs owing to their divergent location in geographical terrain and corresponding cultural orientation. The Hindu recognizes the necessity of pluralism of both religious and secular culture and has, thus, been the most peace-loving community in the world, never going to arms to settle religious disputes or differences. Rather, the Hindu accepts all religions as true, in so far as they provide valid pathways to the divine, and no religion as absolute for, after all, religions are but the modes leading to the end of Self-realization, not the end itself. They are fraught with errors, often crude and archaic, worthy of being dispensed with in this age of scientific illumination, and they are replete with sublime teachings which may show humankind the way to a deeper fulfilment but none can claim exclusive possession of the supreme truth which is universal, impersonal and infinite, beyond the capacity of any finite religion to contain.
Hinduism is, thus, the way forward for humankind, spiritually speaking, and must give direction to the the fanatical religions of the world through its catholicity that God and Truth are not their exclusive territorial property, that it is time to shed spiritual pretensions and take to serious spirituality and that awakened humanity will no longer tolerate intolerance thrust on them. Science is on the rise and so is the human intellect which will brook no nonsense in the name of irrational religion propagating at the point of the sword or through deceitful disguise. If religion is to survive as a force for good, it will have to do so by its power to do good and this will require the cultivation of character, the fostering of spiritual virtues, ethical values and moral fibre. Only then will people in the general trust religion as of any consequence in their lives, as a positive influence in society and as a life-transforming institution which takes man to Truth and God. For such a state of affairs to be, protagonists of faiths must shed their political cloaks, renounce their expansionist attitude and build character and a vision that is, to quote Swami Vivekananda, 'as broad as the sky and as deep as the ocean'.
Will such a day dawn? The answer lies in the womb of history as yet awaiting birth. Till then let us strive to build our habits right and so straighten our character for the latter is but the sum total of mental impressions cast on our mind by past action and may be remoulded by the repetition of rectified actions forming better habits. As for the fanatical religions of the world, it is time for them to take serious stock of their situations and take effective action to modernize their ideologies. Else, extinction stares stark in their faces and they will have themselves to blame for it. Did not Sri Ramakrishna famously say," He who forbears, lives on; he who does not, perishes.'
On this note I rest my case. The rest may Providence provide in the fullness of time. Till then we are up against an army of arrogant bigots, fanatics armed in irrationality to the core, hell-bent on the ruin of the world even at the cost of self-destruction for the prize awaiting in Paradise is luscious and cannot be denied. May humanity awake to its senses! May the world be preserved! May peace prevail! May evil in the mask of virtue be detected and be done away with! May sanity safeguard human civilization through the constancy of vigil! May the higher knowledge lodged in the soul of man manifest to usher in a golden age of human civilization where divinity will be the common property of all and exclusiveness of man or God a bygone superstition never to surface again! Om! Shanti! Shanti! Shanti!
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