HARMONY OF RELIGIONS ... 4
True it is that people fight in the name of religion but the religions themselves provide ideological motivations for such conflicts. Time it is to amend texts or, if not possible, to relegate malefic passages of the scriptures to the waste bin of devotional inattention.
Civilisation has progressed far enough for us not to revert to medieval monstrosities but to proceed along the lines of culture and peace founded on a modern vision of truth human and truth philosophical. Arbitrary assertions need not hold us in their hypnotic gaze anymore. What is needed is a reinterpretation of the scriptures of all religions in the modern context so that harmonious living be ensured among adherents of diverse religious traditions. Only in an atmosphere of peace and trust may civilisation flourish and, thus, it is bounden upon the leaders of the principal faiths of the world to frequently meet to find the points of convergence of these faiths and how best to address the discordant points of divergence as well.
There was a time when different countries had their own versions of scientific truth, their own systems of units and measurements and their own language of scientific expression. Over the millenia such divergences have paved the way for a common international scientific language, system of units and measurements and a universally accepted body of laws, theories and postulates, verified and verifiable, and if not so, then worthy of being rejected as well. This universality has strengthened science as it has rescued it from provincialism and so saved it from local interpretations of the universe that ran contrary to reason and relied on a curious admixture of myth and reality. Science has become truly universal and has ever since progressed with rapid strides. So must it be with religion.
The different religions of the world all agree on some basic points even as they disagree vehemently on some other basic points as well. These are not merely cultural differences but are fundamental philosophical and ideological differences as well which have caused ceaseless struggle for supremacy among them. Violence, bloodshed and wars have embittered the course of these proselytising religions and 'sent civilisations to despair', to pilfer the phrase from the literary arsenal of Vivekananda. Over a millenium of mutual struggle for supremacy has marked the passage of these Semitic religions and the bitter wars are not yet over. How can peace be if the central issues, both scriptural and political, be not addressed? Mere wishful thinking and puerile placating of each other by adversaries in the form of making mutual token concessions will not go far enough to ensure harmony and peace.
Thus, dialogue there must be among the diverse religions of the world so that synthesis may be arrived at through mutual adjustments, concessions yielded in real and not merely in a token form to dupe and delude each other, and a broader understanding achieved that will ensure cooperative and coordinated mutual coexistence in an atmosphere free of enmity and perceived or real threat. Conversation among co-pilgrims moving towards the same ocean of God, albeit through diverse channels, will help reduce cross-cultural tensions and assist adversaries in faith to arrive at an alternative understanding of the core principles of their respective faiths which will facilitate mutual acceptance despite the strictures imposed by the codified conflicting scriptures.
Interaction with men of different faiths leads to diffusion of spirits that dilutes differences and fosters unity and integration among erstwhile warring adversaries. Thus was the inter-faith movement begun and thus has it gained increasing prominence in recent times as civilised men across the globe battle with the forces of the dark coming in the shape of fanatical religious terrorism that threatens to take life apart.
Written by Sugata Bose
True it is that people fight in the name of religion but the religions themselves provide ideological motivations for such conflicts. Time it is to amend texts or, if not possible, to relegate malefic passages of the scriptures to the waste bin of devotional inattention.
Civilisation has progressed far enough for us not to revert to medieval monstrosities but to proceed along the lines of culture and peace founded on a modern vision of truth human and truth philosophical. Arbitrary assertions need not hold us in their hypnotic gaze anymore. What is needed is a reinterpretation of the scriptures of all religions in the modern context so that harmonious living be ensured among adherents of diverse religious traditions. Only in an atmosphere of peace and trust may civilisation flourish and, thus, it is bounden upon the leaders of the principal faiths of the world to frequently meet to find the points of convergence of these faiths and how best to address the discordant points of divergence as well.
There was a time when different countries had their own versions of scientific truth, their own systems of units and measurements and their own language of scientific expression. Over the millenia such divergences have paved the way for a common international scientific language, system of units and measurements and a universally accepted body of laws, theories and postulates, verified and verifiable, and if not so, then worthy of being rejected as well. This universality has strengthened science as it has rescued it from provincialism and so saved it from local interpretations of the universe that ran contrary to reason and relied on a curious admixture of myth and reality. Science has become truly universal and has ever since progressed with rapid strides. So must it be with religion.
The different religions of the world all agree on some basic points even as they disagree vehemently on some other basic points as well. These are not merely cultural differences but are fundamental philosophical and ideological differences as well which have caused ceaseless struggle for supremacy among them. Violence, bloodshed and wars have embittered the course of these proselytising religions and 'sent civilisations to despair', to pilfer the phrase from the literary arsenal of Vivekananda. Over a millenium of mutual struggle for supremacy has marked the passage of these Semitic religions and the bitter wars are not yet over. How can peace be if the central issues, both scriptural and political, be not addressed? Mere wishful thinking and puerile placating of each other by adversaries in the form of making mutual token concessions will not go far enough to ensure harmony and peace.
Thus, dialogue there must be among the diverse religions of the world so that synthesis may be arrived at through mutual adjustments, concessions yielded in real and not merely in a token form to dupe and delude each other, and a broader understanding achieved that will ensure cooperative and coordinated mutual coexistence in an atmosphere free of enmity and perceived or real threat. Conversation among co-pilgrims moving towards the same ocean of God, albeit through diverse channels, will help reduce cross-cultural tensions and assist adversaries in faith to arrive at an alternative understanding of the core principles of their respective faiths which will facilitate mutual acceptance despite the strictures imposed by the codified conflicting scriptures.
Interaction with men of different faiths leads to diffusion of spirits that dilutes differences and fosters unity and integration among erstwhile warring adversaries. Thus was the inter-faith movement begun and thus has it gained increasing prominence in recent times as civilised men across the globe battle with the forces of the dark coming in the shape of fanatical religious terrorism that threatens to take life apart.
Written by Sugata Bose
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