ROOT REFORM NECESSARY IN DOGMATIC RELGIONS AND NOT PRETENTIOUS INTER-FAITH MEETS TO ACHIEVE REAL COMMUNAL HARMONY AND NOT A MAKE-BELIEVE ONE

ROOT REFORM NECESSARY IN DOGMATIC RELGIONS AND NOT PRETENTIOUS INTER-FAITH MEETS TO ACHIEVE REAL COMMUNAL HARMONY AND NOT A MAKE-BELIEVE ONE

Sentimentalising realities to obscure the true facts of life is unhistorical. This, however, is the approach to reaching communal harmony which is, thus, never reached, for the central doctrinaire issues of dogmatic religions are never vigorously countered and overcome in essence. This is an insincere approach, the method of the coward, the opportunistic and the shallow-minded.

Fanciful ideas entertained do not change harsh realities but robust resistance does so. Intellectuals who fear reprisals as consequence for fundamental work done in the plane of scriptural principles that can really root out roguish fundamentalism for good, must not venture into offering unsound advice as to what the nation ought or ought not to do by way of fostering communal harmony, for their views are likely to be biased, frivolous and weak that can serve no purpose in the said regard. Thus, professors may preach in university campuses and academic meets tall principles of harmonic community-living but unless they muster the courage to attack aggressively archaic absolutist scriptural principles which split communities apart on the basis of belief, their works of wisdom will be valueless in achieving their aspired end. Hence, intellectual frivolity of the academic elite and muddled sentimentality of the masses, neither of these will bring communal peace. Unless some valorous souls from within the concerned community take earnestly to changing course for the same by either reinterpreting scripture and modernising it for harmonic living -- if that is possible in the light of the fact that explicit instructions are given to the contrary in the scriptural verses -- or neglecting wholesale the practical use of such principles as divide the polity, the situation as of now will not improve and simmering intolerance will occasionally seek expression in violent activity that can hardly be deemed harmonic. It may take time and effort, may lead to violent backlash, but it will have to be done sooner than later for the achievement of lasting communal peace on the secure foundation of real and not imagined humanity.

A final word and it is this that pretentious inter-faith meets, where the core intolerant issues are left out of the discussion and only benign verses are highlighted to mischievously and untruthfully show how all religions preach the same peace and universal brotherhood and goodwill, will be counter-productive in this mission of fostering communal harmony. Smiles and greetings exchanged under the spotlight over, roguish intolerance will raise its ugly head again to tell the truth about these fanatical cults, facts that had been carefully for the while brushed under the carpet to suit the requirements of pretentious peace conferences. Hence, sincerity is the key to addressing these problems and it can only come from within the community proper. May God bless all such sincere souls and empower them to make the necessary adjustments to their creed which is beyond the power of unprincipled intellectuals !

Written by Sugata Bose