Religion. One word that can divide people, friends, countries, and also unite them. What exactly is it?? For some, it is a way of life, for others, it is just a matter of belief in God, and something to blindly follow. Not many people actually bother to seek deeper into the things they believe, to understand the logic of why they believe it.
For any true believer in God, all religions are essentially the same. All preach good deeds, are anti violent, and earnest faith in a Higher Power. Why then, are so many religions formed, so many wars fought, so many lives lost? If people truly believe, then why do such terrible deeds in the name of God?
Religion, in the hands of some people, can also be a dangerous tool. It can be used to turn normal, peace loving people and friends, into instant enemies, for no good reason whatsoever. For instance, the British used it for their own ends to divide what had been a united, strong India, into two segmented nations, who have never been able to bury the hatchet, reach out, and actually shake hands. The Crusades were fought in the name of religion, Iraq is in complete disarray, Israel and Palestine, two neighbours, who should actually be the closest of friends, are fighting a terrible war, all because of communal differences, caused by a few dangerous people.
What is sad to note that, it is the common, innocent, peace loving people who are used as tools by a few, powerful, fanatics, in order to create discord, for their own ends. The common people of India and Pakistan probably bear no real ill will towards each other, but a few bigots create circumstances such that the countries are always in a state of animosity. The same goes with Israel and Palestine. Some religions, in particular, are portrayed as violent, and extreme, where, in reality, they are peaceful people, who just want to lead their lives. If they fight, it is to defend their own honour and lives.
When you actually look at life as a whole, which religion we follow or believe in (if we do) does not matter. It does not matter what name we give God, but if we actually behave as He (apparently) expects us to.
I wait for the day, when, two people of different religions can just sit down, over a cup of coffee, and discuss religion rationally, calmly, and actually be able to disagree. Then, laugh about it, because, in the end, we're all humans, and no religion, or any power can change that.
For any true believer in God, all religions are essentially the same. All preach good deeds, are anti violent, and earnest faith in a Higher Power. Why then, are so many religions formed, so many wars fought, so many lives lost? If people truly believe, then why do such terrible deeds in the name of God?
Religion, in the hands of some people, can also be a dangerous tool. It can be used to turn normal, peace loving people and friends, into instant enemies, for no good reason whatsoever. For instance, the British used it for their own ends to divide what had been a united, strong India, into two segmented nations, who have never been able to bury the hatchet, reach out, and actually shake hands. The Crusades were fought in the name of religion, Iraq is in complete disarray, Israel and Palestine, two neighbours, who should actually be the closest of friends, are fighting a terrible war, all because of communal differences, caused by a few dangerous people.
What is sad to note that, it is the common, innocent, peace loving people who are used as tools by a few, powerful, fanatics, in order to create discord, for their own ends. The common people of India and Pakistan probably bear no real ill will towards each other, but a few bigots create circumstances such that the countries are always in a state of animosity. The same goes with Israel and Palestine. Some religions, in particular, are portrayed as violent, and extreme, where, in reality, they are peaceful people, who just want to lead their lives. If they fight, it is to defend their own honour and lives.
When you actually look at life as a whole, which religion we follow or believe in (if we do) does not matter. It does not matter what name we give God, but if we actually behave as He (apparently) expects us to.
I wait for the day, when, two people of different religions can just sit down, over a cup of coffee, and discuss religion rationally, calmly, and actually be able to disagree. Then, laugh about it, because, in the end, we're all humans, and no religion, or any power can change that.
