I have seen many blogs and few local news papers, getting the definitions and contextual implications of some of the vocabulary associated with religion and terrorism wrong (something, is definetly fucked up! when you talk about religion and terrorism in the same sentence). So, let's get somethings right shall we? Let us not add more fuel to the already buring pyre of Indian diversity and religious tolerence.
Encarta Dictionary defines, fundamentalism as “the belief that religious or political doctrine should be implemented literally, not interpreted or adapted.” Now the question arises, who, or what, is a fundamentalist? This often abused/overused word sounds like an insult more often than not but, how can a believer be true to his faith if he does not believe in its fundamentals? You cannot be very faithful, can you, if you believe only in supplementaries?
So, were does the slide begin? When does, following scriptures to the dot begin to border on madness? The slide begins; when one faith begins to encroach upon a separate conviction. The first symptom of such overzealous fundamentalism is aggression. When this aggression is channeled through an organized section of a community, it becomes communalism. When a state codifies such aggression through statute, or executive authority, it becomes a fundamentalist state. When a person, uses religion and appeals to the emotions of people; thereby gaining political mileage its called demagoguery.
"Thou shalt keep thy religion to thyself"! ~George Carlin
8 comments:
so very right...religion should be an individuals connect with the Higher Being. It should not dictate his relationship with society.
wow! nice vocab lesson...lol...
no seriously good write up... although i do encore the comment above mine... religion is somen personal...in fact in todays world most religions are a way of life... and it is kinda unfair to mix it with anything of personal interest save for soul enrichment.
I agree yet disagree. :) Cos u and I may know what RELIGION really means and what it should be, but there r so many ppl who use RELIGION as a weapon and create wars. Hence, the society and media blames RELIGION for the mess it creates, when its really not to be blamed. Its the individual that's at fault.
But not everyone sees it that way. When Hindu/Muslim/Buddhist 'Extremisits' cause violence in the name of God, majority of the World sees it as a RELGIOUS act.
Countries like Sri Lanka and India, know what Religion really means. But there r so many ppl in this world that dun follow a religion or are not so religious. So they r clueless when it comes to u'standing where this Violence is all coming from.
Education is imp..like this great post of ur's.
Keshi.
very pertinent post , very timely.
Blogrolling you.
It's amazing that when there are so many of us who disapprove of fundamentalism (exactly the way you describe it.)why can't we put an end to it?
'Thous shalt keep thy religion to thyself!' ~ George Carlin.
If only!
Tagged:) Look forward to reading your answers.
There's this story of a man who was having land problems because of creditors.
He was desperate and hopeless, until he heard of an ascetic on the hill who could apparently grant any wish you asked him..
So he went ahead and met the baba, who assured him he would grant any wish. The man said 'I want to be rid of my land problems'.
'Worry not, my son.' Said the baba.. ' By tomorrow, you will have gotten rid of all your land problems'.
Sure enough. Next day he lost his land. No land, no problems.
***
He got his wish to the letter. But what is right in letter may not be right in spirit. That's where fundamentalists get it so wrong.. their literal interpretations of a text leads to all the aggression in the world. :-)
Good post.
There's something for you on my blog :)
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