Religion is a specific fundamental set of beliefs and practices generally agreed upon by a number of persons or sects, e.g. Hinduism, Christianity, Islam, Judaism, Buddhism etc.
Religion is supposed to be sacred. We flock to places like temples, mosques, churches considering them to be holy. We pray to GOD who has different names in different religions. We pray for peace, we pray for the well-being of the loved ones.
However, how many of us take in to consideration the blasphemy and violence, which happens in the name of religion. The famous Bamiyan statue of Buddha in Afghanistan is history now had not the Taliban thought it to be a mismatch in their country.
The Babri masjid, in India was demolished by the Hindus who demanded, a ram (Hindu) temple be built there, as they were of the impression that years back there existed a ram temple.
There are thousands such religious places of worship worldwide which have been massacred by other religions in the name of empire.
There are instances where people have been killed in the name of blasphemy. There was news in the Dawn Apr 9, 08 (a daily in Pakistan) where a laborer was killed by his colleagues on blames of blasphemy. It was alleged that the person made some comments on Prophet Mohammad for which he was punished to death.
There are several incidents world wide happening. People are killed to death for their comments or suggestions on religion. Is this not blasphemy in the name of religion. Does any religion ask its believers to kill someone?
Millions of innocent die every year in the name of religion. There are odd new like “a girl clubbed to death as she fell in love with a man of a different religion. Is this not ignorance and blasphemy in the name of religion? Who is going to stop this? What is our religion heads doing? Why cannot they make sure that they preach humanity and love instead of hatred and violence?
Religion is something where a mass can come together. It should not have any indiscrimination in caste and creed. Terror and violence, do not figure in the monotheist world known religions like Hinduism, Islam, Christianity or Judaism. Yet repeatedly the fanatical powers of different religions embark on bloody rampages and mass killings, their rage being fired by so-called preachers of religions.
The so-called self-proclaimed jihads in this era have forgotten the actual sanctity of the word. What does jihad mean? It means strive or struggle in the way of Allah. In broader usage, it has both a violent and non-violent implication. However, most use the violent way of struggle thereby killing millions. The mass killing in the world trade center in the USA is a form of violent jihad.
The famous Osama-bin-Laden is supposed to be a brilliant man. He could have used his brilliance in the improvement of humanity.
Then the mass killing of numerous innocent lives every year in Kashmir by the terrorist is outrageous. The famous kargil war took a toll of numerous innocent kashmiris as well as hundreds of military men across both countries. Millions were spent on war, which could have been used in the improvement of the country.
Last year a sculptor Cosimo Cavallaro, had to cancel his exhibition of a model of Jesus Christ, in New York, which he made with 200lbs of chocolate. The fault of the sculpture - the figures genitalia was on display. It had to be canceled before the opening itself as hundreds of catholic league members started a campaign against it. Had it not been withdrawn it could have resulted in mass destruction. Why would an artist try to disrespect Jesus Christ?
The famous painter from India MF Hussain, faced death threats because of his paintings on some Hindu gods. Then we have the famous author Salman Rushdie facing a fatwa (a religious ruling). It has sanctioned Muslims to kill the author for blasphemy. He had to hide for 10 years for this and has round the clock protection.
Therefore, the question arises where freedom of speech, expression in this democratic world is.
Violence has been closely attached with religion since age-old days. We all know how Jesus Christ has been crucified brutally for his beliefs. The Jews preachers thought his words to be blasphemous. The famous Hindu Epic -The Mahabharata considered sacred speaks of war between the two families where many died. When India was ruled by the Mughal dynasty millions died fighting them when they first invaded India. The famous scientist and observer Galileo had to die because he spoke of science and facts, which was consider blasphemous in those days.
We need to really sit back and think what we need to do in the name of religion. Should we continue being inhuman in the name of religion or be human and do something good for the human being.
