I am a Hindu by religion. But, is that what I really require to tell others ? What I actually require is my Name, the identity by which I am known as an Individual. If belonging to a particular Religion is enough than why Sub-divisions ? Why is an Individual divided into sub-castes in the same Religion ?
For those folks who don't know Egalitarianism, it is 'a political doctrine that holds that all people should be treated as equals from birth.'
What is Religion ? If you look through Wikipedia, a Religion is a set of beliefs and practices. It is the "hallmark of patriarchal religious thought".
Alternatively, it also quotes the lines by Lindbeck, who says, it is "a kind of cultural and/or linguistic framework or medium that shapes the entirety of life and thought… it is similar to an idiom that makes possible the description of realities, the formulation of beliefs, and the experiencing of inner attitudes, feelings, and sentiments.”
I too believe that we are stuck amidst 'Faith' and 'Belief system'. Religion is more of having faith in one set of customs being made by some mystic experiences with some shared conviction or said by some leader (or Holy Spirit, precisely) in a particular community.
But an Individual is always the one who has right to judge what or who he wants to be. If this was not the case, then we Hindus, as our culture suggests a dress code- Dhoti-Kurta for Men and Saari for Women, should not have looked forward to accept the Western Culture and imitate their Dressing. We humans do things according to our preferences, convenience, choices etc etc. .
And then find definitions and explanation that fits their approach the best.
Recently, I came to know, that the Christians during the Easter period go for a fasting, which means they won't have any non-veg during that time. But I don't think its actually genuinely right to kill the animals to satiate our hunger. So, how can it be counted as fasting ?
And I dont raise this point only to one particular Religion or Community, but every Human who loves to eat animals. If its a vegetable that we eat, we do not kill the source that produces it ( though we do kill them for other purposes). Even if we eat Egg, we don't kill the hen which may produce more Eggs. We consume milk without slaughtering the cow. But, the rate at which we consume the non-vegetarian food, within no less time we will be left with ourselves and some other non-eatable species.
It is said that, Prophet Mohammad had to escape to Mecca to save his life from the common people, as many of his preachings were not accepted by the intellectual as well as normal lot.
He had to revile his prophecy and preachings according to the followers' demand. Or, more precisely, the form that people wanted to see or accept.
This shows that, Religion was made more on Communal aspects. It is more Localised form of people with similar beliefs and practices . It sounds more like Regionalism. Now, it is more of Violence in the name of Religion. It has been seen through ages that people of one Religion is fighting with people of other Religion to force them to join their Religion. In the course of expanding their community, they don't realise that they exterminate half the crowd to oblivion.
Egalitarianism is one way to bind this world in Peace. If we give right to actions to every Individual, they may not need to be malevolent. Religion crops more of the feeling of superiority that leads human to follow condescending cordiality. Hence, the right to the Individual must be given to make their own decisions. If Religion is a more generalised concept of faith and beliefs (where there is more probability of discord between two individual's beliefs still ), then why not make it more perfect by sticking to One's own belief than a Community's belief.
The more we are singular and objective in approach, the more we can be like A Free Bird !
Though it also may have some hazardous effects. But then, every medicine has some side effects too !
Alternatively, it also quotes the lines by Lindbeck, who says, it is "a kind of cultural and/or linguistic framework or medium that shapes the entirety of life and thought… it is similar to an idiom that makes possible the description of realities, the formulation of beliefs, and the experiencing of inner attitudes, feelings, and sentiments.”
I too believe that we are stuck amidst 'Faith' and 'Belief system'. Religion is more of having faith in one set of customs being made by some mystic experiences with some shared conviction or said by some leader (or Holy Spirit, precisely) in a particular community.
But an Individual is always the one who has right to judge what or who he wants to be. If this was not the case, then we Hindus, as our culture suggests a dress code- Dhoti-Kurta for Men and Saari for Women, should not have looked forward to accept the Western Culture and imitate their Dressing. We humans do things according to our preferences, convenience, choices etc etc. .
And then find definitions and explanation that fits their approach the best.
Recently, I came to know, that the Christians during the Easter period go for a fasting, which means they won't have any non-veg during that time. But I don't think its actually genuinely right to kill the animals to satiate our hunger. So, how can it be counted as fasting ?
And I dont raise this point only to one particular Religion or Community, but every Human who loves to eat animals. If its a vegetable that we eat, we do not kill the source that produces it ( though we do kill them for other purposes). Even if we eat Egg, we don't kill the hen which may produce more Eggs. We consume milk without slaughtering the cow. But, the rate at which we consume the non-vegetarian food, within no less time we will be left with ourselves and some other non-eatable species.
It is said that, Prophet Mohammad had to escape to Mecca to save his life from the common people, as many of his preachings were not accepted by the intellectual as well as normal lot.
He had to revile his prophecy and preachings according to the followers' demand. Or, more precisely, the form that people wanted to see or accept.
This shows that, Religion was made more on Communal aspects. It is more Localised form of people with similar beliefs and practices . It sounds more like Regionalism. Now, it is more of Violence in the name of Religion. It has been seen through ages that people of one Religion is fighting with people of other Religion to force them to join their Religion. In the course of expanding their community, they don't realise that they exterminate half the crowd to oblivion.
Egalitarianism is one way to bind this world in Peace. If we give right to actions to every Individual, they may not need to be malevolent. Religion crops more of the feeling of superiority that leads human to follow condescending cordiality. Hence, the right to the Individual must be given to make their own decisions. If Religion is a more generalised concept of faith and beliefs (where there is more probability of discord between two individual's beliefs still ), then why not make it more perfect by sticking to One's own belief than a Community's belief.
The more we are singular and objective in approach, the more we can be like A Free Bird !
Though it also may have some hazardous effects. But then, every medicine has some side effects too !
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