Religion - A Monarch

A religion is an organized collection of beliefs, cultural systems and world views that relate humanity to an order of existence. This is how Wikipedia defines religion. These beliefs involve devotional and ritual observances and often containing a moral code governing the conduct of human affairs. But now this definition has been completely revised, it says, religions are the most powerful instruments of social conditioning commonly branded with the word faith, which are very effective in turning human beings in sheep.

The preamble of the country inculcates the word ‘secular’ providing an individual the right to choose or follow any religion with one’s own will. But as soon as we follow a religion, we get a list of instructions highlighting the dos and don’ts. It is a mandatory list to be followed or a set of rules to be obeyed. For instance, avoiding certain types of food on certain days, fasting on some particular ‘auspicious’ days, attending certain masses on some allotted days and the list goes on. Disobeying these “laws” is considered as violating the auspiciousness of the religion. This turns into the systematic marketing of fear. Ultimately, we are bound to follow a religion in a fearful manner. Here arises a question, does one’s religion provide the freedom to follow his religion with his own will?

Here introduces the concept of secularism within one’s religion. Exercising one’s own will in the way one’s religion has to be followed is another aspect of secularism. Instead of making the diverse religions threatening, let’s make them secular i.e. liberating its devotees to follow the religion with their preferences. Or else, religions will turn into authoritarian hierarchies designed to dominate one’s own will. So let’s not let religion teach us to fear being an independent thinker. Leave the mythology behind and learn to think for yourself. Your intellect is a better instrument of spiritual growth than any religious teachings.