Excessive Religious Sentiments Leads But To Severe Mind Block

Major Mathew Oommen(Retd)

In their enthusiasm to defend their faith against the onslaught of ‘fanatic Hindus’ as well as common people wanting to propagate the well meaning Indian philosophies like ‘Gita’ , certain groups, who have excessive enthusiasm for an extreme religious cause, have taken umbrage to a recent decision to introduce teachings of Gita in schools. This incident only prompted me to express my feelings through this article. While propagating religious faiths with a view to convert ‘the poor and illiterate’ to another faith is reprehensible, the idea of teaching the ancient wisdom of this land cannot be held to be done with a motive of converting school children to a different faith. What is learnt through these age old literature or those noble verses cannot be held to be the exclusive philosophy of Hindus alone. As a matter of fact, Hindus do not have any religious scriptures, like it is understood in the case of Bible or Quran. Therefore there is no basis for taking offence or become annoyed by Christians or Muslims in the introduction of Indian values at school levels. . It is high time that minority religious people claimed these texts as much as theirs as of Hindus. The Vedas propagate universal principles like “loka samasta sukhine bhavandu”, “sarva sandhu niramaya” and advocated flow of knowledge from all sources, transcending geographical boundaries and cutting across other religious faiths and believes. There are no infidels or unbelievers from the Indian point of view. All those who believes or even atheists are not excluded from our society. Nor the seers of the olden days propagated those knowledge with a view to convert tribal flocks , backward communities and the so called untouchables to Hindu faith; for that matter, there is no Hindu faith as such , like it is understood in other religions. It needs to be understood and taken only as a way of life. The minority religious communities must realize that they are defending their faith by blocking lateral induction of knowledge and the very reasoning. The callous actions of certain fanatics, like cutting off hands or killing of ‘infidels’ for making a departure from a particular faith are most reprehensible. Knowledge and faith must compliment each other. Knowledge can never be against faith. Faith cannot thrive or be protected by ignorance or by blocking of knowledge flow – particularly of the life style, culture and method of worship of our fellow beings. Most faiths are based on human knowledge and moral teachings. In accordance with my own belief, the revelation of my God is given in the Holy Scriptures of the Old Testament and the New Testament; I believe in one God, eternal and Almighty: in Jesus Christ the only begotten Son of God: and in the Holy Spirit , the Lord and the Giver of life. I believe that salvation is received through faith in Jesus Christ and that whosoever trusts in him receives forgiveness and will share eternal life with Him. In addition I also understand that I have to make my aim to live in love and peace in my society. While doing so, I have to avoid unkind criticism of others’ faults and in all humility shall be ready to acknowledge my own mistakes. While I endeavor to live in peace with every one else in my society, I should seek every opportunity to witness Jesus by my deeds and words. Then help others to find the salvation which Christ has offered me - so to share in making God’s love for all people irrespective of caste, creed, faith and belief. Then I should not have a mind block against any other fellow members around me or to their way of worship and even towards their scriptures. All scriptures have catered for human aspirations and spiritual life in some way or other depending on the era or communities they were meant for. Therefore there is no comparing of these text containing human wisdom and thoughts. For example, ‘Psalms’ of the Old Testament, have an important place in both Jewish and Christian worship, although each Pslam must have been first uttered by one particular individual at a particular situation. However, they have acquired universal character as a result of being used by various people over a period of time. As per idol worship, it may be remembered that such practices are meant for less enlightened general public, who cannot comprehend the idea of ‘oneness of God’ Peoples mind working is not always on a single track and let them discover, practice or believe in what is dear to them or to their thoughts and imagination. Let those Hindus also shape and vent to their imaginations. So let a tribal or even the Jarwa, the adivasi indigenous peoples of the Andaman Islands, may preserve their heritage! “Advaita” philosophy, the interpretation is still going on, the concept that has to be honored and dealt up on for the good of social and individual development. Therefore while seeking salvation, through my only and single way, let me also explore the realm of knowledge with out opting for stagnation. I strongly believe that there is certain amount of attitudinal deficit in such stone walling of thought process. If a Hindu erudite had such an attitude, he would not have gone beyond Gita or his vedas. He took to learning of Bible along with other scriptures and even termed as his fifth Veda. The knowledgeable and flexible minds of the rulers in Kerala even patronized such opening up of mind and gave royal patronage to various scholars of different religions. As a Christian, I fully consider that Bible is God breathed – but denying improvements, corrections, interpretations or amendments in my life and thinking is nothing but rigidity and denial of reasoning. Every person taking to lateral knowledge, irrespective of own faith, is not a weak minded individual, who can be lured away easily from his Faith. It is his quest of knowledge that is leading him to neighboring grounds, which is quite natural. Let us not kill that instinct by scaring. Let us thrive on reasoning, investigation or discovery. Fortunately, I (as a Christian) have discovered what is the absolute truth and hence eternal would be my goal and indeed need to be cherished with my fellow members. Therefore , I cannot be over sensitive or ‘touch me not’. Let me be always moderate even while criticizing, analyzing or in my reasoning, about other members of my society. However, I cannot adopt a mid way path in my Christian life - which will not open avenues for me for progress in my spiritual life, but only for material gains. Let me recall as some one said, “Don’t try to be different, but just be good! Because just being ‘good’ is different enough”