Democracy
as a form of government was invented by the Greeks about two thousand five
hundred years ago. The democracy they formulated was very restricted in its
meaning and operation. It was a government of the people confined to the city
state like Athens, having a population of about ten thousand people. This was a
form of direct democracy. It was a significant departure from all other forms
of governance known to mankind those days and even up to today. Therefore, some
one had aptly said -- "democracy may be the worst form of government but
there is no better substitute to it". It's true-- at least democracy
recognizes individual. The tyranny of the state can be effectively controlled
only if the sovereignty lies with the people and the rulers rule till they hold
the mandate of the people. This was no doubt a great improvisation upon all
other forms of government-- monarchy, aristocracy, plutocracy, dictatorship,
and the rule by the priestly class etc.
Logically, a good democratic system has little space for religion in the governance. Segregation of religion from governance will ensure the accompanying virtues of democracy-- equality, freedom (of thought expression and belief), right against exploitation etc. So, in my opinion despite whatever merits Shariya or Islamic personal laws, as claimed by many proponents of Shariya, might possess they cannot co-exist with democracy, for that purpose also should not coexist with any form of government. In a broader sense no religious laws or doctrine should form a part of governance. Laws should necessarily be humanitarian and secular free from all kinds of bias and doctrines. Adoption of religious laws and doctrines in governance only promotes fanaticism and intolerance.
Democracy is practiced in different forms in different countries, and no more they are like the direct democracy of the Greek city states, they have become indirect and representative in character. But whatever may be the form and character, democracy still values the dignity, equality and freedom of the citizens as the core virtues. Implementation of religious laws for governance of the citizens will utterly conflict with democratic principles. Therefore, the countries following Shariya as the governing law cannot ensure liberal governance and democratic rights to their citizens.
Since we have not invented any better form of government, democracy looks the last word in the present context for proactive relationship between the ruler and the ruled. It has to be absolutely free from religious doctrines and commandments- are that Islam, Christianity, Hinduism, Buddhism or whatever form of religion.
Logically, a good democratic system has little space for religion in the governance. Segregation of religion from governance will ensure the accompanying virtues of democracy-- equality, freedom (of thought expression and belief), right against exploitation etc. So, in my opinion despite whatever merits Shariya or Islamic personal laws, as claimed by many proponents of Shariya, might possess they cannot co-exist with democracy, for that purpose also should not coexist with any form of government. In a broader sense no religious laws or doctrine should form a part of governance. Laws should necessarily be humanitarian and secular free from all kinds of bias and doctrines. Adoption of religious laws and doctrines in governance only promotes fanaticism and intolerance.
Democracy is practiced in different forms in different countries, and no more they are like the direct democracy of the Greek city states, they have become indirect and representative in character. But whatever may be the form and character, democracy still values the dignity, equality and freedom of the citizens as the core virtues. Implementation of religious laws for governance of the citizens will utterly conflict with democratic principles. Therefore, the countries following Shariya as the governing law cannot ensure liberal governance and democratic rights to their citizens.
Since we have not invented any better form of government, democracy looks the last word in the present context for proactive relationship between the ruler and the ruled. It has to be absolutely free from religious doctrines and commandments- are that Islam, Christianity, Hinduism, Buddhism or whatever form of religion.
The world first saw the advent of Christianity as a structured religion and then almost after six centuries Islam was born. In those primitive days religion had very powerful hold over societies, and as such the propagation of religion was followed with blind frenzy by the religious leaders as well as the warriors inspired by the divine doctrines of their new faiths. Islam is still perpetuating that trend maybe because it is the most recent of the major religions of the world. If we look at history, with same traits of violence, force and exploitation, Christianity was propagated in the world by its ardent Crusaders. The Protestant movement was no better. Therefore, religion has never been a democratic option for the people; it has always been an imposition-- either by virtue of one's birth or by application of force in many forms. In the present day religious conversions allurement has become an effective instrument.
Let me cite the example of Hinduism. By virtue of my birth, I am a high caste Hindu; though I a strong believer in "Secular Humanism". Hinduism is a very old religion and its practices include a whole range of beliefs different from one another-- from monotheism to polytheistic worship. In some variation Hinduism is also atheism as it does not believe in any form of the Creator. If we look at the history of development of this religion; Hinduism was preceded by “Sanatan Dharm”, the religious practice of the ancient most people in Indian subcontinent later known as Hindus. Under “Sanatan Dharm” the believers were worshipers of "Shiva Shakti" cult-- one can say the cult of fertility-- Shakti representing the feminine and Shiva, the masculine. Surprisingly, despite geographical isolation, almost all known ancient civilizations of the world were believers of “fertility cult”—every ancient civilization had elaborate rituals for celebration of “fertility cult”. With incursion of the Aryan tribes the face of Hinduism changed by forcible inclusion of many Aryan gods and goddesses into the pantheon of Hindu deities, further, to cope with the powerful sway of Buddhism Hinduism adopted Lord Buddha as the ninth Incarnation of God (Vishnu).
Similarly,
the powerful wave of Christianity demolished all ancient Gods and Goddess of
Romans, Greeks and Egyptians; the vanquished civilizations invariably adopted
the new faith by coercion. The Spanish invasion had its telling impact on the
faith of many countries of South American Continent.Thus, in the history of
mankind the faiths of the people have undergone changes by the might of the
sword; the world has always succumbed to the religion of the strong and the
powerful. Before the advent of Christianity or Islam the whole world was
practicing almost the same religion with striking similarities, subsequently
debunked as paganism. Hinduism is the last vestige of the old world religion.
In the light of the above, perhaps Islam being the recent most structured religion of the world, the juggernaut of Islam is still rolling powerfully with the same fervor and zeal for the expansion of the doctrines of Islam. It is not very surprising. Even Christianity and Hinduism still have secret ambitions and missions to spread their doctrines, though their operative methods are conspicuously different from Islamic Jihad. Because of the medieval type of religious expansion modus operandi, Islam is looked with suspicion in the Western World based on current unfolding of events in the world, mostly owing to the names of the Muslims associated with terrorism and fanaticism.
In the light of the above, perhaps Islam being the recent most structured religion of the world, the juggernaut of Islam is still rolling powerfully with the same fervor and zeal for the expansion of the doctrines of Islam. It is not very surprising. Even Christianity and Hinduism still have secret ambitions and missions to spread their doctrines, though their operative methods are conspicuously different from Islamic Jihad. Because of the medieval type of religious expansion modus operandi, Islam is looked with suspicion in the Western World based on current unfolding of events in the world, mostly owing to the names of the Muslims associated with terrorism and fanaticism.
However, I am certainly not inclined to believe that
Islam can be equated with anti-democracy, anti-human right, anti-freedom; or
can be equated with terrorism, though many Islamic terrorist outfits are
dastardly threats to the peace of the world. As such the tenets of Islam are
not different from other religions in its humanitarian outlook and values, but
the Islamic fundamentalists, who in my view unrepresentative of Islam are
determined to Islamize the whole world or to exterminate the people of other faiths
and religions from the face of the earth. This is absolute sinister design.
People should refrain from religious fanaticism for the greater good of the
humanity. The religions were formulated for social control at various epochs of
human history and no religion worth its salt can profess anti-humanitarian
doctrines. At the core, all religions are same and they aspire for grater good
of mankind at large. The Islamic terror outfits and the nations promoting
religions with the stamp of the sovereign are potentially ominous to the world
peace and sustainability.
The fanatics in all religions have their own
agendas; and it would be preposterous to put all the believers of a faith in the
same bracket owing to the act of some fanatics. Therefore, I would like to clarify
here that all religious groups at some point in time have aggressively tried to
propagate their religion. The Christian Missions in underdeveloped countries,
Jihadis of Islam or the "Vishwa Hindu Parishad" of Hindus, cherishes
the same fundamental objective to indoctrinate people in their respective
religious philosophy. But Islamic Jihadis adopt violent strategies in the name
of Islam with least regards for life, property and culture of innocent people;
unambiguously, I denounce their machination against humanity at large. It is
unfortunate but true.
In many countries of the world that have not
declared any state religion, people of different faiths live together without
any distinction or discrimination. It will not be an exaggeration to say that
the countries professing state religions are modern world’s “Racists”. They
have the destruct potentials for regression of the humanity. For building a
world of peace and amity the conscious and progressive world citizens must
embrace "Secular Humanism" as the new religion and God in this
context is to be redefined in reference to our scientific theory of the origin
of the universe and He has to preside at a level where science fumbles for an
answer. It is high time that the religious Creationist theories need to be discarded
as obscurantic superstitions in the light of the scientific knowledge acquired
by mankind.
If
we reflect for a while objectively taking the scientific discoveries about the
origin of the universe into consideration, any receptive mind will understand
the frivolity of the religions and the lunacy behind all discords, strife, war,
violence etc. in the name of the religion. Why cannot we say we are human
beings-- tourists on this planet for a short while, and we can live like one
family in perfect harmony and love; and we will, as conscious citizens of the
world, discourage the politics of hatred as our avowed purpose.
Coming back to the reference to the creation of the universe, and the place of God in “Secular Humanism”-- going by the scientific discoveries if the universe started with the Big Bang some 13.7 billion years ago, then the energy that exploded practically from a non dimensional point is the all permeating energy-- the Creator. He is the intelligence of the universe, the mind of the universe and is present everywhere with all of us. This sublime energy is connecting all of us together; then how can we be different from one another? How can we say that such and such religion is good or bad- as we all are the creations of that colorless, odorless, formless energy manifested in many forms-- one becoming many.
For me the religion based on scientific theory of creation which has the potential to unite all of us, the children of the Mother Earth, by the same thread is "Secular Humanism". And the time has come for this religion to sustain mankind on this planet. Otherwise we cannot avert our self destruction owing to immense fragmentation we have made among ourselves. More and more people need to be conscious about it and propagate it with love and scientific temperament.
The best religion for mankind in the present day context is "Secular Humanism". Let us start the propagation of this new religion by professing "we are humans and have live like humans". Yes, the world is greatly fragmented over isms and religions. To my greatest surprise, even highly educated people are unable to come out of their bias and prejudices.
“Secular Humanism” could look like rhetoric or impractical idealism. Social psychologists believe that people feel mere empowered and better identified in smaller groups; ‘Secular Humanism” will fail to ensure such identification and empowerment. Further, any group, or for that purpose any religion to bind its members together must have a commonality of goal or cause in the absence of which the group is likely to disintegrate. But the biggest commonality of purpose in the current scenario of the mankind is to uproot terrorism from its root, to ensure peaceful coexistence, to discard the religious dogmas, to relinquish the idea of God already being rendered untenable in the light of scientific discoveries.
The conscious world citizens should try to invent more and more commonalities among the people of different nationality, culture, ethnic groups and religion to bind them together in uniform purpose and goal. The greatest commonality of purpose in the present context could be eradication of violence and hatred that pose grave danger to the survival of life on this planet.
Coming back to the reference to the creation of the universe, and the place of God in “Secular Humanism”-- going by the scientific discoveries if the universe started with the Big Bang some 13.7 billion years ago, then the energy that exploded practically from a non dimensional point is the all permeating energy-- the Creator. He is the intelligence of the universe, the mind of the universe and is present everywhere with all of us. This sublime energy is connecting all of us together; then how can we be different from one another? How can we say that such and such religion is good or bad- as we all are the creations of that colorless, odorless, formless energy manifested in many forms-- one becoming many.
For me the religion based on scientific theory of creation which has the potential to unite all of us, the children of the Mother Earth, by the same thread is "Secular Humanism". And the time has come for this religion to sustain mankind on this planet. Otherwise we cannot avert our self destruction owing to immense fragmentation we have made among ourselves. More and more people need to be conscious about it and propagate it with love and scientific temperament.
The best religion for mankind in the present day context is "Secular Humanism". Let us start the propagation of this new religion by professing "we are humans and have live like humans". Yes, the world is greatly fragmented over isms and religions. To my greatest surprise, even highly educated people are unable to come out of their bias and prejudices.
“Secular Humanism” could look like rhetoric or impractical idealism. Social psychologists believe that people feel mere empowered and better identified in smaller groups; ‘Secular Humanism” will fail to ensure such identification and empowerment. Further, any group, or for that purpose any religion to bind its members together must have a commonality of goal or cause in the absence of which the group is likely to disintegrate. But the biggest commonality of purpose in the current scenario of the mankind is to uproot terrorism from its root, to ensure peaceful coexistence, to discard the religious dogmas, to relinquish the idea of God already being rendered untenable in the light of scientific discoveries.
The conscious world citizens should try to invent more and more commonalities among the people of different nationality, culture, ethnic groups and religion to bind them together in uniform purpose and goal. The greatest commonality of purpose in the present context could be eradication of violence and hatred that pose grave danger to the survival of life on this planet.
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