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Good and Evil

“There is no good and evil, there is only power and those too weak to seek it.” 
― J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone

Examine history and we will be amazed by enormity of the evil that man has inflicted upon his fellow creatures mostly in the name of gods and creeds.  A lot of good people perished being labelled as heretics and witches.  Thousands of innocent people have died and continue to do so to please the gods of fanatics and radicals.

The Pope has apologised for his Church's inhuman attitude towards homosexuals.  Pope John Paul II had made quite a number of apologies.  Most religions will have infinite sins to atone for if they are willing to undertake an honest introspection.

And yet religion is about goodness, compassion, and what not?  That's what we have been told at least.

The plain truth is that religion, like most other man-made institutions, is about power. If you have power, what you do is right and good!  Rather, it's not about good and evil; it's about who wants to be the boss.


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Comments

  1. Durga Prasad DashJune 29, 2016 at 8:08 AM

    Yes. Manay religious organisations are becoming power centric in stead of propagating human values.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Pranju chakrapaniJune 29, 2016 at 8:23 AM

    This reminds me of Grand Inquisitor in Brother Karamazov who reprimands even Jesus of depriving church of its full power.But that's just fiction and the truth is much more harsh, I guess

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Tomichan MatheikalJune 29, 2016 at 9:05 AM

      Dostoyevsky was a genuinely spiritual person who was tormented by the problem of evil. Ivan Karamazov's quest is spiritual though he is an atheist. Real spiritual seekers are tormented souls who will not run after power. Yes, truth is much more harsh...

      Delete
  3. Anupam PatraJune 29, 2016 at 11:49 AM

    The examples of the brutality you speak of are numerous. It's always good to remind ourselves of these evils. Makes us want to change things.

    Nice write up.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Tomichan MatheikalJune 29, 2016 at 12:56 PM

      The atrocities still go on. The common people are helpless, powerless.

      Delete
  4. RoysonJune 29, 2016 at 2:45 PM

    Very well said.

    Religion might have been born to unite people under the fear of god. But now it is causing division. Its time to evolve to humanity.

    ReplyDelete
  5. CYNOSUREJune 29, 2016 at 11:42 PM

    well, rightly said, religion is nothing but just a glorified and fancy name to hide the dirty game of power and politics.
    Very much like terrorism, religion also every year kills large amount of people, but no-one bothers.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Tomichan MatheikalJune 30, 2016 at 7:17 AM

      You gave it the right name: "a glorified and fancy name to hide the dirty game of power and politics."

      Delete
  6. Chaitali BhattacharjeeJune 30, 2016 at 12:08 AM

    Now this reminds me of a quote by Gibran, which I mention:
    Your daily life is your temple and your religion.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Tomichan MatheikalJune 30, 2016 at 7:18 AM

      If only the religionists understood that, Chaitali!

      Delete
  7. umashankarJune 30, 2016 at 8:51 AM

    That is the crux of the matter, my friend.

    ReplyDelete
  8. indu chhibberJune 30, 2016 at 11:43 AM

    Religion did not start as a way to grab power but it has become a short cut to it now.

    ReplyDelete
  9. UnknownJune 30, 2016 at 1:07 PM

    You have rightly threw a light Sir but question in my mind is the religion is wrong or the humans who involved in it are ?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Tomichan MatheikalJune 30, 2016 at 4:12 PM

      The problem is wit people. Give any system to them and they will pervert it.

      Delete
  10. DebopamJuly 4, 2016 at 12:09 PM

    Some people are using religion to remain in power......

    Natureram

    ReplyDelete

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