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What makes religions meaningful?

Illustration by Copilot Designer


Personally, I’m not much concerned about whether the gods are real simply because, for me, they aren’t. I can accept the mysterious nature of the cosmos, the realms that science hasn’t fathomed yet and may never, and the awe that some of it inspires in a lot of people including me. But I won’t ever find myself imagining a god that looks like a man or woman, as is the case with most of our divine entities. What will a god do with a gender, in the first place? Forget the cumbersome physical masses of their bodies which will have to obey Newton’s laws of motion in the ethereal spaces.

That is why I was amused when Facebook decided to enlighten me with a booklet titled Is the Bible True? You can download it free of charge from the site Life, Hope & Truth. It being a Sunday when life is a lot relaxed for me, I decided to explore the material which Facebook seemed to thrust into the core of my being after censoring two of my recent posts for “going against community standards.”

I have no issues with the arguments and documents provided in the booklet which try to prove the existence of Jesus and the authenticity of the Bible as a sacred book by providing certain historical evidence. For example, it quotes eminent personalities of the first century CE, such as Publius Cornelius Tacitus and Flavius Josephs both of whom have mentioned Jesus who claimed to be the Christ or was projected as such by later followers. I particularly enjoyed reading the chapter on the Dead Sea Scrolls.

My problem is not with evidence, historical or scientific, when it comes to religions. My problem is the impact religions make on the world. Does the religion make the world a better place? If it does, I can go with it. It doesn’t matter whether the foundations of some of the dogmas and credos are myth. After all, we all need some myths, don’t we?

I stand with Joseph Campbell when it comes to myths. Myths are essential, Campbell said. They help us make sense of life, navigate challenges, and connect to deeper truths. He argued that myths provide a framework for understanding the human experience, offer guidance on how to live meaningfully and harmoniously within oneself, society, and the universe.

I will defend with all my might any religion that performs those tasks: help its followers/believers/worshippers to make sense of life, navigate challenges, and connect to deeper truths.

What do we see instead? Strife, wars, terrorism. On a more tolerable scale are the hate speeches, blatant hypocrisy, and plain exploitation of the ignorant and the innocent.

At any time, if you come across a religious believer who claims that his religion is the only true religion, or makes any similar claims (ancient history, etc), and also considers all others as inferior or untrue or whatever, be sure that the person hasn’t understood even the elementary meaning of religion.

What use is a religion if it doesn’t teach one to be compassionate, at the very least? Just imagine a religion which claims to be the eternal law, Sanatan Dharma, and then goes on to kill fellow human beings in order to protect cows which are then left to die on the streets? I’m just taking a very common example from my own country. There are countless such examples from all over the world, which prompt me to keep a safe distance from religions.

I judge religion by what they do to make the world a better place. Not by their historical antiquity or scientific evidence or whatever.

 

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Comments

  1. DawnanddewDecember 9, 2024 at 11:47 AM

    Well expressed, sir! Religion according to me is a culture of a people to relate with this world and life in a meaningful way with due respect for all peoples and their cultures. It should have reason behind its activities to lead a healthy life both physically and mentally. It should essentially be educative rather than being a coercion. It should essentially lead people to live a spiritually disciplined life, not a life buried in hypocrisy and blind superstitions. I agree with the non human aspect of God. It is only nature's law that is supreme and divine.

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    Replies
    1. Tomichan MatheikalDecember 9, 2024 at 2:18 PM

      In reality, religions are doing the opposite of all that they should be doing.

      Delete
    2. DawnanddewDecember 9, 2024 at 8:08 PM

      Yes. It is because several religions started the practice of conversion through persuasion or coercion through violence.

      Delete
    3. Tomichan MatheikalDecember 9, 2024 at 8:12 PM

      Religious conversion is a complex topic. Apart from violence, a lot of other factors come into play. I can show you thousands of people in our country alone who gave up their original religion willingly for getting basic human dignity.

      Delete
    4. DawnanddewDecember 14, 2024 at 1:22 PM

      Basic human dignity - I very much go for this. My perception of religion is only bent towards it. According to me, religion is for those people who cannot educate themselves. That's where I stop. We do need religion or name it with any ism. We need some system for the traffic to be in order. The traffic rules are not applicable for people with common sense.

      Delete
  2. sathishDecember 29, 2024 at 3:32 PM

    Agreed with you Sir... "What use is a religion if it doesn’t teach one to be compassionate"
    My belief is, sir, Religion is not an organization that control it is actually the people and the dogmas for the well being. The problem come when we forget that and make it as an Institution or as an organization!!!

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