P. A. Chacko S. J.
World Religion Day is celebrated on the third Sunday in January every year. This year on 19 January.
The world stands in need of harmony and fellowship more than ever. It is estimated that there are 42,000 religions or religious factions in the world. A cacophonic conglomeration?
Religions are supposed to worship a Supreme Being who conducts human affairs. But the key to the control of human affairs is in the hands of human beings.
When one religion claims superiority over the rest, contestations, enmities and even open street fights result. All in the name of their preferred deity.That is when such people forget their genuine God and worship a ‘gold calf’ for immediate benefit.
History is replete with religious wars. For dominance, for territorial expansion, for arrogance, for political agenda, and the like.
There are some who make religious propaganda a business practice like street wending. For them it is a money-making affair. Others make it a political tool to control and confound the lives of the members of other religions.
Let the walls of religions crumble; let religions dissolve into a smooth flowing river of peace, harmony and fellowship!
Let no one dare to hold the religious Holy Book in one hand and wield the dagger of visceral violence and hatred in the other hand.
Let no one make religion a political tool to pulverise those of different faiths.
Let no power on earth weaponise religion or religious verses.
A religion which preaches and practices genuine fellowship among all human beings is the true religion.
What happens if all religions dissolve into a single path where all human beings shall sit around the table of fellowship?
Let that day dawn, oh Supreme Being!