Religion

     Sita Ram everyone. I have decided to start a blog, hoping to share my views about different situations pertaining to our lives. Being my first blog post, I chose to start on a topic that is much debated....Religion. Just as politics, religion is a highly debated topic, so much so that I’m sure over 90% of the people who choose it as a topic ends up in a much heated argument.  

   I however don't intend to raise an argument, but much rather, just to share my thoughts on it and hope that as you read this you would become a more open minded individual, if you ain't already. There is much to say when it comes to religion. There are alot out there, mainly Christianity, Hinduism, Muslim, Buddhism and Baptist to name a few.

   Each one has its own traditions and culture. Each has its own guidelines as to how we should live our lives to become a better person. What I don't understand is, why do we criticize each other's religion, and that is what I’d like to talk about!

    I have been a Hindu all my life. My father was a Roman Catholic and my mother is Hindu. I grew up going to church and temple and never thought it to be strange. As I got older I grew more and more in love with the Hindu Religion. It is very diverse but I have never forgotten the church. In fact, my father used to encourage me to do Puja and meditation often, as I now realize, that he understood my passion for the Hindu religion.  As I got more and more involved, I realized that alot of people always seem to have embedded into their minds that their religion is greater than everyone else. Now I also believe that it has gotten worse over the years as different Christian faiths are debating among themselves for example. Take for instance, Pakistan and India! For years a feud has been going on about the Hindus and Muslims, when in fact they are all Indians!! Different Christian faiths battle, as some says, that the Roman Catholics are idol worshipers and that they all pray to the Virgin Mother, when in fact, all Christians seek the blessings of Jesus Christ!

  
   

Purpose

  It is said that the devil is a busy spirit and that; the greatest trick he ever did was to make us believe that he doesn't exist!! My friends, I believe he is behind all of this. He has tempted and distracted us from what is of greatest importance....GOD!!  

   Every man has a purpose on earth. It is up to us to decide how we wish to live our lives. Man is supposed to be the greatest thing that God has made and indeed I do believe so! After all, the good book says that we are made in his own image and likeness...

   I also believe that one of our purposes here on earth is to help each other grow, not so much in age but in knowledge and wisdom, to help each other in our difficult times. I'm sure that at that hour when we face such difficulties, we often turn to God regardless of religion. We must give thanks to the creator for each day that we awake, and thank him for life and many other things.

   My friends, I do believe with all my heart that religion is indeed a pathway to re-unite with our Supreme Father. Clear your mind for a minute and think about it....each religion teaches that serving humanity is serving God. Many are ready to ridicule religion but many don't even take time to do research or at least learn about the religion before they say their piece. Each religion teaches about discipline, respect, love, trust and having good values. The list can go on but I’m sure you know where I’m getting at!

   Nowhere in the different religious texts that I've read, states that you must ridicule another religion or race for that matter!! That is another story...

   Religion as I like to see it is like different languages. You can say one word in different languages but it all boils down to what that one word means. Religion I think is just like that. We call God by different names but it is just one Supreme God!

Different name...same person

   Let us suppose you have a friend named John and he has a family. That would make him a father, husband, uncle, cousin and so on but all in all, it is the same John and some people might know him by his nickname Jerry. He has many different portfolios but he is the same person. Its the same concept...some will call God...Shiva, Jesus, Buddha, Allah, Shango but it is the same God!! Remember when he appeared to Moses on the mount as a burning bush and Moses asked who he was, his reply was..."I am who I am” think about it!  

   In Hindu religion, it is said that they have more than one God and that they pray to idols. Well, I have news for you. The Hindu religion is made up just like any government and its ministries. There is Lord Shiva who is the Supreme Godhead (or Prime Minister) for the Hindus and the other deities (meaning angels) as ministers that has different portfolios. Just as the government has its ministers. Each one has its portfolio. Sounds like "The Lord's Prayer" thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven...

  Neither Hindus nor Roman Catholics pray to idols. They have images i agree, but many don’t understand its concept. Take for instance...You have a phone and you use that phone to call, let us say your aunt abroad. Your aunt answers the phone and you have a pleasant conversation for an hour. Now tell me this...were you talking to the phone or your aunt at the other end of the line? Your answer is, your aunt of course! But you were using the phone as a medium to communicate with your aunt, so to does the Hindus and Roman Catholics use the images as a medium to remind them of God and what he has done for us cause as human beings, we tend to forget things and need to be reminded of them. It doesn't mean that they see the images as God!! If you want to speak of idol worship think about people who are alcoholics, who see alcohol as stress relief...cigarettes, money or material things in this world!! That my friends are what I consider to be idols of society!! The Christians preach that God has promised us everlasting life in paradise!! That we need not concern ourselves of the material things of this world. How many of you can say that you are content with what you have? The material things of the world are the idols...

   Instead of judging people and their religion, why can't we just learn to appreciate each other and try to become more like God so that we may unite with him even as we live on this earth? How many of us make mistakes each day, doesn't matter the religion? We need to unite as God's children and not let the devil use religion against us but rather let us see religion as a unique plan that God has set for us to unite with him.

   You have to admit, no two persons think exactly alike! That is why I think there are different religions out there. Mainly to facilitate all people under one purpose...to unite with God!!

 

   If we, as a society can look beyond religion and look at ourselves first and try to become the best that we can be and learn to just love each other regardless of religion or race. Then I think God will be most pleased about his creation and the world will be a better place. Isn't it better to see people of different religions praying to God on high, than to see some praying to the devil? The important thing is that as long as we know that there is a God regardless of name and that we know and believe that he is good, merciful, compassionate, forgiving and full of love!! My friends, I think that is what matters!!! God has sent many Prophets like Jesus, Muhammad, Krishna and Rama to preach his word and be closer to him...let us try and do just that and make the world a better place for us and our children. Let us stop the hate, envy, jealousy and malice... and learn to love just as God loves us!!! It is time to make him proud of his most beloved creation...