Home >> History, Ideology & Science >> Religion

     Email   Print 

A war between RIGHT and WRONG

Sunita Paul - 4/14/2008

United States is the only country in the world, which not only hold absolute trust in God, but also announces such position proudly, while many of the nations in the world are rather shy in expressing their beliefs in God. One of the mightiest currencies in the world, US Dollar bears a very clear slogan saying "In God we trust". And, who knows, such trust in God is always helping United States in achieving prosperity and strength almost every hour. But, we really witness almost an opposite in the minds of less developed and undeveloped countries in the world, especially in Asian Continent, who believes that the most 'powerful' instrument for them in attaining progress and prosperity is either to denounce existence of God or in other words, embrace atheism. Such tendency is giving opportunity for socialism, communism, atheism and religious extremism to grow. Although there are no relations between secularism and atheism, but, in today's world, mostly socialists and atheists are trying to monopolize secular term as something of their own. In fact, secularism has nothing to do with someone's personal religious beliefs. A person, being devote in his religion may act in secular form in all worldly actions.

Take for the example, the case of Indonesia. Being world's largest Moslem nation, they rather feel shy in expressing their religious beliefs openly or at least officially. You will possibly never find any religious symbol in any of the government establishments in that country. Or, how about our own India? You will see Bapu Gandhi's portrait proudly displayed in various offices, but never any Hindu relic or symbol. Why? Because, India prefers to be termed as a secularist nation.

What is secularity? Secularity (adjective form secular) is the state of being separate from religion. For instance, eating and bathing may be regarded as examples of secular activities, because there is nothing inherently religious about them. (Note, however, that both eating and bathing are regarded as sacraments by some religious organizations, and therefore would be religious activities in their worldview.) Saying a prayer, worshipping, and attending Sunday School or Friday Mosques are examples of religious (non-secular) activities. All state universities in the United States are secular organizations, while some private universities are church-related; among many, four church-related examples are Brigham Young University, University of Notre Dame, Baylor University, and The Catholic University of America. The public university system in the United Kingdom is also secular, although many primary and secondary schools are religiously aligned. Although in many of the western countries religious schools and educational institutions enjoy rather special and priviledged position in the society, there is always controversy centering Islamic religious schools in any part in the world. Because, in recent years, such institutions are very unfortunately infected with jihadist motivations and also with culture of religious hatred. But, in original, Islam never preaches culture of religious hatred. There are numerous aruguments and confusions on the real connotations on Jihad even amongst Islamic scholars. Majority believe jihad stands for self purification and not killing others.

In English, the term atheism was derived from the French athéisme in about 1587. The term atheist (in French), in the sense of "one who denies or disbelieves the existence of God", predates atheism in English, being first attested in about 1571. Atheist as a label of practical godlessness was used at least as early as 1577. Related words emerged later: deist in 1621, theist in 1662; theism in 1678; and deism in 1682. Deism and theism changed meanings slightly around 1700, due to the influence of atheism; deism was originally used as a synonym for today's theism, but came to denote a separate philosophical doctrine.

Karen Armstrong writes that "During the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, the word 'atheist' was still reserved exclusively for polemic ... The term 'atheist' was an insult. Nobody would have dreamed of calling himself an atheist." Atheism was first used to describe a self-avowed belief in late 18th-century Europe, specifically denoting disbelief in the monotheistic Abrahamic God. In the 20th century, globalization contributed to the expansion of the term to refer to disbelief in all deities, though it remains common in Western society to describe atheism as simply "disbelief in God". Most recently, there has been a push in certain philosophical circles to redefine atheism as the "absence of belief in deities", rather than as a belief in its own right; this definition has become popular in atheist communities, though its mainstream usage has been limited.



Atheism in the 20th century, particularly in the form of practical atheism, advanced in many societies. Atheistic thought found recognition in a wide variety of other, broader philosophies, such as existentialism, objectivism, secular humanism, nihilism, logical positivism, Marxism, feminism, and the general scientific and rationalist movement.

In today's world, mostly Marxists, Communist, Socialist etc take refuge under cover of secularism and promote the ideology of non-existence of God in their own way. This is a very dangerous trend. Because, according to social histories of past several decades, people, having belief in existence in God, under various religious identities are abstaining from many evil or bad actions fearing wrath of God. Such strong belief in God is saving the world from many of the social and otherwise disorders. On the other hand, when people get more involved in his or her religious beliefs, it always turns them away from the lure of atheism or secularism. For example, in marriage, believers go through religious rituals, which is a strong indication for them in making promise to God for a happy marital life. Such trend is saving millions of couples in today's world from being either separated or getting involved in extra-marital physical affairs. On the other hand, a secular, who does not apply religion in worldly affairs, may not go through such religious obligations. So, there is every chance for them in either becoming disobedient to husbands or wives. Look into Soviet Union. During those strict Communist rules, extra marital mixture and all forms of perversions were in practice at an alarming level. According a statistics, more than sixty percent of children born in Soviet-Communism did not know the identity of their genetic father. But now, things are changing. Russian society is embracing various forms of religious beliefs. This is saving the society from devastating level of divorce, perversion etc.

As I mentioned at the beginning, United States is amongst world's one of the most believer nations having firm trust in God. But, this is not applicable to a number of European nations, particularly Britain. This country in particular, despite being largely dominated by Christians is in reality becoming polluted with secular turn atheist ideology. Most of the social disorders such as gay or lesbian activities, or even extra marital and pre-marital physical relations are on increasing trend in that society. While in United States, when a Mayor of New York City lost his position just for having an illicit 'appointment' with a hooker, British Prince Phillip can afford to continue holding his position even after openly confessing of keeping extra-marital relations with Camilla Parker Bowls, thus pushing Lady Diana towards death. One Monica Lewinsky became an object of great political disorder for mighty figure like Bill Clinton, while such affairs are very normal in British society and politics. This may have been very personal affairs of the British if they would have never tried to infect such practices in various nations in the world. Look into India or even Bangladesh. A large number of British non government organizations in both countries are actively or tactfully promoting gay or lesbian culture. They are even provoking women from disobeying family principles and becoming perverts. Numbers of divorces in our societies are gradually increasing because of existence of such NGO activities. Even I know the cases of 'living together' or pre-marriage pregnancy are becoming a great headache.

Let us also look into a very recent hassle Bangladesh is experiencing. According to reports, religious extremists as well as moderates in that country are presently on severe protest because the military backed interim government is set to incorporate a property distribution law, which religious scholars term as anti Koran. Why such dangerous initiative by an unelected government, which is possibly over burdened with numerous problems and challenges, including the recent food crisis, power shortage etc. There are international pressures on Dhaka in holding the general election by 2008. None of these are minor challenges. But, why authorities in Dhaka are extremely eager in introducing a law, which reportedly goes against majority's religious beliefs? Look into the names in in the interim government in Bangladesh. Most of them are previously nourished by British money. Now, possibly they wish to implement some of the British agendas. It is not unknown to anyone, the stories of notoriety of NGOs in Bangladesh. And, Brac or Grameen Bank tops the rank as modern day's 'Shylock'. They extract interest from poor people even up to the level of 30 percent. They encourage Moslem women from doing anything unfit to their society. Of course, I am not against freedom and rights of women. Nor does Koran endorse any such actions against women's right or freedom. Verse 'Nisa' (Women) in Koran describes in details the rights and freedom of women. But, the problem is, no one pays attention to it. Some Moslems even love to consider Koran as an outdated 'book'. This is the dangerous trend. If the government in Dhaka will fail to understand people's religious sentiment and continue attacking devotees and mosques, it may ultimately become boomerang for them. They should remember the instances of Hazrat Baal mosque in India, Lal mosque in Pakistan or even Golden Temple in Punjab. Attack on such religious places never brought anything good for any nation. It is proven in history of time. Uncompromising attitude of Bangladesh government towards the demands of Moslem clergies and Moslem radicals will possibly open the doors for a near religious riot in various parts of the country. And, this is the opportunity; hidden objects of Al Qaeda would be looking for. Bangladeshi law enforcing agencies are now targeting Dhaka's national mosque as their prime suspect. Secular Medias in Dhaka are in synchronized campaign against mosques and all Moslems. Some are even giving provocations against Islam. I can see a similar situation in Dhaka now, which reminds me of Sunni-Shiite riots in Pakistan. In Bangladesh, Sunni-Shiite riot may not be possible. So, there is endless effort in creating a civil war within the society using a very sensitive issue.

We do not want Bangladesh to become another Afghanistan. But, from facts and information from Dhaka, it seems to all that, things are really moving towards that direction.