Every religion offers a way of life. Each religious life stands on very firm bedrock. This is a belief in a Universal Creator, named God. Each religion promulgates a moral code of conduct. The core of this code – shared by all religions – is: Do not do unto others what you do not want done to yourself. This code also recognises that we humans are co-created, and are thereby bonded to one another.
My feeling is that an essence of our Creator is impregnated within each of us; this is reflected in what I have observed as a reaching out by many of us towards one another, while simultaneously yearning for an ultimate fusion with our Creator. In saying this, I believe that I am reflecting my experience of some of the major religions of mankind through many, many lifetimes.
The evidence? The huge number of people active in what is known as civil society. We work for the betterment of fellow humans wherever they are, and even fight for justice, irrespective of faith, ethnicity, or whatever other identifier may apply. I instance Rotary International and the Red Cross (or its equivalents).
Were each of us to live as guided by our religion, we would behave in similar ways, obviously! We are more similar than different.
As for divisive dogma, it is useful to accept that dogma originated to bond each religious community more strongly. Power-seekers in institutionalised religion have, however, misapplied dogma, resulting in unnecessary divisiveness – leading to war in some instances. A further misuse of power is when politicians misdirect their religious affiliations to inflict (yes, inflict) tribal injunctions onto a ‘global’ arena!
While institutionalised religions may not survive (because priestly control is anathema to those who choose to think for themselves, and to decide their way of life), our innate and intuitive awareness of our Creator will sustain us through the vicissitudes of Earthly life!
Our faith will thus guide us to an appropriate way of life.
RAJA ARASA RATNAM 