RELEVANCE OF RELIGION IN SCIENTIFIC SOCIETY
by Padman Govindarajan

Modern generation has no faith in scriptural concepts like soul, Holy Spirit, salvation etc, and feels that religion can serve no useful purpose in the present-day world. Man is not independent or free, as he has no control over his own life. The inborn and innate religious instinct in man enables him to realise that he is wholly dependent on his Creator for his very survival. Man has been endowed with high intelligence to know the truth about morality, soul, Spirit, after-life and God. Jesus says that salvation of soul is far more important that the conquest of the world. Even Emperor Alexander left the world empty handed. The one and only purpose of religion is to reveal the path to salvation of soul. The means to attain salvation can be many to suit the temperaments of individuals. Different religions have originated at different times in different places to suit the requirements of society and the needs of that time.
The word “Religion” in the original Greek text is THRESKEIA, which is derived from the Hebrew word meaning to seek, search or inquire, that is to say, Ask, Knock and Seek God or the Supreme power. Where to seek God? Upanishad says AYAM ATMA BRAHMA i.e. this soul is Spirit. Jesus says the Kingdom of God is within. Koran declares that Allah is closer than the jugular vein. The soul should search for the Divine Spirit within. Religion has become a divisive and destructive force, as few believe in soul or Spirit. Followers blindly go by the word of their scriptures without understanding the meaning of soul or Spirit and the inalienable relationship between the two. The Omniscient and All-knowing Creator has revealed the very same eternal and universally applicable truth in all scriptures. The confusion and doubt about religious matters among people in the new millennium has brought in its wake anxiety, fear, insecurity and worry that is reflected in the extent of tension, stress, uncertainty and mental unrest experienced by them. The World Health Organisation declared the year 2001 as the Mental Health Year since nearly 35% of the global population suffer from psychoneurotic disorders like mood variations, depression, stress, fears, anxieties, obsessions etc. Unbridled pursuit of sensual pleasures has led to addictions, mental depravity and moral degeneration. There is no love but only lust, no contentment but only greed, no faith but only disbelief and distrust, no hope because of lack of purpose in life resulting in disillusionment about world and life. What contemporary world badly needs are faith, hope, love and purpose in life. Human life loses all its meaning and significance if there is no worthwhile purpose, high destiny and valid reason for man’s existence. Man should know why he should live and what he should strive to achieve in life. Morality and pursuit of happiness by themselves can have no meaning without spirituality. Only True Religion can lead humanity in the right direction. Religious conflicts arise due to irreconcilable differences in the interpretation of the fundamental religious concepts like soul, Spirit, God, salvation, after-life etc. The contradictions and inconsistencies seem to be man-made and not God-created. The basic purpose of human life is the attainment of salvation and man cannot remain content without the fulfilment of this supreme religious need. Religion has till now failed to provide mankind proper direction in life but it must succeed in the future. Only a Parliament of Religions can be a proper forum to reconcile the differences in the interpretation of these basic religious concepts among the living religions of the world. Religious leaders should take the initiative to convene a meet of this type at the earliest to thrash out their differences through discussions and negotiations to bring religious unity among the masses.
 



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