Are religions divisive?

Sanatan Dharama popularly known as Hinduism, we are repeatedly told is highly discriminatory and filled with prejudices. Many West trained join hands with Dravidian school drop outs were in the forefront of this propaganda. Casteism is one major drawbacks we are told. Brahmins who make a minority in Hinduism were accused of suppressing other castes and Manu Smriti was quoted in this defense.

Everyone knows that Caste system was not hereditary like contemporary dynasties till the vedic period. Then the divisions began. The lower caste of working class called Sudras were discriminated by the three upper castes. If discrimination did exist, it was because of the three upper castes. The division was not water tight. All Brahmins weren't occupied at temples. They were farmers too.  Kshatriyas were not restricted to defense of the soil but partook in all areas of human activity. Enterprising Vaisyas were not just local traders and history shows that they traded across continents. The lower rung of the system called were believed to be suppressed and it was a fact that perverse features like untouchability became part of Hinduism.

But unlike blind submission by other religions, Sanatan Dharma was a liberal confluence of ideas. There were constant efforts to bring in sanity whenever insanity propped in, attempts to embrace humanity beyond castes, a resurgence of reformers who broke away from the beaten path. Seer Ramanujar who enabled people of all castes to wear the sacred thread was one example. Narayan Guru was another. Compare this to anticaste movements of Dravidian parties which did nothing to remove castes while exploiting caste for vote banks. And surprisingly these Dravidians as well as atheists are accepted as natural part of Hinduism while an atheist born in any other religion ceases to be one.

There are 1000s of Holy books in Hinduism, lakhs of commentaries and interpretations, hundreds of manifestations of God, thousands of Seers and Saints as well as millions of sanyasis dotting the planet seeking God and owning no material wealth. They are the strength of Dharma and the richness of plurality this natural religion that anchors on spirituality possesses. Yet detractors deride Hinduism as backward. While violence and immoral practices in other organised religions are condoned and considered superior to the pacifist Hinduism. 

Let’s study other religions. Let’s know did they spread values they claim to behold. And remember these religions are organised. 

Christianity anchors on One Christ, One Bible. But..

Latin Catholic will not enter Syrian Catholic Church.

These two will not enter Marthoma Church .

The above three will not enter Pentecost Church .

The above four will not enter Salvation Army Church.

These five will not enter Seventh Day Adventist Church .

These six will not enter Orthodox Church.

All these seven will not enter Jacobite church.

This way there are 100s of castes  in the form of Churches alone for Christianity. 

Each will never share their churches with fellow Christians!

In Tamilnadu, there are Nadar Christians, Dalit Christians, Mudaliar Christians...those converted from Hinduism stick to their castes after claiming they were hurt by caste discriminations. There are churches for every caste too. Have you ever seen a temple for particular castes? Some exceptions that discriminate may exist but one sparrow doesn’t make a summer.

One Christ, One Bible, One Jehovah? What makes them violently attack or passively deceive other religions in the name of the kingdom of God? What kind of unity do they practice as society and nations? 

Now we will consider Islam..! One Allah, One Quran, One Prophet....!

Among Muslims, Shia and Sunni hate , kill each other in Muslim countries.

The religious riots in most Muslim countries are always between these two sects.

The Shias will not go to Sunni Mosque. 

Shias and Sunnis will not go to Ahamadiya Mosque. 

They along with Ahmadiyad  boycott Sufis. 

These four sects will not attend Mujaihiddin mosque.

There are 100s of castes in the form of sects in Islam.

Not mere discrimination, they practice hate and violence against each other. And on other religions.

Hindus go to all temples, peaceful, tolerant and seek unity with others. To them all Gods are the same. Never think twice before stepping into a Church, mosque, gurdwara, Dargah. Yet Hindus are branded chauvinists and other religions are described as religions of peace and love.

Hindus never ever fought another  in the name of religion! All other religions are daughters to her and Gods of other religions are seamlessly synchronised and accepted as among the pantheon of HINDU Gods. Even Church is transforming Christ as a Hindu God by giving away sacred ashes, performing Aarathi, running temple like processions and holding bhajans in hindu style. Muslim women wear Mangal sutra, visit temples and imitate hindu way of living. 

Hindus are an unifying force on earth. Super natural. Anything organised can never reach the heights of Sanatan Dharma that evolved over many thousands of earth. Om Shanthi! 

 

*Loka Samastha Sukhino Bhavanthu*