Religious Beliefs

Religion is a sensitive topic best left with the believers.  People are attracted to religion because it provides believers the opportunity to satisfy all their basic desires over and over again. In the past decades, many charismatic churches have popped up in this country. A charismatic church is one that embraces the powers of the Holy Spirit. Zeal captures the congregation, hands are raised in celebration and those filled with the Holy Spirit speak in tongues, and – depending on where you worship – pastors perform miracles through the power of God. All religions have formed breakaway churches, temples and other places of worship and they keep sprouting and expanding.

Recently, there was an uproar as a prominent personality, a member of one of the new churches, had excelled in his game. The church leader claimed it was all due to the person’s faith in his Church as well as his prediction that all of this success will be bestowed upon the star.  This statement has resulted in a great uproar in all circles resulting in many nasty uncalled for slander. All of this discussed as usual over social media and at social gatherings. ‘Why people got their knickers in a twist,’ is what I could not understand as the celebrity himself acknowledged the fact publicly by thanking the Leader of his place of worship, something everyone must accept by respecting his beliefs. However, this did not happen.  All that we saw was a barrage of insults and some unnecessary stories.

It is time we are allowed to believe in our religion, instead of pointing fingers at peoples’ beliefs. There are so many among us, including the destitute and the unhappy, who find great comfort and solace in their religious beliefs.  Some also receive personal  help, which they need badly. We should be happy about this rather than be condemning them. ‘Each to their own.’ is what I believe in and even if one declares to be an atheist, let us be happy for all of them.

Religion helps in creating an ethical framework and is also a regulator for values in day to day life. This particular approach helps in character building of a person. In other words, religion acts as an agency of socialisation. Thus, religion helps in building values like love, empathy, respect, and harmony. Let us keep it that way.