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01.10.2006

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Secularism and Religion

_ by Salai Thang

In order to live, as human beings we need food, water, and air. These are unavoidable “basic needs” or physical needs. Second, a human cannot stay alone (impossible), so we need socializing. Thirdly, distress, grief, dependency, hope and expectation all are related to the soul (mind) and it exists within human beings. Example, this “depending on something” is a nature, naturally adhere to human beings. This soul (mind) is a default in human beings. People know, people are reliant on something that we cannot see, or may not identify (or supernatural?).

This soul (mind) can be understandable by own experience too. According to some experience (about Demon, ghost or spirit), example in Hindu festival, some special Hindu devotees walking on red hot coals, but no burning or no any pain to them. It is not a normal person, not ordinary person; there is something that we can’t see but its something powerful dwell with them. Is it the so called spirit (super natural)?

As I stated initially, those “Basic need”, “socialize” and “Soul/Mind”, without these one cannot become human being (these are minimum substantial to authentic human being), and these three are interrelated. As already mentioned, human have “mind” for thinking, philosophy, to distinguish good or bad; for those reasons we had come to have a “religion.” We must say religion is part of our human being. Everybody have some belief whether you may or may not agree. These are not just wished but necessary. For more clear understanding about religion, according to (The new international Webster’s comprehensive dictionary of the English language, 2003), Religion mean “a belief binding the spiritual nature of man to a supernatural being, as involving a feeling of dependence and responsibility, together with the feelings and practices which naturally flow from such a belief.”

A religion is the most compassionate one, and the most patient one in human being and, in humankind. It has willingness for sacrifice, commitment, unselfishness and totally for others. Religions transform human from cruelness to gentleness. Most of the ideas of love, peace, and kindness are common in all religion institutions and their philosophy. Most charity comes from religion; make donation to needy people and help those who are under privileged. Moreover religions trained and maintained human moral and ethics. And religion produce the most human dignity (example, love your neighbor and enemy). And religion makes the most prosperity of goodness. Actually, Religion philosophy is always supposed to be for goodness.

But religion had made a red mark or a poison in human world. The experience in middle age Christian (Roman Catholic) monarchy made as terrible and dangerous world by oppressing and persecution many innocent people. In addition, the present contemporary religious fundamentalist terrorists threat human security. Religion is very gentle and also can be easily turned to danger or poison whenever misused. All the canons of religion are also much complex and not easy to completely understand, it made a lot of mis- interpretation; can be contradiction within itself. So the result is numerous denominations and branches. Religion is very good and can be very bad. It requires adjusting or balancing between extremism (negative side) and goodness. Religion is the best production for human dignity but not totally understandable or hard to compromise it. Therefore some people are questioning Religious mean a poison?

However, let’s look at the opposite side of religion. Let say its secularism. According to “The new international Webster’s comprehensive dictionary of the English language, 2003”, Secularism means regard for worldly as opposed to spiritual matters; specifically, the belief of secularists. Believe in God or believe in no God (materialism). Believe to yourself or other. Then the question is Secularism mean without religion?

Merely people understand secularism as anti religions or abstain from religions activities, or beliefs in non religion. In generally people see secularists as people who are government employees, business men, politician etc.; but here among this group some are not secularism, but obviously most of them are. When you deeply think, sometimes its feel like, without religions it’s really not possible. Apart from emptiness or plainness when out of religion, obvious its become as moral-less, or without a guidance.

The other dangerous thing is the idea of secularism can mean totally moral less. No human dignity norm, just following to what their desire, no need for human betterness, nor for human social construction, but for luxury in non-dignity way. Then it can lead to human destruction and Social moral destruction. Will it acceptable for human world, people who wishing for justice and peace? Will it allow who looking for prosperity of love and kindness?

Moreover in the present world situation, with the impact of religious fundamentalist terrorists make it more favorable to secularism. But the question is can secularism really guarantee for human dignity and human norm containing this kindness, love, peace etc? It is a big controversy.

To sum up, we feel there is invisible a great power exists, so called “supernatural”. So, it’s not possible to live without religion because religion is part of human being. And it’s not possible for any religion without refraining from their existing dogmatic extremists.

It’s no matter which religion you are in. But it does matter whether you are sincere with your religion.

[The author is one of Chin Student leaders and a lecturer of Chiangmai University (AEIOU) and presently he is doing MA (Human Right) thesis.]

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