So Do We Really Need Religion?
Let's face it, as horrible as it sounds, religion is considered pretty old-fashioned these days. Fancy words like 'liberal', 'modern', and 'progressive' jump out at me every time I flip through a magazine or newspaper, telling me that there is a need for a reformed, secular approach to the question of human rights and civil liberties, that religion has no place on an 'enlightened' planet. I've got nothing whatsoever against human rights, but I've got nothing against religion either. After all, isn't the whole point of religion to further human progress, albeit focusing more on spirituality than materialism? Anyway, it got me thinking. How important is religion for human society? Can there even be a basis for right and wrong without a religion to follow? Can we separate morality and religion?
My friend, Arsalaan Khan, who’s also studying Electronics Engineering from NED has got more to say on the subject.
According to Wikipedia, morality is defined as a sense of behavioral conduct that differentiates intentions, decisions, and actions between those that are good (or right) and bad (or wrong).We usually stereotype religion by limiting it to prayers and sacred scriptures (at least once in a lifetime), whereas religion is a lot more than one can imagine. Wikipedia defines it as a collection of cultural systems, belief systems, and worldviews that establishes symbols that relate humanity to spirituality and (you guessed it) moral values.
Morality and religion are intertwined with each other; one can’t exist if the latter is neglected. Every religion in this world brings with it a code of life. It presents a set of rules to its followers that are obligatory for them to follow; mostly those codes are related to morality. Morality defines a man and his sense towards life, morality differentiates humans from animals. Most people argue that morality is not linked with religion, and that it is a total separate spectrum. I think differently.
Religion is belief in a system which is governed by a single power or an accumulation of different powers. Different religions call it by different names, but the concept remains the same more or less; that this world is governed by someone and we will be judged by that someone and will be punished if the deeds inscribed by him are not attended to and rewarded if vice versa. The rewards are more or less the same; Hindus call it nirvana, Muslims call it Jannah Christians call it Heaven etc.
As far as logic is concerned, here’s an example that best defines the relation between religion and moral behavior. Most of us know that bare and live electric wire is very dangerous, if touched it can result in sudden death so wherever we see such wirings, we smoothen our actions ourselves and avoid getting in contact with it. We cannot actually see the electric charge flowing through the wiring, but it is our belief that some force exists in that wire and it is fear of that force that results in automatic refinement of our attitudes. Similarly, religion is all about faith in the unseen and such faith enforces within us morality just like the fear of electrocution enforces extra care and caution in us. No religion practiced in this world comes without benchmarks for leading a successful life. So for those who believe morality has secular foundations I would strongly disagree, because if there is no power to who we are answerable to and nature is just a cycle of life, morality doesn’t fit in such an equation. Even in the oldest of civilizations morality was found where people believed in one central power.
Lastly I would like to quote
The Urantia Book
Religion and Morality
Paper 101: The Real Nature of Religion; Section 9
So do we need religion after all? You decide! I only hope this post makes you look at religion in a more positive light from now on!
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