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Source: The Hindu (http://www.the-hindu.com)

 

Religion establishes social order

 

CHENNAI, SEPT. 25. The foundation for religion was laid in the

firm hope that those who practise it will lead a disciplined life

and cultivate balanced approach. Adherence to the directives in

religion will provide material comforts and help in solving

problems in an effective manner and in achieving steady progress

in reaching the goal. Differences amongst various religious

exercises will not shake its foundation. The chief aim of all

religions is to ensure peaceful co-existence of all people.

 

This is clearly stated in the Divine revelation called the Vedas.

In olden days, each religion claimed its superiority and stood by

one's teachings but the purpose of tendering advice through its

tenets was to make men enjoy peace. Everyone of them believed

that without spiritual power there can be no secular benefits.

The divisions which were seen in their various methods should

have no consideration in modern days. Efforts being taken at

present to correlate all regions and enable all people to enjoy

happiness and avoid evil tendencies which occasionally crop up

and to bring out women from their seclusion are to be lauded.

There is now plenty of scope to unify people through religion

making them sink their differences.

 

A bird's-eye view of the role of religion will reflect the

changes as civilisation advanced from time to time. People

followed their religious exercises according to the circumstances

which existed in their respective places of stay and the language

they spoke. Some races showed greater progress in propagating

their religions and the others tried to catch up with them. In

this connection, the Vedas refer to the existence of two Divine

forces (or God), one creating the world, more or less, as a one-

man's show. The other laid stress on the behaviour of mind. In

the earlier stages, the mind (of the people) did not register

much progress, with animal nature rearing its head. At this

stage, religion came to play its role to establish social order.

The feeling that God has to be approached to help in creating

such an order developed and the opinion gained ground that He

alone can help humanity in their forward march, ensuring unity in

diversity. God, who existed from time immemorial, thus enabled

civilisation to progress. Religious way of life did not bar

material comforts, said Sri Agnihotram Ramanuja Thathachariar in

a lecture. Religion is the relationship between God, world and

individual who adopts it. Civilisation, order and morality

elevate man and provide peace to a nation. They are the fruits of

practice of rules of respective religions. The various paths

shown by religions in general are not contradictory but in some

respect supplemented each other.

 

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