The Importance of Religion in the Modern World.

July 1, 2005

Excerpts from the Introduction to the book, "The Universe God and God-Realization" by Swami Satprakashananda, and Published by Sri Ramakrishna Math, Mylapore, Chennai.

In these days so many forces other than religion - cultural, social, scientific, economic, political and military - are at work to make a better world, man's secular interests are so pressing, varied and captivating that one may wonder if religion is essential in modern life, if religion is going to be outworn or outmoded. But a careful analysis of the situation assures one that religion has to play a vital, a unique role in the complex life of today and that it can effectively contribute to man's happiness and security in this progressive age.

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To solve life's problem effectively we have to remove their root cause. If we trace their origin, we find that they arise in most cases, not exactly from man's external conditions, but from his inner weaknesses. His social, economic, and political problems are more often than not grounded in his moral nature. Usually, it is lack of self control and right understanding that either creates or aggravates man's difficulties. Human problems are primarily psychological and secondarily biological. As long as a person carries within him any of the dark forces, such as greed, pride, hatred, anger, jealousy, fear and suspicion, he will have trouble wherever he may be. He can make a hell of heaven.

There is no question that the lack of moral integrity in individuals and nations makes the world problems all the more complicated and difficult to solve. Their solution depends, in the last analysis on man's inner goodness. None of these can be solved satisfactorily if man's inner life is not sound. The world is confronted basically with moral problems. If human nature deteriorates, if man deliberately subordinates ethical ideas to material interests and if expediency be the golden rule, no law, no system, no pact, and no social gospel however well-advised can save the world.

Here religion comes to our aid. It pays particular attention to man's inner life. To unfold the inner man is its special function. By developing the spiritual outlook on life, it stabilizes man's moral nature, which is essential to his material well-being.

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Note : Circulation of this matter is expressly prohibited without giving due credit to the book, author and the publisher. Circulation of parts of this message with a view to distorting the views expressed therein, in its entirety, is also prohibited.

Swami Satprakashananda is from The Vedanta Society, St. Lois, Missouri.

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