What are religions for? Once I had the illusion that religions were for the peace and welfare of everyone. Over the years I came across frequent animosity and strife between sections of followers of different religions. Had peace for the people been the goal of religions, history has enough evidence that religions have miserably failed in achieving it despite their having been in existence and having propagated their ideologies for centuries. Ironically, all those people who caused widespread death and destruction the world over, were followers of one religion or another. If they had followed the principles of their own religions faithfully, these carnages, which were a blot on humanity, would not have happened. No one religion demands annihilation of another. Killing and violence are the primitive characteristics of animals; humans have come a long way from them. Does any religion exhort to revenge ? I doubt. Almost every religion preaches love for fellow human beings. But digression from the professed path of love and affection for the mankind, has been the rule rather than the exception. The frequent digressions into violence by sections of followers of religions have reduced almost all the religions into outfits much worse than some political parties. Both religions and political parties are man-made. Comparatively, political parties are better than religions as they are more non-violent than religions. Despite being of divergent views on most issues, the political parties have been more successful in uniting people and leading them to peace. Religions and their gods have divided mankind into warring groups. Dividing the society is what religions have been good at for centuries; it is sad they continue to be so even in this 21st century. For everyone, irrespective of his or her religious affiliation or affinity, the society should be supreme. Care and concern for the society should be the sole, bright light that guides everyone.
