DO WE NEED DO WE NEED RELIGION TODAY?RELIGION TODAY?

Friends, many of you know that I am a Friends, many of you know that I am a strong believer of religion and I try to live strong believer of religion and I try to live up to the principles of my faith.up to the principles of my faith.

However, being a scientist, I have some However, being a scientist, I have some problems in accepting what I was told to problems in accepting what I was told to believe and practice.believe and practice.

The scientists now know a lot of what The scientists now know a lot of what was unknown when the religions were was unknown when the religions were founded and developed.founded and developed.

PLANETS & GALAXIES

keI koit KwxI Aru KMf ]Many millions are the fields of

creation and the galaxies. Guru Arjan Dev ji (SGGS) Pg. 276

Earth is no longer Earth is no longer accepted to be the accepted to be the center of the universe; center of the universe; the sun and moon are the sun and moon are no longer gods to be no longer gods to be worshipped by human worshipped by human beings. beings.

As a child I was taught As a child I was taught to bow to the moon, our to bow to the moon, our good uncle, 'good uncle, 'Chanda Chanda MamaMama'.'.

Bathing in 'sacred' Bathing in 'sacred' rivers and giving rivers and giving charity during solar and charity during solar and lunar eclipses were lunar eclipses were then religious then religious requirements.requirements.

Of course, some people Of course, some people out of ignorance do it out of ignorance do it even today to continue even today to continue the tradition.the tradition.

In the west, Galileo was In the west, Galileo was declared guilty and declared guilty and imprisoned for reporting his imprisoned for reporting his scientific discovery that the scientific discovery that the earth revolves around the sun.earth revolves around the sun.

His observation challenged His observation challenged the Bible, 'the word of God', the Bible, 'the word of God', and hence he had to suffer. and hence he had to suffer.

(In 1986, the Pope confessed (In 1986, the Pope confessed before scientists, in a before scientists, in a televised speech that Galileo televised speech that Galileo was right and the Pope, who was right and the Pope, who punished him, was wrong. punished him, was wrong.

He regretted the punishment He regretted the punishment given to the scientist.)given to the scientist.)

Similarly there was a Similarly there was a strong protest by strong protest by Christians against the Christians against the theory of evolution. theory of evolution.

Darwin was even abused Darwin was even abused for suggesting that man, for suggesting that man, as we find this species as we find this species (Homo sapiens) today, (Homo sapiens) today, was not created by God was not created by God but has evolved over but has evolved over time.time.

Scientists have found Scientists have found that the earliest human that the earliest human being, Homo erectus, being, Homo erectus, who was the first human who was the first human to walk erect on two feet, to walk erect on two feet, is already extinct. is already extinct.

Now, Darwin's theory Now, Darwin's theory has become the has become the

foundation for the study foundation for the study of the evolution of life on of the evolution of life on

earth.earth.

Leaving aside that some beliefs of Leaving aside that some beliefs of religions are unacceptable to science, religions are unacceptable to science, history reports that their contributions to history reports that their contributions to society have been negative.society have been negative.

Let us start from our own country. In Let us start from our own country. In 1947 India was divided into Hindu India 1947 India was divided into Hindu India and Muslim India followed by bloodshed and Muslim India followed by bloodshed on a vast scale.on a vast scale.

It also involved untold miseries to millions It also involved untold miseries to millions of people who moved from one side of the of people who moved from one side of the border to the other. Violent sporadic border to the other. Violent sporadic clashes between Hindus and Muslims clashes between Hindus and Muslims continue even today. continue even today.

In the Middle East, some Jews and In the Middle East, some Jews and Muslims (Palestinians) are thirsty for each Muslims (Palestinians) are thirsty for each other's blood. Killings are reported there other's blood. Killings are reported there every week.every week.

Now, Darwin's theory has become the Now, Darwin's theory has become the foundation for the study of the evolution of foundation for the study of the evolution of life on earth.life on earth.

The violent clashes among Catholics and The violent clashes among Catholics and Protestants in Northern Ireland are a long Protestants in Northern Ireland are a long standing problem for the U.K. standing problem for the U.K. government.government.

You may look at any country and find that You may look at any country and find that religion has caused and is still causing religion has caused and is still causing bitterness among human relations. bitterness among human relations.

Everywhere it has resulted in the Everywhere it has resulted in the unnecessary loss of life. unnecessary loss of life.

Maybe, all this bloodshed in the world Maybe, all this bloodshed in the world could have been avoided if there was no could have been avoided if there was no division of people into different religions.division of people into different religions.

Religions were founded to keep society in social Religions were founded to keep society in social and moral discipline.and moral discipline.

It told people not to steal, rob, or tell lies. It told people not to steal, rob, or tell lies. Religion requires an individual to earn his living Religion requires an individual to earn his living honestly. honestly.

It prohibits strong people from bullying or It prohibits strong people from bullying or bothering the weak by declaring such acts as sins. bothering the weak by declaring such acts as sins.

Now, all this discipline is being imposed by the Now, all this discipline is being imposed by the government. Law prohibits all anti-social activities government. Law prohibits all anti-social activities and prescribes punishment for those who ignore and prescribes punishment for those who ignore it.it.

Another advantage of religion is that it Another advantage of religion is that it directs people to give charity for the welfare directs people to give charity for the welfare of the needy, weak and poor.of the needy, weak and poor.

This responsibility, too, has been taken over This responsibility, too, has been taken over by the government. Out of the tax collected by the government. Out of the tax collected from the people, government provides relief from the people, government provides relief to the sick, old and poor. to the sick, old and poor.

In other words, the present social and In other words, the present social and political structure of society has made political structure of society has made religion unnecessary. religion unnecessary.

What we have been left with as religion is a What we have been left with as religion is a set of rituals only. set of rituals only.

Many of these rituals make little sense to the Many of these rituals make little sense to the people of the science and computer age.people of the science and computer age.

Religion, therefore, appears to be irrelevant for Religion, therefore, appears to be irrelevant for leading peaceful and happy lives. leading peaceful and happy lives.

This thought is well reflected in the life of people, This thought is well reflected in the life of people, particularly, the modern youth.particularly, the modern youth.

Lastly, some persons openly say that they do not Lastly, some persons openly say that they do not believe in God.believe in God.

Further, many of those who claim to believe in Further, many of those who claim to believe in religion are seen not practicing it. religion are seen not practicing it.

People generally show blatant disregard to the People generally show blatant disregard to the instructions of their faith. instructions of their faith.

This sends a clear signal to the youth that religion This sends a clear signal to the youth that religion is no longer the need of the day. is no longer the need of the day.

Let us talk about Sikhs as an Let us talk about Sikhs as an example. Sikh example. Sikh MaryadaMaryada requires a disciple to recite requires a disciple to recite GurbaniGurbani regularly. regularly.

Sikhs are directed not to drink Sikhs are directed not to drink alcohol or use any other drug. alcohol or use any other drug.

Many Sikhs are seen, Many Sikhs are seen, however, disrespecting these however, disrespecting these instructions.instructions.

It is common knowledge that It is common knowledge that many Sikhs drink alcohol many Sikhs drink alcohol without any hesitation even without any hesitation even though they know that it is though they know that it is prohibited by their faith. prohibited by their faith.

Unfortunately, in the recent Unfortunately, in the recent gurdwara elections alcohol gurdwara elections alcohol was distributed to Sikh voters was distributed to Sikh voters by candidates seeking election by candidates seeking election to the Sikh statutory body. to the Sikh statutory body.

It is common It is common knowledge that many knowledge that many Sikhs drink alcohol Sikhs drink alcohol without any hesitation without any hesitation even though they even though they know that it is know that it is prohibited by their prohibited by their faith. faith.

If a large majority of If a large majority of believers and their believers and their leaders do not follow leaders do not follow their faith and still live their faith and still live their lives without any their lives without any problem, then where problem, then where does the necessity of does the necessity of religion for our religion for our modern society lie? modern society lie?

In the age of Science there seems to be no In the age of Science there seems to be no reason for us to hold on to the religion.reason for us to hold on to the religion.

Of course, it was needed by the primitive, Of course, it was needed by the primitive, uneducated and unorganized society. uneducated and unorganized society.

Those periods are over, we are now ready to Those periods are over, we are now ready to enter the 21st century. enter the 21st century.

Let us shake off this unnecessary and out-of-Let us shake off this unnecessary and out-of-date philosophy of faith and found a date philosophy of faith and found a homogeneous society without religion to homogeneous society without religion to enter into the modern era of science.enter into the modern era of science.

We humans go through the We humans go through the same biological functions same biological functions as other animals yet we are as other animals yet we are considered different and considered different and superior than all of them. superior than all of them.

We claim this because we We claim this because we have the unique faculty to have the unique faculty to understand that we understand that we humans have a mission or humans have a mission or purpose in life other than purpose in life other than to just exist, procreate and to just exist, procreate and die as other living beings die as other living beings do.do.

Reasons of retaining Reasons of retaining

religion as it is?religion as it is?

This mission is provided only by religion.This mission is provided only by religion. Actually religion provides a lot more than mere Actually religion provides a lot more than mere

discipline to keep peace in society.discipline to keep peace in society. It gives meaning to the life of human beings. It gives meaning to the life of human beings. Religion tells what human beings are to Religion tells what human beings are to

achieve besides just completing the biological achieve besides just completing the biological cycle as Homo sapiens. cycle as Homo sapiens.

Material LawsMaterial Laws(MAYBE WE CAN GET AWAY (MAYBE WE CAN GET AWAY

WITH)WITH)

Spiritual LawsSpiritual Laws(WE CANNOT GET (WE CANNOT GET

AWAY!)AWAY!)

No scientist, sociologist or scholar can tell No scientist, sociologist or scholar can tell that purpose.that purpose.

What one is expected to do with one's life What one is expected to do with one's life can only be explained by a holy person, can only be explained by a holy person, whom we call a prophet or guide. whom we call a prophet or guide.

The mission and the path advised to be The mission and the path advised to be followed by a devotee is named religion or followed by a devotee is named religion or faith. faith.

That is how we have so many religions That is how we have so many religions today.today.

Humans live not only to enjoy their life and Humans live not only to enjoy their life and continue their species but they have a continue their species but they have a purpose in life as well.purpose in life as well.

Discussing the negative aspect of religion, Discussing the negative aspect of religion, as a cause of hatred and war, it was found as a cause of hatred and war, it was found that it is politicians who misuse religion, that it is politicians who misuse religion, otherwise, there is nothing inherently wrong otherwise, there is nothing inherently wrong in the philosophy of religion. in the philosophy of religion.

Also, politicians split people into nations, Also, politicians split people into nations, ethnic groups, linguistic divisions, regional ethnic groups, linguistic divisions, regional units, etc., to make people fight with each units, etc., to make people fight with each other. other.

They even divide professional people to They even divide professional people to create conflicts amongst them. create conflicts amongst them.

The groups fight for their The groups fight for their economic and political economic and political benefits. benefits.

Politicians will use anything Politicians will use anything and everything to divide and everything to divide humanity; religion is just one humanity; religion is just one of them. of them.

It is the people who must It is the people who must stand up against corrupt stand up against corrupt politicians when they misuse politicians when they misuse it.it.

Believing in faith is essential to Believing in faith is essential to raise the status of Homo sapiens raise the status of Homo sapiens above the animal kingdom.above the animal kingdom.

It is only the practiceIt is only the practice of our of our faith, which gives us the title of faith, which gives us the title of human beings, otherwise, human beings, otherwise, biologically we are no different biologically we are no different from animals.from animals.