by Milinda Rajasekera
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| This initiative is indeed timely in view of the disturbing trend of religious intolerance raising its ugly head in various parts of the world. Mercifully, our country remains unscathed by the developing trend. Extremist and mischievous elements would, however, attempt to create such situations here too. |
Prime Minister D.M. Jayaratne who has taken the initiative for establishing this organization has said, “Ours is a multi-ethnic and multi-religious society. Over the centuries all our different communities lived in peace and harmony in all parts of the country. This peaceful co-existence of our people was disturbed during the 30 year old terrorism that ravaged the country. Now that terrorism had been defeated and people of all communities and religions are able to revive and enjoy the former trust and confidence, peace and harmony they cherished towards each other,” he has added.
This initiative is indeed timely in view of the disturbing trend of religious intolerance raising its ugly head in various parts of the world. Mercifully, our country remains unscathed by the developing trend. Extremist and mischievous elements would, however, attempt to create such situations here too. That is why the present action to strengthen mutual trust and harmony among different religious and ethnic groups could be hailed as the fulfillment of an urgent national need.
The recent attack on Mahabodhi Society Temple office in Chennai in India injuring four Sri Lankan Bhikkus could have been used by extremist sections to fuel religious strife. Fortunately, the truly religious and refined attitude adopted by all concerned sections averted any violent reaction. This attack is suspected to be the work of some terrorist or extremist group. Another instance of religious intolerance found expression recently in Pakistan. Governor of Pakistan's Punjab province Salman Taseer was shot dead by one of his guards in the Pakistani capital, apparently because he had spoken out against the country's controversial blasphemy laws. The killer is reported to have said that he killed the governor because he “described the blasphemy laws as a black law." Pakistan's blasphemy law attracted greater attention recently after a Christian woman was sentenced to death for allegedly insulting Prophet Muhammad.
This tragic event provoked comments from concerned persons around the world. One commentator writing in Hidustan Times stated, “More worrying than the assassination last week of Salman Taseer, the outspoken governor of Pakistan's Punjab, was the aftermath: the joy on the faces of those who showered rose petals on Taseer's radicalised and ever-smiling bodyguard and the zeal with which imams warned anyone from mourning the slain governor.” This commentator, expressing concern over growing religious conservatism, intolerance and hate in India, referred to a part of a motivational speech — submitted as evidence by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in 1993 — by Dr Jalees Ansari, a Mumbai doctor sentenced to life imprisonment for masterminding more than 30 bombings, most of them before the Babri turmoil of 1992: "We should pressure the government and the majority Hindu community by whatever means, even if it means destruction of life and property to any extent... we want to terrorise them and government, particularly the police."
What is distressing is that even in the present state of cultural advancement, some tend to practice ways of ancient tribalism that spawned endless violence. It is indeed paradoxical that religion, the fundamental tenets of which teach people lovingkindness, compassion, brotherhood, goodwill, patience, understanding, peace and harmony, is being used as a divisive force that poisons society with such depravities as hatred, jealousy, acrimony and ill-will that all religious leaders have exhorted people to shun. The tendency to perpetuate ancient tribalism on the part of those yet to be refined or enlightened is understandable. But what causes much concern is the advocacy and practice of bigotry and intolerance by some occupying religious leadership positions. This tendency arises from the fanatical belief that one’s own chosen or inherited path is the true and indisputable one and therefore others also should follow the same. It is indeed the same feeling that gives rise to the menace of unethical conversions.
The renowned historian Arnold Toynbee’s words constitute an antidote to this attitude. He says, “…to imagine that one’s own church, civilization, nation or family is the chosen people is, I believe, as wrong as it would be for me to imagine that I myself am God. I agree with Symmachus, the pagan philosopher who put the case for toleration to a victorious Christian church, and I will end by quoting his words: ‘The universe is too great a mystery for there to be only one single approach to it.’
It is fervently hoped that the new organization will be strong enough to instill in people the true spirit of religion that could unite them in brotherhood to work for the country’s well-being and progress.
(The writer can be reached at mrajasekera@gmail.com)
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