The International Interfaith Dialogue India (IIDI) held a seminar on ‘Religion as a Source of Values’ at Nawras Restaurant, Kochi, Kerala, on 19 December. Justice P.K. Shamsuddin was in the chair.
Speaking from the Chair, Justice P.K. Shamsuddin, patron of IIDI, held that communalism and religion, though related, are diametrically opposite. Communalism is the exploitation of religious sentiments towards acquisition of power by means of hate campaign. It is a recurring process ever since 1857. Most of the so-called national parties, for somehow or other, used religious sentiments for amassing power. Congress is no exception. With the establishment of BJP as the most powerful political party in India, hate politics has entered into a new revived phase.
Swamy Purantharananda held that hating another religion and religionists is antithetical to the religious core or essence of religion. Moral decadence is the root cause of current crisis. There is only one Creator. Rituals are meaningful only for particular indication. However, values are the essence of religion. Only when the benefits of religion are experienced we can realise peace. This requires will power and altruism. All religionists can join in this venture against moral decadence. Swamiji suggested that we can celebrate the festivals of all religions. Festival has two parts: one is ritual; the other is celebration. The second part can be acceptable to all as all want joy and merriment. All religions teach tolerance. Christianity inculcates the higher thought of loving the enemy. Hinduism has a record of accepting other faiths. Islam is the ideology of love, brotherhood and justice. It is human selfishness that creates communalism.
Shajahan Kalur argued that religions are the only authentic source of values. Despite the enrichment of religiosity, this is not reflected in harmony and synthesis. The root cause is the development of superficial religiosity, devoid of values. All religions claim that our religion is the only true one, and that all others are path of perdition. This type of exclusivism is dangerous for a plural society. Religions are affected with the disease called madness. This is the most serious type of madness. The Qur’ān, the Islamic scripture, is adamant that multiplicity of religions is God-sponsored. The verse 5:48 is very unambiguous. He further quoted the Qur’ān 2:62, 22:40, 2:148 and 6:108 to prove this argument. All religionists can find their ethical basis in the Golden rule as enunciated by Mahabharatha, New Testament and Hadith.
Rahul Easwar, (EC member of IIDI) opined the Kerala model is an utter failure despite the false claims. He said that Kerala ranks first in suicide rate, in mental depression, divorce rate increase (700% increase in the last decade 2005-2015), and the avoidance of old aged. He confessed his earlier relativist era. He said he later realised that relativism would lead to nihilism. We the believers should wage joint fight against nihilism and anarchism. Sexploitation is spreading in the guise of women freedom. He forewarned against dictation to the young generation. Motivate them with good modelling rather than ideological persuasion. There are eternal values in the changing society as has been amply proven by Swami Ranganandhantha in his monumental work on the same name. Rahul exhorted to impart Life’s skills education rather than moral education. We, the religionists, cannot exclusively claim God as He is eternal and immortal. Implementation of pre-marriage counselling and education for parenting should be made part of our curriculum.
Fr. Albert Nambiaparambil (EC member of IIDI) held that religious experience is more significant than religion per se. Diversity should be accepted as a brute truth for celebration. Share the shared experience for the upcoming generation; focus on communalities and shared values rather than religious competition.
After these four powerful presentations of 20 minutes each, fruitful discussions were ensued. Dr. Husain Madavoor suggested that a common minimum programme can be easily drafted among various religionists. Diversity shouldn’t be used for clashes. We can derive broad and united front against social evils, particularly that of liquor, drugs, child labour, etc. A model can be created in a particular area which will naturally be spread eventually.
M.T. Antony of Rajagiri College, Kalamassery, argued that unless activity-oriented projects are implemented with the assistance of youths, we cannot succeed. He explained his own experimentation with cleanliness competition which now has over 10,000 participants.
V.K. Abdul Aziz, Jeddah, argued that flooded people of Chennai, realises the futility of communalism more than any other people. They are now experiencing the significance of co-operation, joint action, altruism, and pluralism. Kerala people can create models for bio-agriculture and joint business ventures with strict ethical basis. There is no scarcity of money here in Kerala. The Keralite funds can be pooled for ethical business ventures to create job and natural enrichment. What we need is a theology for religious co-operation rather than theology of hatred.
Prof. P.J. Joseph (Principal of Toc H) lamented that religions are misused nowadays as a marketing commodity to create otherness and political exploitation. There are vested interests both in minority and majorities. Unless values are implemented in our life, religion should turn to be mere farce.
V.M. Ahmed, former Editor of Yojana, argued that social legislation for teaching religious values of all faiths (which are 100% synonymous) can be engineered. This will lessen the current enmity enveloped in the minds of young generation.
Dr. N.M. Sharafuddin, General Secretary of IIDI, who moderated the seminar, also summarized the major arguments raised in the seminar and extended vote of thanks.