Monday, April 9, 2012

Humanity in Religion

The basis for religion is humanity but do we really find the humanity part in our cultural practices?

We know what the answer is; so isn't it ironical that we continue to put 'humanity' as the basis for religion?

I visited a remote village in a neighboring district yesterday. It was the village festival but my interest was not for the festival. I thought I could do some bird watching and capture good photos.

Capture did I some nice snaps and I also spotted beautiful birds - peacocks, cranes, kites, partridge, huge sparrows and larks. I was so glad to see these birds so happy lapping up in nature while we find it so hard to spot a sparrow in Bangalore. Anyway owing to my poor 18-105mm lens, I could not capture any of them on my camera.

I digressed along the way; so I was talking about religious practices and humanity. Treat others with respect and be kind to animals and all that one learnt in your school as part of catechism and moral science? The event was a village festival; so people flocked from nearby villages to a tiny temple to sacrifice animals and appease the goddess.

Sacrificing animals is not something new; in fact sacrificing humans and animals were very much part of world culture right? For me it seemed the Goddess was a violent lady and she liked torture and agony; she wanted to be pleased as apposed to peace and serenity. Now, thats how people seemed to have read it.

Every religion has the same base principles. For eg, Bible talks a lot about sacrifice. What is a sacrifice? Sacrifice is giving up something that we really want; the story of Abraham sacrificing Isaac is symbolic. But people do tend to take it literally and dramatically. It involves shedding of blood of a hapless creature to atone the sins of the individual or the group making this sacrifice. Obviously the blood shed is not of the person making the sacrifice; an animal is being made to pay for someone else's sins.

What I witnessed was such unethical treatment of helpless animals; tied and handled with no respect for life whatsoever. They were brutally butchered as they continued to cry. To watch a sight of barbarism as their body shudder and finally they give up that life is ghastly. People cheered as the poor creatures died; they skinned them, cleaned and cut them; in some time they relished the food.

What if the man was meted out with such an end? I saw this nice picture on facebook and it is worth sharing it here.


24 comments:

  1. Unfortunate and barbaric practices are being pursued to appease god:( Ironical!

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    Replies
    1. Rahul,

      Its sad and i dont see it ending any decades soon

      Delete
  2. B, perhaps looking around you can consider the definition of “humanity” is a misnomer? Wonder why the word has to be identified with human beings! I’m being cynical? I love being so in these contexts.

    Human sacrifices were part of pagan culture and vanished from modern life because of the laws. Now the hapless creatures (animals and birds) are slaughtered under the guise of sacrifice. Do these people ask the beasts if they agree to sacrifice their lives? We thrust our selfish will and motives on them. Man’s ego! It is like I robbing you and filling the temple hundi.

    But guess the Gods love the acts of man. Because, either he created man in his image, or man destined god in his form.

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    1. Anil,

      Humanity is identifed with human being because they keep screaming that they are evolved and have six senses!

      Yet we behave worse than any creature known. Animals kill only when they are hungry but man....

      Delete
  3. Very true, we have made laws and regulations not to follow the meaningless superstitions but still people are not able to know the reason behind it. When the eco cycle gets disturbed then we all will repent for it. Good one Insignia :) loved the picture of God's Vs Man's :D

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    Replies
    1. Vinayak,

      We will repent not because the ecosystem is disturbed; but because our existence will also be threatened finally. Man is selfish even there.

      Delete
  4. Insignia - surprised, we both posted about animal killing, but under different context on the same day :)

    I pity the gods, who seek such sacrifices of animals, either to please themselves or to make them more strong.. the pagan traditions cease to leave the ego filled mind of man, who is too afraid to shed his own life, before the alter he believes and worships as a prayer...

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    Replies
    1. ousu,

      Yeah, if man can sacrifice his own life (the way they did earlier)....but laws and rules seems only for man but dont apply to animals since they are lowly creatures

      Delete
  5. Cruel instincts under religious garb. Even after thousands of years , still it continues.

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  6. Every religious practice starts out as something that adds value to human soul. But somehow after years only the cover remains and the real value it convey is lost.

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  7. Incredible.I had visited the famous temple in Guwhahati and I was sorry to watch animal scrifices there.....

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    Replies
    1. Chowla sir,

      Same story everywhere.

      Delete
    2. I was going to say the same what BK Chowla ji said in his comment :(

      Delete
  8. Some of these barbaric practices are really repulsive. Of course, human beings are doing irreparable damage to all other life forms.

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  9. lots to learn but people dont seem to have time..

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  10. I am also against this animal sacrifices. here people rear goats and cows to sacrifice during festivals.

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    Replies
    1. chitra,

      They continue to do so even after the ban; I dont know how Gods like it

      Delete
  11. So depressing! You have exposed the inhumanity of religions - but then, who said religions were for humanity? It is only for Gods and their representatives.

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    Replies
    1. Balan,

      That whats it seems to be. Religion and the thesis/books should not preach humanity then!

      Delete

I'd love to know what you thought :-) Please shoot!