If you live on this earth in a relatively normal surrounding then you have met others who are not like you. In fact, not just not like you, but rather the complete opposite of you. You will have met people with varied tastes in music, food, clothes, manner of living etc. 

I love tangerines, while others would rather hit me with an apple so I see its true power. I love Superman while others are (wrongly) loyal to Batman. My preference in music might have given some a headache while theirs might have come in handy on the nights I could not fall sleep.

Many differences. You may have disagreed, argued a bit and then gone on with your day.

However, the one time you may not have been able to go on was when the topic of religion came up and you were told that the religion you were following was in fact the wrong one. If you would just listen for a little bit, you could then come to the right path and finally be on the correct road to heaven.

I myself have been chased, (yes, literally chased down the street) by a Jehovah’s Witness who insisted that I listen to him and be saved.  Point to be noted – chasing someone and force-feeding his religion down someone’s throat is not all that effective! If anything, you will thank your stars you are not part of the group with the trained-to-run nutty man!

Muslims also like to tell others that theirs is the right religion. (Right sect too –umm Ahmadi… or umm Shia)

So who is right and who is wrong when everyone is so adamant that their belief is the right one?

Think about where you were born.

If you were born in Pakistan and that too to Muslim parents, chances are that you will be a Muslim. (As if, anything else was possible) You would have been dragged to enough Friday sermons and Eid prayers (if you were a boy) and would have been subjected to enough lectures on how to behave halal-ly (if you were a girl). Thus making sure, that even if you tried, you could not even glance at another religion/thought even with the corner of your eye.  That eye would have been poked long before you could blink it back straight ahead!

If you were been born in the US to Christian parents, you would more than likely be a Christian. Buddhist in Sri Lanka, so on and so forth. So the religion you follow has a lot to do with geography then, doesn’t it? Also, as the same religion is trickling down the generations, doesn’t it make the belief more cultural rather than theological? You are told you are a Christian, Muslim, Hindu, etc before you can even read!

Now, Pakistan is predominately a Muslim country, so Islam is taught more in schools thus further strengthening and endorsing the faith of the kids. Pakistan is after all, a country that was created just for Muslims. However, if each school taught different religions equally and then asked the kids to choose the one they liked or could relate to the most (without any dire consequences or penalties from anyone), I am fairly certain that a lot of questions would be asked (which is not presently encouraged) before leading to the personal choice of selection.

Taking that further, the main problem that arises is when most religions suggest that one group is right while the other is wrong. Even if the religion doesn’t, you then have the likes of ‘scholar’ Zakir Naik preaching (and brainwashing) millions that you can’t even wish Christians on Christmas. Or Pastor Terry Jones who also seems to only preach hate.  Shiv Sena.  Amir Liaquat. Anjem Chaudhary. There is a long list.

“When we decide what is, we close our minds to possibilities of what could be.”

That is where all the goodwill that could exist between us as humans goes, bringing in instead, spitefulness, distrust and even hatred. If one stuck to spirituality and without beating drums about it everywhere, our minds would be more open and we would be able to draw our own conclusions through our personal experiences, and findings.

Bertrand Russell once wrote an article giving advice in the form of Ten Commandments for living in a healthy Democracy. I think to be able to decide how to think for oneself, these apply here as well.

1: Do not feel absolutely certain of anything.

2: Do not think it worthwhile to produce belief by concealing evidence, for the evidence is sure to come to light.

3: Never try to discourage thinking, for you are sure to succeed.

4: When you meet with opposition, even if it should be from your husband or your children, endeavor to overcome it by argument and not by authority, for a victory dependent upon authority is unreal and illusory.

5: Have no respect for the authority of others, for there are always contrary authorities to be found.

6: Do not use power to suppress opinions you think pernicious, for if you do the opinions will suppress you.

7: Do not fear to be eccentric in opinion, for every opinion now accepted was once eccentric.

8: Find more pleasure in intelligent dissent than in passive agreement, for, if you value intelligence as you should, the former implies a deeper agreement than the latter.

9: Be scrupulously truthful, even when truth is inconvenient, for it is more inconvenient when you try to conceal it.

10: Do not feel envious of the happiness of those who live in a fool’s paradise, for only a fool will think that it is happiness.