Openness towards other religions

Religious fanaticism is for sure an issue to deal with as many fail to realize that there are tendency to have it in one’s self without even “the self” knowing it. There are many complications when religious fanaticism is being in practise whereby it silently weakens unity, togetherness and harmony and the damage is worse moreover if it lurks in a multi-cultural nation.

Religious fanaticism has a potential to create a mental block to understand and appreciate the religion of others and only emphasizes on the self-religious grandiosity this will eventually cause the act of being bias / stigmatic or the mind of looking down on other religions overall creating a religious encapsulation (If there is such word)

There is no harm in having a positive regard over the religion being practised, but creating a second to none value over the religion practised and the act of claiming supremacy would cause more bad than good as no religion on earth be it from the Vedic or the reveal knowledge encourages the said attributes.

One must always make it a point to understand that all religion is formed and exists for the wellbeing of the believing society thus it has to be respected and viewed with a positive regards this does not make the self any less religious of the own nor it does not make a convert in doing so

In order to have a say or have an opinion of other religions there are certain prerequisites which are


1. The ability to stand un-biased or comparison orientated to the religion of the self

2. Knowing and understanding basic fundamentals of the religion to be
commented to an acceptable level prior to commenting or stating a view

3. Accepting the Religion as a co-existing on earth and having a mutual respect
towards it not minding the contradicting factors of it towards other religions

Now the stated prerequisite’s sounds difficult and it is indeed yet these prerequisite’s ensure that a view given upon another religion is open and has a neutral factor as open commenting, mocking, jilting or down grading other religions in comparison to the very own religion would be an act of creating a stir of peace and values

Furthermore many fail to realize a point in contrast of Religious fanaticism is that many who practise it have to first turn back and look at how are they incorporated in their very own religion? either by nature i.e. born in that particular religion thus incorporated in it or engaging in the religion with a deep love, respect and understanding of the religion’s fundamental teachings, values & philosophies?

If the latter is neither found nor inculcated then clinging on Religious fanaticism is just an act of hypocrisy

Overall to be open to other religions, one must first understand the religion of the self, then understand the other religion as it is and only then work out on the diversities of religions existing and stay at the pace of accepting the diversities and respecting it as it is to sustain harmony and peace

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Suren