Bangladesh is a land of religion. From its very beginning this land was dominated by different religious community. During the reign of Gupta dynasty was dominated by Hindu community, Pala dynasty was by Buddhist and Sena was by Hindu community. And from 1204 till now it was dominated by Muslim community. Though the largest part of population of this land is Muslim but the follower of different community are living here with harmony and love. Here have Hindus, Muslims, Christians, Buddhist and so on but the true practice of religions are quiet absent. The core and common teaching of every religions is to establish peace in society through following their religious scripture, on the other hand, they submit themselves to the will of Ultimate truth; Allah, God, Ishwar or Nirvana. To this purpose all of them have in many cases distinct pathway but the common ground is belief in an Unseen and Ultimate reality.
Belief is something theoretical and sometime obscure. The true reflection of belief is in its practice. In today’s scenario religions have confined into mosque, church, temple etc and turned as an individual affair. As a student of religion, as much as I know that religions have no scope to be confined into worship house or have no change to be a matter of individual affair. It’s a collective activity and worked communally. One of the great practice of every religions is to love neighbor is quiet absent but religious scriptures said that; Bible said “You shall love your neighbor as yourself (Leviticus 19:18). Loving neighbor is one of the two greatest commandment of Christianity, Eight times in the Bible are told to love our neighbor, one of the Bible's most repeated commands. Among the ten greatest commandment of Judaism last five commandments are about the dealings with neighbor, You shall not murder; You shall not commit adultery; You shall not steal; You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor; You shall not covet. Islamic practice about neighbor is A report that Abdullah ibn Amr, a companion who was well versed in Hadith had a sheep slaughtered. He repeatedly asked his servant: “Have you sent some meat as a present to our Jewish neighbour?” When he said that several times, he added: “I have heard Allah’s messenger (Pbuh) saying: “Gabriel has repeatedly recommended me to be good to my neighbor until I have thought that he would include him among my heirs.” In Hinduism Love of the neighbor is a fundamental requirement for a functioning Hindu who aspires for final liberation from this world. Any injury or insult inflicted upon the other soul is ultimately injury inflicted on oneself—or worse still, the higher being. Neighborly love is integral for one's social existence in this world. The Anusana Parva (113:8) in Mahabharata encapsulates this wisdom and dictates that one should be unselfish and not behave toward others in a way that is disagreeable to oneself. And Buddhism said that “Putting oneself in the place of another, one should not kill nor cause another to kill” (Detachment and Compassion in Early Buddhism by Elizabeth J. Harris, enabling.org)
Instances of love towards neighbor may be taken from the history of religious leaders that prophet (sm) had forgiven all the Makkan citizens during the victory of Makka who were the greatest threat for his life and ideology. A pious Christian woman named Marry Magdalena who was a prostitute but Jesus Christ helped her to be turned into the right path through love. Great hindu leader Pravu Jagatbandhu helped a prostitute community to be guided through religious principles only by love. This type of instances is nothing than being a drop of an instances ocean.
In Bangladesh have three types of people based on economy; upper class, middle class and lower class. Among these the people of lower class are the most sufferer but they are the chief wheel of production. Poverty become a part of their life on the other hand minor society of upper class gradually becoming more richer. Lower people become inferior in honor but superior in work. And in most of the cases they have no enough ability to maintain their daily needs. Most of the time they suffer because of lack of food, lack of cloths even sometime they lost their shelter. But the religious leaders have no headeqye. They are busy to introduce themselves as the bearer of his/her religious faiths besides neglecting this large vulnerable community. Bangla Poush and Magh months is the winter season for Bangladesh. Many people suffer mostly due to lace of warm cloths. For them have no any ability to buy warm cloths, they have no shelter, they live in the open sky. Sometimes political parties distribute some blankets but it’s few then reality. Atlast, Bangladesh High court directed the government to distribute warm cloths for the needy people. (The Daily Star, 2010-01-05) In this case religious teachings expose that: Bible says that “And a certain ruler asked him, saying, Good Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? none is good, save one, that is, God. Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honour thy father and thy mother. And he said, All these have I kept from my youth up. Now when Jesus heard these things, he said unto him, Yet lackest thou one thing: sell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me. And when he heard this, he was very sorrowful: for he was very rich. And when Jesus saw that he was very sorrowful, he said, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God! For it is easier for a camel to go through a needle's eye, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.” (Luke 18:18-25) To help others prophet (sm) encouraged his follower and said : Narrated Hakim bin Hizam that the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) said: The upper hand is better than the lower hand (i.e. he who gives in charity is better than him who takes it). One should start giving first to his dependents. And the best object of charity is that which is given by a wealthy person (from the money which is left after his expenses). And whoever abstains from asking others for some financial help, Allah will give him and save him from asking others, Allah will make him self-sufficient. (Bukhari) Holy Quran also say that “Those needy ones who are wholly wrapped up in the cause of Allah, and who are hindered from moving about the earth in search of their livelihood especially deserve help. He who is unaware of their circumstances supposes them to be wealthy because of their dignified bearing, but you will know them by their countenance, although they do not go about begging of people with importunity. And whatever wealth you will spend on helping them, Allah will know of it.” (2:273) In this context Hindu religious scripture Bhagavad Gita say that “In the beginning the creator created human beings together with selfless service (Seva, sacrifice) and said: By serving each other you shall prosper and the sacrificial service shall fulfill all your desires.” (3.10)
Another problem for this religious harmonious country is Eve Teasing. In Last two years the rate of eve teasing is high. In reaction against eve teasing 13th june has been designated “Eve Teasing protection dey” by ministry of education in Bangladesh. Executive didector of ASK Suktana Kamal said that "Some victims find suicide is the only avenue that enables them to escape this social pandemic, the situation is very frightening. The suicides of 14 girls are an alarming sign of the times. If it is not controlled, we women can no longer live in society with any dignity." (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/
This is a country where about 99 per cent people believe in God and follow their respective religion. But question is; where is religion? When 99 per cent people follow his or her faith then why this happen? Answer is though mostly people belief in religion but they do not practice their religion truly for worldly desire. Let us see what religions say about Eve teasing. Holy Scripture of Islam “Al Qur’an” says that And do not go anywhere near adultery: it is an outrage, and an evil path. (Al Qur’an 17:32) Quran also says that “And those who undeservedly insult believing men and women will bear the responsibility of slander and obvious sin” (Al Qur’an 33:58) Christian scripture “New Testament” says that “You have heard that how it was said, you shall not commit adultery. But I say this to you, if you look at a woman lustfully; he has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye should be your downfall, tear it out and throw it away; for it will do you less harm to lose one part of yourself than to have your whole body thrown into hell. And if your right hand should be your downfall, cut it off and throw it away; for it will you do less harm to lose one part of yourself than to have your whole body go to hell.” (Matthew 5:27-30)
Another great misuse of religion is its wrong practice in society. A portion of Ulema give thair judge in against of fornication that female will be flogged more times and applied it as the teaching of Islam. But as far as I know that Islamic rule for fornication is not supposed for non-Islamic state. State is the sole authority for applied this Islamic rule. But, due to the lack of proper Islamic knowledge Islam grow as a controvertial and brutal religion through this type of wrong practice.
In Christian society, follower of Jesus Christ called him as Lord. They venerate him as one of the important part of Catholic Christian concept of Trinity of God. They disclose him as the media between man and God. In some extent they consider him as the son of God and God Himself is Jesus’ spiritual father. But Christian scripture stand against it. New Testament says that “It is not anyone who says to me Lord, Lord, who will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the person who does the will of my father in Heaven. When the day comes many will say to me, Lord,Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, drive out demons in your name? Then I shall tell them to their faces: I have never known you; away from me all evil doers.” In this respect Charles Guignbert had written in his book Jesus that “He was servant of God, then in the hands of Greeks Jesus became the son of God” (Jesus, Trans. Joel Carmichael, P, 125)
In conclusion, About 70 per cent war in the history ware happened due to religious misunderstanding. (Prof. K. M. Saad Uddin) On the other hand most peaceful society of the world’s history was under religion, the rulling life of prophet (SM). So, I think, to live in a peaceful society have no alternative of proper religious understanding and its implication. In Bangladesh most of the people have love and emotion towerds his/her religion but in most of the cases have no proper knowledge of their own faith, which is sole responsible for social discrimination. I believe that only true practice of religion makes a society worthy.
Belief is something theoretical and sometime obscure. The true reflection of belief is in its practice. In today’s scenario religions have confined into mosque, church, temple etc and turned as an individual affair. As a student of religion, as much as I know that religions have no scope to be confined into worship house or have no change to be a matter of individual affair. It’s a collective activity and worked communally. One of the great practice of every religions is to love neighbor is quiet absent but religious scriptures said that; Bible said “You shall love your neighbor as yourself (Leviticus 19:18). Loving neighbor is one of the two greatest commandment of Christianity, Eight times in the Bible are told to love our neighbor, one of the Bible's most repeated commands. Among the ten greatest commandment of Judaism last five commandments are about the dealings with neighbor, You shall not murder; You shall not commit adultery; You shall not steal; You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor; You shall not covet. Islamic practice about neighbor is A report that Abdullah ibn Amr, a companion who was well versed in Hadith had a sheep slaughtered. He repeatedly asked his servant: “Have you sent some meat as a present to our Jewish neighbour?” When he said that several times, he added: “I have heard Allah’s messenger (Pbuh) saying: “Gabriel has repeatedly recommended me to be good to my neighbor until I have thought that he would include him among my heirs.” In Hinduism Love of the neighbor is a fundamental requirement for a functioning Hindu who aspires for final liberation from this world. Any injury or insult inflicted upon the other soul is ultimately injury inflicted on oneself—or worse still, the higher being. Neighborly love is integral for one's social existence in this world. The Anusana Parva (113:8) in Mahabharata encapsulates this wisdom and dictates that one should be unselfish and not behave toward others in a way that is disagreeable to oneself. And Buddhism said that “Putting oneself in the place of another, one should not kill nor cause another to kill” (Detachment and Compassion in Early Buddhism by Elizabeth J. Harris, enabling.org)
Instances of love towards neighbor may be taken from the history of religious leaders that prophet (sm) had forgiven all the Makkan citizens during the victory of Makka who were the greatest threat for his life and ideology. A pious Christian woman named Marry Magdalena who was a prostitute but Jesus Christ helped her to be turned into the right path through love. Great hindu leader Pravu Jagatbandhu helped a prostitute community to be guided through religious principles only by love. This type of instances is nothing than being a drop of an instances ocean.
In Bangladesh have three types of people based on economy; upper class, middle class and lower class. Among these the people of lower class are the most sufferer but they are the chief wheel of production. Poverty become a part of their life on the other hand minor society of upper class gradually becoming more richer. Lower people become inferior in honor but superior in work. And in most of the cases they have no enough ability to maintain their daily needs. Most of the time they suffer because of lack of food, lack of cloths even sometime they lost their shelter. But the religious leaders have no headeqye. They are busy to introduce themselves as the bearer of his/her religious faiths besides neglecting this large vulnerable community. Bangla Poush and Magh months is the winter season for Bangladesh. Many people suffer mostly due to lace of warm cloths. For them have no any ability to buy warm cloths, they have no shelter, they live in the open sky. Sometimes political parties distribute some blankets but it’s few then reality. Atlast, Bangladesh High court directed the government to distribute warm cloths for the needy people. (The Daily Star, 2010-01-05) In this case religious teachings expose that: Bible says that “And a certain ruler asked him, saying, Good Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? none is good, save one, that is, God. Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honour thy father and thy mother. And he said, All these have I kept from my youth up. Now when Jesus heard these things, he said unto him, Yet lackest thou one thing: sell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me. And when he heard this, he was very sorrowful: for he was very rich. And when Jesus saw that he was very sorrowful, he said, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God! For it is easier for a camel to go through a needle's eye, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.” (Luke 18:18-25) To help others prophet (sm) encouraged his follower and said : Narrated Hakim bin Hizam that the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) said: The upper hand is better than the lower hand (i.e. he who gives in charity is better than him who takes it). One should start giving first to his dependents. And the best object of charity is that which is given by a wealthy person (from the money which is left after his expenses). And whoever abstains from asking others for some financial help, Allah will give him and save him from asking others, Allah will make him self-sufficient. (Bukhari) Holy Quran also say that “Those needy ones who are wholly wrapped up in the cause of Allah, and who are hindered from moving about the earth in search of their livelihood especially deserve help. He who is unaware of their circumstances supposes them to be wealthy because of their dignified bearing, but you will know them by their countenance, although they do not go about begging of people with importunity. And whatever wealth you will spend on helping them, Allah will know of it.” (2:273) In this context Hindu religious scripture Bhagavad Gita say that “In the beginning the creator created human beings together with selfless service (Seva, sacrifice) and said: By serving each other you shall prosper and the sacrificial service shall fulfill all your desires.” (3.10)
Another problem for this religious harmonious country is Eve Teasing. In Last two years the rate of eve teasing is high. In reaction against eve teasing 13th june has been designated “Eve Teasing protection dey” by ministry of education in Bangladesh. Executive didector of ASK Suktana Kamal said that "Some victims find suicide is the only avenue that enables them to escape this social pandemic, the situation is very frightening. The suicides of 14 girls are an alarming sign of the times. If it is not controlled, we women can no longer live in society with any dignity." (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/
This is a country where about 99 per cent people believe in God and follow their respective religion. But question is; where is religion? When 99 per cent people follow his or her faith then why this happen? Answer is though mostly people belief in religion but they do not practice their religion truly for worldly desire. Let us see what religions say about Eve teasing. Holy Scripture of Islam “Al Qur’an” says that And do not go anywhere near adultery: it is an outrage, and an evil path. (Al Qur’an 17:32) Quran also says that “And those who undeservedly insult believing men and women will bear the responsibility of slander and obvious sin” (Al Qur’an 33:58) Christian scripture “New Testament” says that “You have heard that how it was said, you shall not commit adultery. But I say this to you, if you look at a woman lustfully; he has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye should be your downfall, tear it out and throw it away; for it will do you less harm to lose one part of yourself than to have your whole body thrown into hell. And if your right hand should be your downfall, cut it off and throw it away; for it will you do less harm to lose one part of yourself than to have your whole body go to hell.” (Matthew 5:27-30)
Another great misuse of religion is its wrong practice in society. A portion of Ulema give thair judge in against of fornication that female will be flogged more times and applied it as the teaching of Islam. But as far as I know that Islamic rule for fornication is not supposed for non-Islamic state. State is the sole authority for applied this Islamic rule. But, due to the lack of proper Islamic knowledge Islam grow as a controvertial and brutal religion through this type of wrong practice.
In Christian society, follower of Jesus Christ called him as Lord. They venerate him as one of the important part of Catholic Christian concept of Trinity of God. They disclose him as the media between man and God. In some extent they consider him as the son of God and God Himself is Jesus’ spiritual father. But Christian scripture stand against it. New Testament says that “It is not anyone who says to me Lord, Lord, who will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the person who does the will of my father in Heaven. When the day comes many will say to me, Lord,Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, drive out demons in your name? Then I shall tell them to their faces: I have never known you; away from me all evil doers.” In this respect Charles Guignbert had written in his book Jesus that “He was servant of God, then in the hands of Greeks Jesus became the son of God” (Jesus, Trans. Joel Carmichael, P, 125)
In conclusion, About 70 per cent war in the history ware happened due to religious misunderstanding. (Prof. K. M. Saad Uddin) On the other hand most peaceful society of the world’s history was under religion, the rulling life of prophet (SM). So, I think, to live in a peaceful society have no alternative of proper religious understanding and its implication. In Bangladesh most of the people have love and emotion towerds his/her religion but in most of the cases have no proper knowledge of their own faith, which is sole responsible for social discrimination. I believe that only true practice of religion makes a society worthy.
In one word 'excellent'
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