From: selvakum@watserv1.uwaterloo.ca (C.R.Selvakumar - Electrical Engineering)
Subject: Re: Lord Vishnu offered special prayers at Srimushnam, T.Nadu
Organization: University of Waterloo
Date: Sat, 12 Dec 1992 17:48:41 GMT

In article <17483@umd5.umd.edu>, gopals@astro.umd.edu (N. Gopalswamy) writes:
> In article <Bz2Hv0.B1u@watserv1.uwaterloo.ca> selvakum@watserv1.uwaterloo.ca (C.R.Selvakumar - Electrical Engineering) writes:
> >In article <5536@daily-planet.concordia.ca>, rengi@vax2.concordia.ca (RENGARAJAN, SAMPATH) writes:
> >> incidents in India. 
> >> Message-ID: <9DEC199211413723@vax2.concordia.ca>
> >> Organization: Concordia University
> >> News-Software: VAX/VMS VNEWS 1.41    
> >> 
> >> and holy Mayil thogai. After offering some prayers in Urdu,  the  control 
> >> will then be passed on to the priest (Archagars or Bhaatachaaryaals)  who 
> >> accompanies  the  lord  to  complete  the  mission  of  Kanu  in  a  huge 
> >> procession. Citing this, unique tradition, the state Govt has  undertaken 
> >> 
> >
> >    It is fundementally corruptive to politicize religion; religion
>      ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
> Selva:
> 
> Can you cite any religion without political connotation?

     Relgion is nothing to do with politics. But politics
     is there in even the so called religious instituitions 
     like Matts, etc. should not be construed to mean that
     religion comes with politics. If that is so then we would be 
     better of without religion ( as Philosopher J. Krishnamoorthy
     often used to say, religion divides). I used the word in the
     true sense of the word as I understand which I slighly exanded
     as given below in my old posting.

     Many kingdoms might have encouraged
     some religions or might have even practiced 'theocracies'but
     none of these facts should lead one to think
     that religion and politics have to mix. 
     
      My point was- it is fundementally corruptive to 
      politicize religion ( namely appealing
      to commonness of a religious practice to create a sense
      unity IN ORDER TO OPPOSE some other group of people who
      follow a different path). I say corruptive because it 
      debases the essense of what is religion all about. 
    
> I doubt it. At the most you can replace religion by God.
> Any institution in the name of God has a particular
> relation to the ruling institutions and hence is politicized.

   Although I believe there is no need for any institutions
   in the name of God and even if they must exist, their relation
   with ruling institutions NEED NOT have anything to do with 
   religion and can be purely administrative and civic issues.
   Unless those who claim to follow or 'propagate' religion have
   ulterior motives. Then religion can be attacked like prostitution
   for the debauchery they indulge in. In some sense even prostitution
   is honest because the intentions are clear and straightforward ! 
   
> Even the examples of Hindu - Muslim hybrid worships
> had their origin in politicks when muslim rulers
> took control of the regions containing this temple.

   I entirely agree with the above, but it has promoted unity and
   harmony, what more can one ask for ? 

   If politics means fighting for control, what better achievement can 
   there be than having harmony and happiness ( are not these partly
   or essentially the aims of religion or 'good politics' if one such
   exists) ? 

> However, I personally believe that was the most
> sensible thing people could do to keep the entropy low!!

      I agree with you.

  My understanding of what a religion is is given below:
> 
> >    is for inner pilgrimage and those who are religious evolve,
> >    flower inside, seek supreme love and supreme wisdom. What 
> >    does one achieve by hating another religion, it is beyond me,
> >    except to conclude they have yielded to a fundementally dangerous
> >    form of corruption. 
> >
> >    Your words and the details you had given was soulfully soothing
> >    to the pain of seeing so many innocent people dying in India,
> >    Pakistan and Bangladesh. 
> >
> >    regards
> >    Selva
> >    
> N. Gopalswamy
> 
> 

       regards
        Selva
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