I Hate Religion

Or rather what it makes of people. Any religious being believes that my own religion is far superior to every other, that people belonging or following that religion are better. That others belonging to another religion are somehow lesser beings.

Every religious and pious being, spending hours in prayer and meditation, believes they are on the path of salvation. They believe that every prayer shall be answered with a ‘yes’ because they bribe God with a chadar, with money, with food, with hunger, with abstinence. That God may have ‘no’ for an answer is not to be contemplated. Some places have a special connection and all prayers result in a positive.

Fynn wrote a book on Anna, a five year old abused child he found on the road. Fynn was 17 or 18 at the time. Anna’s vision of God is amazing in one sense and yet so absolutely right, that it feels that she has put into words what one has felt all along. Mr. God, This is Anna – seems to me is a book that must be read sometime in life – preferably in ones early teens, for the first time.

For me God has always been on my side. He has provided for me in the most difficult circumstances. For a person hating violence and unable to cope with it, He has made it possible for me to be away in some more peaceful place – without knowing why I should be away. He has made it possible for me to get 3 years of comfort and ease when I was at the point of breaking up. He has made it possible for me to have enough money to bail me out of the worst situations at critical points. He has made a wonderful housekeeper available to me. He has gifted me a wonderful husband and beautiful children at a time of utmost despair. Sometimes, He may have asked of me to do my duty, yet He has never demanded payment for all this and more that He has provided me with.

Being a peace loving person, who is yet to hit anyone in anger, it hurts to be asked time and again, why the Bombay Blasts. Just because I was born a Muslim, does that make me a terrorist or an expert on terrorism? Why am I supposed to know the thought processes of that vile breed? Yet it is the most devout who pray morning and night after having carefully bathed, who ask me this question. The very same who have known me for nearly half my life.

So, God is my best friend… but… I hate religion.