The recent attacks in Paris have triggered a wave of grief and condemnation. However, these human-caused calamities seem to recur with terrifying regularity around the world. In this article, Sadhguru looks at the very nature of religious terrorism, and what the world needs to do about it.

Sadhguru: Religious terrorism is a major part of the mechanism of terror in the world today. The purpose of terrorism is not war but to cripple a society with fear. Their aim is to spread panic among the people, divide the society, derail the economic growth of the country, create strife, violence and lawlessness at every level – in other words, reduce a country to a failed state.

Religious philosophies that have world-conquering ambitions have the propensity for causing a grievous blow to all life upon the planet. Of all the kinds of violence, particularly religion-motivated terrorism is the most dangerous kind. You can speak reason to a man who is fighting for anything else, but when a man believes he is fighting for his God, there is no reasoning with him. When people are fighting for money, property, or something else, it is possible to negotiate with them because they are life-oriented; but those who think they are fighting for God or doing God’s work are only too eager to die and take all of us with them.

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Moving From Political Correctness to Solutions

In the last two millennia, there has been much uninstigated violence unleashed upon various people of the world by the religious groups across the planet. This landscape of violence that they have left while continuously talking about peace, love and compassion is abhorrent and has scary scenarios hidden in them.

It is time to address some fundamental causes that propel these types of violent actions in the name of religion. Public discourse needs to move from the politically correct stance to striving for solutions for the ills of our times. In the very sacred texts that are purported to be the words of God, there is very strong stimulus for violence against all who do not share the belief that some have chosen or been taught to believe.


 

Whatever the reason these words of instigation got into sacred books, it is time that what is not suitable is expunged – god willing. We can ask, if god says nothing it wouldn’t be a crime to take it as an affirmative. Ensuring that no one needs to be a god’s soldier is the absolute need of the day. For all the other causes of violence, we can find solutions at some point but for those who fight for their gods, there is no solution. You cannot wean them off that because it is an eternal cause and damnation for the world. Only if all religious groups are willing to start looking at the prospect of expunging stimulus for violence from their sacred books will there be a possibility of a solution. It is not just one group, all should strive. It is not going to be an easy exercise, but it has to start at some point of time.

Editor’s Note: Sadhguru explores war, peace and violence in the ebook “Culture of Peace” available at Isha Downloads. Pay what you wish and download it.

Culture of Peace