Showing posts with label religion. Show all posts
Showing posts with label religion. Show all posts

Monday, January 3, 2011

India is considered to be the birthplace of many religions

India is the land of spirituality and philosophy and is considered to be the birthplace of many religions Indian religion is varied in approach and different in meaning. Most of the types of religion in India are called Dharmic religions. In the Indian subcontinent Hinduism, Jainism, Buddhism and Sikhism form a subgroup of the larger class of "Eastern religions". Religion adds meaning and purpose to the lives of the people. It is actually a practice that enhances direct communication with God. A religion is a belief concerning one or more deities and incorporating rituals, ceremonies, ethical guidelines, and life philosophies. Thus, religion has diversified and grown to include major monotheistic religions in the country.

Buddha A wide assortment of religions exists in the country today. Hinduism is the ancient among the other types of Religion in India. This religion can be called the native religion of the subcontinent. Christianity and Islam visited the country with the invaders, traders and the missionaries. Many essentially Hindus got converted and baptised in to Christianity or Islam. Far eastern religions like Buddhism and Sikhism also developed besides Hinduism. Iranic religions like Zoroastrianism and Bahai are also new to the country. All religions in the country dictate peace and good will. Moreover, the different religious belief plays an imperative role in the history of the world.

The people of India can be benefited from learning about the different types of religion in India. Hinduism originated with Brahman as the central Lord. Around 80 percent of the population of India follows Hinduism. Hinduism is a major Indian religion that is divided into various schools according to different faiths and principles. Hinduism is a fascinating religion and the temples are about that which was influenced by different traditions, legends, and beliefs. Among the various types of religion in India, Buddhism also developed with the philosophy and teachings of Gautam Buddha.

Among the different types of Religion in India, Christianity came to India with the coming of Portuguese. It is the second largest religion, followed in the country. Christianity is an Abrahamic religion which is cantered on God, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit. Islam is a religion which originated in the country with various invasions. The Muslims are spread about 12 percent of India`s population. The first spreaders of Islam in India were individuals who saw in spreading Islam a holy precept. They began coming to India from the 11th century.

JesusSikhism was established in the 15 century among the different Types of Religion in India. It is a new religion and 2 percent of Indians are Sikhs. Judaism is considered a faith of action and is based on the covenant relationship between God and the chosen Jewish people. Bahai religion grew out of Islam and is one of the youngest religions in the World. Jainism is a self-help religion that relies on the self instead of gods. This religion is all about promoting equality between humans, animals, and plants those have souls. Zoroastrianism is the smallest religions existing in the World as well as in the country today; Zoroastrianism regards humans as the helpers of God. All the different types of religion in India make the country a secular place.


Thursday, March 11, 2010

Caste System In India Requires A New Look


Caste system in modern India has divided the nation into different communities with different perceptions and the most divisive factor. While the majority adheres to Hinduism as their faith, caste divides them for wrong reasons often.

There is a theory that the caste system has denied equality to many and gave opportunities to a few. Caste system has been perceived as being practiced by the front line castes to the disadvantage of the other communities. It is also said that caste system led to the oppression of disadvantaged caste groups. But the matter of fact is that India was ruled prior to independence for hundreds of years by the Muslim and British rulers who invaded the nation and governed the destinies.

Caste system has led to reservations of every kind among the citizens. The focus is not on helping the less privileged or under privileged to compete with the so called forward castes. The political system only perpetuated the continuance of the caste system and succeeded in creating vote banks on the strength of which rulers are elected. It is agreed by one and all that equal opportunities be given to all its citizens irrespective of caste, creed, race and religion.

Those people who used the benefits of reservation continue to enjoy the reservation facilities for their progeny though they are no longer under privileged or under developed. The creamy layer that benefited the most from the caste reservation system continues to claim the rights and privileges that are no longer needed by them. They appear to be expressing their loyalty to the caste from which they came and benefited, and there by attracting other still to be befitted people to flock round them only to benefit the already privileged among those oppressed castes.

All the financially backward people must be treated equally and benefits be made available to them so that they equip themselves to compete with the haves in the society. It must start with education system. Income be made the sole criteria and seats for the underprivileged or back ward classes and children of such parents must be given choice to admit their child in any school or college of their choice and the government should reimburse the entire expenses for education to the economically dis advantaged families. Those rich and powerful, to which ever caste they may belong to must be asked to pay for the education on their own.This ensures that quality education is made available to deserving children without financial burden for those families that can hardly afford quality education. This financial backing must continue for the economically under privileged classes till they get a reasonable job with good salary.