Currently, there is a lot of debate in the country about which political party is more Secular. Please read what our Mahaswami says on what is true Secularism. --------------------------------------------------- The rulers of today are of the view that Secularism should be followed by the Government of free India in respect of religion. They understand this to mean that the State will not be inclined to any particular religion. It is necessary to point out that this is not correct and show what is true Secularism. It is not that the State should be completely detached from all religions. On the other hand, a State, instead of being supportive of a particular religion, should support all the religions. The State should support all religions with equal concern and help in the growth without mutual ill-will. It is true that it is the important responsibility of the State to do all that is necessary for the health of the people and the improvement of the quality of their life through education, agriculture and other economic activities, to take care of internal and external security, etc. But more important than the physical health is the mental health. The State cannot discard it. A country where people are not mentally elevated cannot be called a country. The State therefore has to help people in this regard. Since it is religion that develops the mental health, it is definite that the State has a part to play in nurturing religion. Presently, the Government has to spend a lot over policing, courts etc, because lot of offenses are committed in violation of law and order. Apart from the expenditure, the very function of maintaining law and order is a heavy burden. If a small portion of this money is spent on nurturing religion and all the religionists are enabled to carry out maintenance of their places of worship, making grants to Satsang and to worthy individuals in the manner of Kings of olden times, people will get mentally elevated and offenses will come down substantially as in olden times. When the opportunity for material enjoyment are on the increase, and the desire of the people keeps increasing, the need for the government to nurture religion gains greater importance. Today, in most countries, people of several religious faiths live together. Therefore, the correct way of following Secularism will be for the Government to support all religions equally and help in nurturing them. When due to modern science and revolutionary ideas there is a danger all over the world of spirituality being lost and if human beings are not to become like animals, this kind of Secularism has to be followed. Source: Voice of God - Vol 7
Posted on: Mon, 19 Aug 2013 03:00:21 +0000
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