Question- Throw light on the division on religious differences in the society.

Related Short Answer Questions

1. Write a short article on religious division.
   
2. What is communal politics based on?

Answer -

This division is not as universal as gender division, but religious diversity has become very widespread in the world today. People of different religions live in many countries including India but, as we saw in the case of Northern Ireland, serious differences can arise even if people follow one religion but have different rituals and beliefs. In contrast to the gender divide, the religious division is often expressed in the political arena. Consider some issues:

Gandhiji used to say that religion can never be separated from politics. By religion, he did not mean religion like Hinduism or Islam, but with moral values which are associated with all religions. He believed that politics should be guided by the values established by religion.

Human rights groups in our country say that most of the people who died in communal riots in this country belong to minority communities. Their demand is that the government should take special steps to protect the minorities.

The women’s movement says that the family laws described in all religions discriminate against women. This movement demands that the government should change these laws to make them egalitarian.

All these matters are related to religion and politics but they do not seem very wrong or even dangerous. Ideals and values derived from different religions can play a role in politics. People as a religious community should have the right to raise their needs, interests and demands in politics. Those who are in political power should keep an eye on the working of religion and if it discriminates against anyone or plays a role in oppressing someone then it should be stopped.

The problem begins when religion is taken as the basis of the nation. The Northern Ireland example from the previous chapter illustrates the dangers associated with such a concept of nationalism. The problem becomes worse when the expression of religion in politics takes the form of assertion and advocacy of the uniqueness of one community and its followers open a front against the followers of other religions. This happens when the views of one religion are considered superior to the other and one religious group starts raising its demands against the other group. In this process, when the state starts using its power in favour of any one religion, then the situation starts getting worse. Connecting religion with politics in this way is communalism.

Communal politics is based on the idea that religion is what constitutes a social community. To think in line with this belief is communalism. According to this thinking, people who believe in a particular religion belong to the same community.

Their fundamental interests are the same and the differences between the people of the community do not have any importance in the community life. This view also includes the idea that people following a different religion cannot be part of another social community; If there is any similarity in the thinking of people of different religions then it is superficial and dishonest. People of different religions will have different interests and conflicts. When the communal thinking progresses further, it starts adding to the idea that the followers of other religions cannot live in the same nation as equal citizens. According to this mentality, either the people of one community will have to live under the domination of another community or else a separate nation will have to be created for them.

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