It was once hoped that with scientific progress the tendency to misuse religion in regressive ways—spreading intolerance, hostility and violence, or obstructing the progress of women and weaker sections—would diminish, if not disappear. Unfortunately, this has not happened. Religion continues to be misused in ways that obstruct peace and progress, often more insidiously than is openly admitted. Leaders and communities may not declare it, but many hostilities and violent actions still have their roots in religious intolerance and prejudice.
Given this continuing role of religion in society, the path to peace and progress requires encouraging interpretations of faith that promote harmony rather than conflict. In this context, the views of Mahatma Gandhi are especially valuable. Gandhi never rejected religion; he accepted its importance in society but firmly opposed its misuse to spread hostility or obstruct reform. He believed in inter-faith harmony, urging that devotion to one’s own faith should coexist with respect for others. Going beyond mere tolerance, he advocated respect and understanding of other religions from the perspective of their followers. For him, this made conversion campaigns unnecessary, while leaving individuals free to make personal choices regarding belief.
Equally important, Gandhi linked religion not to ritual but to ethics, reason, and moral responsibility. Religion, he believed, should move away from superstition and blind faith and towards justice, non-violence and human welfare. If any teaching conflicted with peace or ethics, it should be discarded. He also saw an important role for enlightened scholars to interpret religion in ways that address contemporary challenges, including environmental protection and the abolition of weapons of mass destruction.
Gandhi wrote extensively on these ideas, often using metaphors of unity in diversity. He described religions as “beautiful flowers from the same garden” and “branches of the same majestic tree,” equally true despite their differences. He urged reverence for all faiths, insisting that peace on earth depended on not only tolerating but respecting other religions as one’s own. He believed that the true aim was not conversion but helping every individual to become a better follower of their own faith. At the same time, Gandhi rejected any doctrine that defied reason or morality, asserting that true morality meant finding one’s own path and following it fearlessly.
His open-mindedness extended beyond religion to culture and civilization. “I do not want my house to be walled in on all sides and my windows to be stuffed,” he wrote, “I want the cultures of all the lands to be blown about my house as freely as possible. But I refuse to be blown off my feet by any.”
In today’s troubled times of growing religious conflict, Gandhi’s vision remains deeply relevant. His emphasis on peace, ethics, tolerance and social reform offers an antidote to fundamentalism, sectarianism and violence. He showed that religion, far from being an obstacle, can be a force for unity, compassion and progress.
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The writer is Honorary Convener, Campaign to Save Earth Now. His recent books include Man over Machine (Mahatma Gandhi’s ideas for present times), Protecting Earth for Children, Planet in Peril and A Day in 2071
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