Why are religionists so insecure? Any criticism of their faith...

Someone asked...

 
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My reply was...

Khalsa Jee,

Truly religious individuals never feel insecure, they are in the care of ‘Almighty’; how can they feel insecure. Truly pious people never criticise any religion. They do have views and express them in a way to enlighten others. They present their views to supplement the knowledge base of the person with whom they are talking. They never compare one religion with the other; they are not in competition with any other religion. When they express, they help the listener to understand his/her own chosen path to divinity (religion) in more fineness and with greater clarity. This they do as a service to humanity without expecting any thing in return. This is a simple outcome of their realisation that each one of the religions is only a path to divinity and not an end in itself. God can be realised following any path in its true spirit. They respect all religions.

The feeling of hurt comes not from the criticism but from the intent behind it.
For example: When some one breaks a coconut in a temple, he/she normally thinks that he/she is offering coconut to God. Now let us study the entire process. The coconut as it grew on the tree was an act of God and so belonged to God. The money with which the individual had purchased the coconut also came to him/ her only because God wished that way, so any item purchased with this money too belonged to God. When the individual breaks the nut in a temple, he/she says that it belongs to God now. In fact the coconut belonged to God all the time during this complete process God alone was the real owner - what the individual can offered to God who does not need any thing. There has to be some more fundamental meaning behind the symbolic action of breaking coconut in the temple. Coconut resembles in some way our skull. It is round and very hard outside. Coconut is difficult to break, it require considerable force. Within the coconut there is a kernel, very close to gray colour of our brain. The brain is the seat of our ‘Ahamkara’, which is very difficult to get rid off (break). When the individual breaks coconut in temple, it really should reflect the inner resolve of the devotee to break his ‘Ahamkara’ – the real offering to the God. God does not need coconut, but ego less devotees are what God recognises and loves. So breaking coconut is an external expression of inner resolve to give up his/her ‘Ahamkara’. This is the explanation for the specific act. This, in a way, is criticism of the practice of breaking of coconut, which is done in a mechanical ritualistic manner by some of the devotees, but no body feels offended as the listener becomes deeper in his own religious practices. The intent of this explanation is not to denigrate the practice but to give philosophical depth to the devotee – he/she come out as a gainer. Here no one has tried to wriggle out an explanation using his/her own religious base. The explanation is base on secular rational i.e. pure logic fitting well with the religion of the devotee. There is no attempt to suggest that any one religion is better that another. No one gets ever offended by such criticism. The divinities work to tell people significance of the path (religion) in the sociological and intellectual settings of the devotees.
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/interfaith-dialogues/91-why-religionists-so-insecure-any-criticism.html
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=91

There are organisations deliberately designed to propagate some specific religion, which on occasions use falsehood and use slanders to denigrate other religions. The falsehood, which they propagate, is offensive and not based on truth of the targeted religion: this hurts the followers. I am of the opinion that such acts should not be replied in kind, but should be countered by well-designed scientific methods.

I agree with Khalsa Jee, that in Sikhism there is not much that can be called blind faith. I also agree with him that ego plays a great role shaping individual’s response: the reaction of the people stems from feeling of hurt, created by unjust criticism: no one can dub this feeling as insecurity. Our religion is based on truth and you know truth never feels insecure.

With love and respect for all.

Amarpal

Fateh Amarpal Ji,

Your answering the question the way you did shows indepth study and a great understanding of Sikh Philosophy. There is nothing more to add to your analysis.

Sir, you should participte even more as there are many questions being put be non-sikhs daily as posted in that forum...

Answers to these questions is a must for a Sikh to know... Please share your expertise of sikhphilosphy with everyone...
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=91
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=91

Chardi Kalaa

Dear Khalsa Jee,

Sure, I will continue to share what I know with you all.
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=91

With Love and Respect for all

Amarpal

Sangat ji,

A friend sent me this quote and i think it is very appropriate to religious life (and to this discussion):
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=91

"Some people live closely guarded lives, fearful of encountering someone or something that might shatter their insecure spiritual foundation. This attitude, however, is not the fault of religion but of their own limited understanding. True Dharma leads exactly the opposite direction. It enables one to integrate all the many diverse experiences of life into a meaningful and coherent whole, thereby banishing fear and insecurity completely."
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=91
- Lama Thubten Yeshe, "Wisdom Energy"

Welcome Pawan Ji

Thanks for sharing your thoughts... they helped...

I'd beg to differ.

I find it that ones who do not belong to any religion, or so-call themsevles "atheists" are the ones that give the most lip-service to others.

Because they do not believe, and you believe, they feel they have a superiority level and will attempt to give mass lectures and lip-service.
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=91

Atheists are by far, the sect of people that seek mass conversion.

Religionists become insecure with their faith is threatened, just as Atheists downplay the arguments of God's existence and the calmity that faith causes upon a person.

Both are different levels of insecurity.

An interesting side-note :
I was talking to a professor about the Sikh Identity, and he was telling me how it must be hard and so forth. And he said how I must be victim to much lip-service, as Sikhs do not conceal their belief. A Devil-worshipper may be hidden, and still the public may never know his true beliefs, because he looks like everyone else. Whereas a Sikh, it is shown what he believes, and this causes him to be victim to much scrutiny. It was an interesting conversation, one I should share with people who believe "Sikhi is only inside my heart".

Dear members,
INTERESTING !! is what i say here . the person who has asked this question has failed to understand one simple thing about human nature.no offences but my friend,it is very human to criticise and to be criticised.someone here has even called people like me "athiests" as lip-movers.
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=91
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=91
for this i would like to explain a few things about psychology.Accusations come from a person who is still finding answers himself... they arent actualy criticism or accusations .. in fact they are questions... and the people who do get offended and get angry.. in reality get scared... as we all know fear is the root of anger.they get insecured or scared coz someone is raising questions about something they believe in so strongly and have put a lifes work in it.
the best thing here to do is... ask questions rather than making accusations or criticising... and the best manner to respond will be to give a logical answer if u have one.. or go and ask someone else who does and then answer it.
always remember...
FOOLS ARGUE... THE INTELLIGANT DEBATES.

Nice inputs from all around...

Dear S|ik ji, I think you were about to share something with us...

Please share that conversation.

Best Regards