|
|
|
| Sunday, 17 July 2005 |
 |
|
 |
Features |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
|
Religious fundamentalism on the rise by Rashomi Silva "Break the mosque, break the temple, break whatever beside: But break not a human heart because that is where the God resides." - a Punjabi Sufi poet A new form of religious fundamentalism appears to be raising its ugly head in Sri Lanka. A set of Buddhist monks together with an extremist political entity has started to sow seeds of hatred and ethnic discontent in the minds of Sri Lankans or in their own terminology in the minds of 'Sinhala Buddhists'. Nationalistic ardour Their nationalistic ardour received a new lease of life when a Buddha statue in Trincomalee town was vandalised by an unknown gang couple of months back. The issue was taken to District Courts. And the Courts came to the conclusion that the statue was erected in a government land without permission and therefore the structure is unauthorised, a ruling was issued to remove all illegal buildings structures in and around the area, which included the disputed Buddha statue, a temple and 14 Hindu Kovils. An appeal was made to the Supreme Court and the SC is to give its final ruling tomorrow 18th. Ruling or no ruling, Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) the country's first ever political party solely comprising Buddhist monks is hell bent on re-placing the statue. The argument is, the statue had been in its place for over the last few years and it should remain the way it is. Further Sri Lanka is a predominantly Buddhist country and the Buddhist have every right to erect their place of worship anywhere they choose. In fact the statue had been in its place over the years, Passers-by payed homage and nobody made the slightest objection. Troubles erupted when a local threewheelers association with the blessing of a political party replaced the statue with a larger statue. "Some one is definitely trying to fish in troubled waters. There is political involvement behind the whole episode, said an official from Trincomalee on the condition of strict anonymity. The party he said often 'confuses' marxist ideology with nationalistic sentiments. Be that as it may, let us turn to our early discussion of religious fundamentalism. It is infact shameful, the behaviour of the Buddhist monks in Parliament, professing to be protectors of a very accommodating, and compassionate religion these Buddhist monks turned lawmakers full of nationalistic sentiments and are trying to further divide the already polarized society. 'Hate statement' They often begin their parliamentary day with a 'hate statement' full of antipathy towards non-Buddhists and other communities. They try to argue and convince the superiority of Sinhalese, and claim rights over the land. Apparently what they have forgotten is that none of us can call ourselves as the true sons of the soil other than adivasis, all the other communities including Sinhalese arrived in Sri Lanka from a foreign land. A religion has no greater enemy than the fanatical and diehard followers who would not hesitate to commit any crime in the name of religion. Disgrace to religion While professing to follow the teaching of their prophets or founders to the single letter, they would want to impose his or her views on the others, disgracing the religion and its true followers. Unfortunately for every religion, all religions in the world are judged not by what the founders or the prophets have preached, but by the mean deeds of the religious fanatics. Taliban and Mujahideens who believe it to be a crime not to follow the teachings of the Holy Koran, interpret teachings to suit their needs. In the name of Islam they tyranise women and oppress men and wage a brutal war against non-Muslims. The world understands Islam as one with Taliban movement but does not see the great values taught by prophet Mohammed. Inquisitors have taken it upto themselves to interpret in their own terms what the Holy Bible preaches. The world forgets that Jesus Christ taught that none of us can cast a stone at another as none of us is above board. Majority of these being Buddhists, Sinhalese have a reputation of being prejudiced against the minorities. It remains to be seen how the world will understand Buddhism in the face of emerging fundamentalism engineered by extremist Buddhist elements. |
|
| News | Business | Features
| Editorial | Security
| Produced by Lake House |
