Mind set: Dilemma of a liberal Hindu, Spiritual Meditations, NewAgeIslam.com

Spiritual Meditations

Mind set: Dilemma of a liberal Hindu

By Gurcharan Das

Sept 6, 2009

With the rise in religious fundamentalism around the world, it is increasingly difficult to talk about one’s deepest beliefs. Liberal Hindus are reluctant to admit to being Hindu for fear they will be linked to the RSS. Liberal Christians and liberal Muslims abroad have had the same experience. Part of the reason that the sensible idea of secularism is having so much difficulty finding a home in India is that the most vocal and intellectual advocates of secularism were once Marxists. Not only do they not believe in God, they actually hate God. As rationalists they can only see the dark side of religion — intolerance, murderous wars and nationalism and cannot empathize with the everyday life of the common Indian for whom religion gives meaning to every moment. Secularists speak a language alien to the vast majority, so they are only able to condemn communal violence but not to stop it, as Mahatma Gandhi could, in East Bengal in 1947.

Part of the problem stems from ignorance. Our children do not grow up reading our ancient classics, certainly not with a critical mind as youth in the West read their works of literature and philosophy in school and college. In India, some get to know about epics from their grandmothers; others read the stories in Amar Chitra Katha comics or watch them in television serials.

http://newageislam.com/mind-set--dilemma-of-a-liberal-hindu/spiritual-meditations/d/1792

Taliban threat on rise in Karachi: MQM chief Altaf, Islam,Terrorism and Jihad, NewAgeIslam.com

Islam,Terrorism and Jihad

Taliban threat on rise in Karachi: MQM chief Altaf

Altaf said, “We will not bow our heads before Taliban terrorists, rather we will face them. The conspiracy of Talibanisation is on the rise in Karachi and MQM activists should remain mentally and physically prepared to face hard times ahead.” Altaf was addressing a Workers Convention at Lal Qila Ground, Azizabad. During his telephone address, the MQM chief said that Islam espouses a message of peace and brotherhood and does not support terrorism in any form. On the contrary, the ‘religion of peace’ condemns acts of cruelty and brutality, said Altaf, who lives in London in self-imposed exile.

Ignorance: The MQM leader said: “Terrorists strangle innocent men and women, old and young and burn down female educational institutions in the name of Islam. This is ignorance. The Holy Prophet (PBUH) said that ‘it is obligatory for every man and woman to get education’.” He urged intellectuals and writers to tell the masses about ‘conspiracies of Talibanisation’. The country is going through a crisis, he said, adding that its sovereignty will be threatened if the ‘menace of Talibanisation’ was not curbed. The MQM has fulfilled it duty by informing people about the impending threat time and again, he said. “The people here [in Pakistan] were Muslims and are Muslims. What kind of Muslims do they [the Taliban] want to make us? Actually, they [the Taliban] want to bring the shariah of the Kalashnikov into force but people will not tolerate such a forced shariah,” Altaf said.

http://newageislam.com/taliban-threat-on-rise-in-karachi--mqm-chief-altaf/islam,terrorism-and-jihad/d/429