by Serwan Zangana
The religious violence in the world is traced back to the past centuries and early days of revelation. There have always been attempts, either by force or intellectual debates, from various groups and individuals to sway people away from certain beliefs to convert and embrace the opposite ones. Indeed, persecutions and genocides have been committed against many people espousing religious beliefs under certain regimes. Obviously, throughout history, people from different religious or belief groups have experienced such heinous acts
To realize that one of the religions’ purposes is to define life and death and solve some of these two mysterious situations that every human being is experiencing without any discrimination. Many religions, including the Abrahamic religions which are Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, share the belief of higher power as the creator of the universe. Reforming society and guiding people, and hence, establishing peace with one’s soul and accepting the fact of the end of life’s journey, which is death, are also important purposes that connect the majority religions together.
However, religions per se do not constitute wars or conflict but in fact that in religions, specifically the three Abrahamic religions, more similarities can be found than dissimilarities. Evidently, the religious divergence was established by humans’ interpretations and they deliberately applied it to their lives.
The powerful empires and regimes in the world have used religions to control, and justify the oppression under their rules. Indeed, the minorities were always the targets and victims regardless of their beliefs. Conversely, some regimes, such as the former Soviet Union and the Socialist nations of Eastern Europe have completely abandoned and eradicated religions from their nations and created mundane societies and brought down an iron hammer on their citizens’ heads.
As human curiosity continuously seeks for answers, there will always be more questions. Regardless of many answers by religions and faiths, and despite the advancement of human intelligence and innovation of science, life and death will always remain an enigma in many ways.
Also, throughout history, two groups of people have always existed in the world. One group believes in the ultimate power of God, and the other is in denial, and both groups are seeking answers and satisfaction. However, denial or acceptance of the higher power can be attributed to the lack of reaching answers and understanding every aspect of existence. Obviously, the inner conflicts of human beings between believing and denying the existence of the higher power will never end. But such ideological distance and gap between these two groups should not generate violence in society.
Regardless of what human beings believe and desire to achieve, it is important to be aware of the acts of the powerful individuals, groups, and governments that attempt to misinform and misguide the public to brainwash the majority of people to surrender their will.
Humans should not suffer under the power of others, there is no religion in general that brings agony upon humans. In fact, in various circumstances humans create factors that cause agony. The governments and the powerful groups do not represent the higher power, as everyone can create a spiritual relationship with God without the guidance of the rulers.
After all, murdering a human for religious or any belief purpose must be doomed.
