Shib and Parboti

Ganesh

Durga

Buddha 

Christianity

Islam

On Religion

Charles Darwin (1837): Pre-existence of Soul

"....Plato.....says in Phaedo that our 'imaginary ideas' arise from the pre-existence of the soul, are not derivable from experience.---read monkeys for pre-existence....."

Molefi Asante: Afrocentricity.

"....All religions rise out of the deification of someone's nationalism ........" 

Ar Razi (865-925 AD)

"These billy goats (Prophets) pretend to come with a message from God, all the while exhausting themselves in spouting their lies, and imposing on the masses blind obedience to the "words of the master." The miracles of the prophets are impostures, based on trickery, or the stories regarding them are lies. The falseness of what all the prophets say is evident in the fact that they contradict one another: one affirms what the other denies, and yet each claims to be the sole depository of the truth; thus the New Testament contradicts the Torah, the Koran the New Testament. As for the Koran, it is but an assorted mixture of "absurd and inconsistent fables," which has ridiculously been judged inimitable, when, in fact, its language, style, and its much vaunted "eloquence" are far from being faultless. Custom, tradition, and intellectual laziness lead men to follow their religious leaders blindly. Religions have been the sole cause of the bloody wars that have ravaged mankind. Religions have also been resolutely hostile to philosophical speculation and to scientific research. The so-called holy scriptures are worthless and have done more harm than good, whereas the "writings of the ancients like Plato, Aristotle, Euclid, and Hippocrates have rendered much greater service to humanity......."

(2) "The people who gather round the religious leaders are either feeble-minded, or they are women and adolescents. Religion stifles truth and fosters enmity. If a book in itself constitutes a demonstration that it is true revelation, the treatises of geometry, astronomy, medicine and logic can justify such a claim much better than the Quran...." 

Al Ma'arri(973-1057 AD)

" So, too, the creeds of man: the one prevails 
Until the other comes; and this one fails 
When that one triumphs; ay, the lonesome world 
Will always want the latest fairytales...."   
  
" Among the crumbling ruins of the creeds 
The Scout upon his camel played his reeds 
And called out to his people -- "Let us hence! 
The pasture here is full of noxious weeds...." 
  

" Hanifs (Muslims) are stumbling, Christians all astray 
Jews wildered, Magians far on error's way. 
We mortals are composed of two great schools 
Enlightened knaves or else religious fools....." 

Indian Religions

Semitic religions

Hinduism,  Jainism, Buddhism, Shikhism

Judaism, Christianity and Islam

Origin: India

Origin: Middle East (Arab, Palestine)

2. Exclusive: All Semitic religions encourage exclusiveness. Christianity declares that there is only one God-Jehovah-represented by his “only begotten son”- Jesus Christ. Belief in Jesus Christ as the only begotten son of the only God, Jehovah, leads to salvation. All other paths lead to damnation. Islam declares that there is only one God-Allah, represented by his Last (and the greatest) prophet- Mohammed. Belief in Mohammed as the only spokesman of the only God, Allah, leads to salvation. All other paths lead to damnation. Both Christianity and Islam inherited their exclusivist biases from their philosophical parent: Judaism.

3. All the Indian religions (Hindu, Jainism, Buddhism, Sikhism) consider vegetarianism to be a major virtue.  Actually the Hindu concept of vegetarianism has deeper connotations. It is based on a basic respect and reverence for all forms of life. Along with the zoomorphic aspects of Hinduism, and the concepts of transmigration of souls into animals and plants, it represents a practical manifestation of the basic Hindu philosophy of pantheism

Hindu Religion 

The only pagan religion (more precisely a tradition or custom emanated from Indian civilization) with millions of followers that survived the onslaught of the Islamic invaders in the middle ages and the Christian missionaries during the British colonization. Oldest of the great world religions. Hinduism is based on the doctrine of reincarnation. It is a polytheistic religion, with many gods and many different Cults and practices.

Some Basic Hindu Concepts
The Name | Roots of Hindu | Aryan and Drabir | Caste | Widow Burning | Goals and Paths | The Cow | Sacrifice | Marriage |

Concepts of Hindu Practices
Karma | Dharma | Karma and Dharma | Transmigration of the soul | Ripu | Red Iota, the third eye | Om | Maya | Mantra | Non-violence | Yoga | Vegetarianism |

Hindu Fundamentalism or Hindutta/Hindutba/ Hindutva

The elements of Hindu religion

1. The entire system of idol worship such as: a. the lingam (fertility rite) b. rude block of stones with eyes painted on them c roughly, or finely, carved or cast, images of stone, metal or some other material

2. The concept of household gods (grihadebatas) or community gods (gramdebatas): a. treating the idols as living beings: bathing, dressing and feeding them. b. performing worship (puja) by offering flowers, water, Indian fruits such as bananas, coconuts, clothes and ornaments to the idols. c. performing arati (rituals) by waving lights in front of the idols. d. music and dance performance in front of the idols. e. partaking of prasad (offering food to the idol)

3. The use of sandal paste, turmeric and vermilion (sindur) for smearing on the idols and on the foreheads of worshippers.

4. The entire system of idol-temples and pilgrim-centers with sacred tanks and bathing ghats (stairs) and of temple festivals, with palanquins and chariots.

5. The tilak mark and the saffron color (symbol of celebration of life)

6. The idea of soul, the concept of transmigration of souls and rebirth

7. The enumeration of the days by the phases of the moon (the tithis). Also is the importance attached to panjika (the annual calendar based on the tithis.

8. Animistic aspects of Hinduism: a. the worship of certain animals, birds and reptiles. b. the concept of gods visiting earth in the forms of animals such as fish (matsya) and boars (barah), c. the concept of every gods and goddesses having a “vehicle”: Bishnu’s Garud, Ganesh’s mouse, Kartik’s peacock, Sib’s bull and Durga’s lion. 

Buddhism

An Indian ethical religion deriving from the teachings of Buddha, 'The enlightened one', a Hindu nobleman in 6th-century BC Nepal. Subsequently, Buddhism has spread widely and has taken several forms. The road to salvation, according to Buddha, is self-denial, self-discipline and meditation, with the goal of escape from the endless cycle of reincarnation which would otherwise occur. Nirvana, or complete spiritual fulfillment, is the ultimate objective. As such, the orientation of Buddhism has often been, in Weber's terminology, "other-worldly". At times, however, Buddhism has also been a highly political religion, as in Lamaism or as part of protest movements within Third World societies.

Buddhism in Bangladesh

Islam

The second largest of the monotheistic religions, deriving from the teaching of the Arabian prophet Mohammad in the 7th century. As the single all- powerful god, Allah is held to require from all believers absolute allegiance and worship five times a day. Other duties include pilgrimage to the holy city of Mecca, Mohammad's birthplace (creating thus a perpetual opportunity for the Saudis to earn foreign currency). Muslims, the believers in Islam, acknowledge Moses and Jesus as prophets, but Mohammed is Allah's final and supreme prophet.

An explanation of the origins of Islam proposed by Montogomery Watt (1961) is that  Islam originated among previously nomadic tribesmen, who on moving on to an urban context acquired a more integrative and more universalistic belief system. Watt points out that Mohammed was a member of relatively disadvantaged lineage within increasingly wealthy Meccan society. Ousted from Mecca and migrating to Medina, one effect of his prophecy was to legitimize attacks ( the first jihad, on holy wars) on Mecca's lucrative camel trains, at a time when political conditions were such as to force much formerly sea-borne trade overland, making the rewards for attack larger than usual. On the basis, Islam came to espouse what Mann (1986) refers to as a 'quasi-egalitarian' doctrine.

In its Middle Eastern and North African homeland, Islam has been the basis of numerous theocratic political empires, beginning with the empire created by Mohammed, and continued to the present day (the Iranian Islamic revolution). Like Christianity, Islam has been riven by theological and political division, notably the division between Sunni, more libertarian, and Shi'ite, more authoritarian, forms.  

Islam in Bangladesh:

Islam is a Semitic religion preached by the champion of Arab culture and nationalism: Mohammad (570-632 AD). Mohammad is one of the most powerful political leaders of the world because he managed to found a religion which, originated as a tribal cult has, over centuries, turned into a global religion. Historically Islam has been a great hit among the poor peoples across the globe. It is a monotheist religion and rests on Judao-Christian philosophy (Mohammad incorporated Judao- Christian philosophical tradition into Islam). The political expansion of Islam continued as long as the sword represented the military might. Some important features of Islam are: Jihad or holy war, sexual abundance both here and after life, two worlds (Muslim and non-Muslims), spiritual imperialism, supremacy of Arabian culture, eradication of heritage and culture of the conquered people (Indians, Africans), medievalism, feudalism, male chauvinism, Hajj, jakat etc.

Islam empowered the lower class Hindus (converted Muslims) of East Bangla. The scheduled caste Hindus (the working class people) were exploited by the Hindu upper classes for centuries. To escape the caste system the Hindu scheduled classes were first converted to Buddhism and then to Islam.

In greater India the people living in the Buddhist belts (East Bangla, Afghanistan, Pakistan) were converted into Islam. The regimented monastic life of Buddhism bent on abstract concepts and thoughts found the regimented Islamic life style a familiar order to harbor in en-masse. The Hindus, with rich colorful rituals and complex philosophical orientation,  found the simplistic coarse Islamic life style dull and hence stayed away from it.

Although Islam socially accommodated the Hindu scheduled classes, it culturally alienated the converted Muslims. It has been the biggest misfortune for the Bangalee Muslims to cut off the heritage of rich Indian culture and civilization. The centre of Bangladeshi mind and heart is shifted from Dhaka / Kolkata to Mecca/ Medina. Deserts and camels became the new forms of literary images. The big cultural gap between Bangalees of East and West Bangla is indicative of this fact. Most of the art forms and the standard of education are much advanced in West Bangla than in East Bangla. The exodus and migration of culturally rich Hindus from East Bangla led to the cultural and intellectual bankruptcy of East Bangla.

Islamic ideology, backed by the British imperialist first and then by the state, and within a century, has turned Bangladesh into a cultural satellite of Arabia.

The imaginative landscape of Bangladeshi Muslims is little more than an arid Arabia.

Although Bangladesh is one of the poorest countries of the world, the Bangladeshis contribute millions of dollars every year to Saudi Arabian economy by going to hajj (more than the Saudi Arabian financial aid to Bangladesh which is mainly spent for founding Islamic schools and pampering the Islamic fundamentalist parties). Hopefully someday the devout Bangladeshis will found their own Mecca in Dhaka (Tongi perhaps). If they do they will be able to keep their money home instead of enriching the brothels and casinos of Bombay and Las Vegas which are mainly frequented by the Saudi sheikhs and princes.

Islamic ideology has been historically exploited by the Muslim political leaders of Bangladesh to attain and retain political power. The trend started from the founder of so-called Islamic state Pakistan- Jinnah. He used Islamic ideology to achieve his personal ambition-to be the head of Pakistan. In Bangladesh all the military dictators used Islamic ideology to legitimize military rules. Zia removed secularism from the constitution, rehabilitated the war criminals and Islamic fundamentalists in national politics. Ershad made Islam the state religion.

Phony Islamic slogan and anti Indian sentiments have been a common political strategy for the right wing groups (Muhajirs) and Islamists to maintain their political hegemony and turn people's attention away from the democratic practices in India in general and social democratic practices in West Bangla in particular.

Critique of Islam:

Islamic Culture | Islamic Morality | Islam & Human Rights | Koran |
Islam & Secularism | Islam & Women | Jihad |  Islam & Sexuality | Al Razi | Mohammed | Arab Imperialism | Origin of Koran | Contradictions in Koran | Muslim Thinkers | Islam & Civilization: Cultural impact of the War of Badr | Islam & Civilization: Cultural impact of the War of Tours | Fundamentalism | Deconstruction of Islamic Myths

Kadiani

The Ahmadiyas are popularly known as Kadianis. The Prophet Muhammad prophesied that when our Imaan ---the faith in Allah and the laws of Islam--- will vanish into the Great Bear constellation, a Savior of Persian descent will rescue Islam. He will appear during the 14th century (Hijrah) and will be called Imam Mahdi. The Muslim World is eagerly waiting for him whereas the Ahmadiyas say the Savior has already come. They accept Hazrat Mirza Gulam Ahmad (1835-1908) of Kadian as the promised Imam Mahdi. This is the main difference between the Ahmadis and the rest of the Muslims.

Among his adversaries at that time, there was a notion that Jesus Christ is alive and he will reappear from the Heavens before Doomsday. Mirza said: It is absurd. Actually, Jesus Christ didn’t die on the cross, he was just unconscious, and later he travelled to India and that’s where he died. His grave is in Kashmir. Mirza Gulam Ahmad proclaimed that he was the promised Messiah and that he was a “prophet” without any new Shariat. The holy Quran, the complete code of life, is the last Law for the mankind. And undoubtedly, Hazrat Muhammad Mustafa is the greatest among the prophets and is the noblest man of all times.

There was a prophecy that Imam Mahdi would abolish war. Mirza Gulam Ahmad banned the popular notion of Jihad i.e. bloodshed in the name of religion. He said, in this modern world Jihad should be done with the pen, and not with the sword. Moreover, he emphasized on its truest form --Jihad-e-Akbar-- “the purification of self.” And for the present belligerent world he preached tolerance and love.

Since their beginning, the Ahmadis have been facing a lot of antagonism. Ulamas of all the major seventy-two sects of Islam declared them Kafirs in 1891. Pakis chief Bhutto officially declared them non-Muslims in 1974. Later, General Ziaul Huq waged such a persecution that the then Caliph (spiritual leader) Hazrat Mirza Tahir Ahmad was compelled to migrate to England. And prior to all of this, Maulana Abul Ala Moududi stirred up an atrocious riot against the Ahmadis in Pakistan in 1953, for which he was given the death sentence. He was however pardoned by the military dictator Ayub Khan. Ever since then the Ahmadis have been the sworn enemies of Jamat-e-Islami (the party both in Pakistan and in Bangladesh following Moududi’s version of Islam).

In Bangladesh, too, the persecution of the Ahmadis has been a recurrent issue. On November 8, 1999 a powerful bomb exploded in their mosque in Khulna and seven people died. The very recent happenings in Jessore, Kushtia and Dhaka remind us once again that the lives and properties of the Ahmadis continue to be threatened in this country; even their places of worship are in grave danger. At present, the headquarters of the Ahmadiyya Muslims is in London Mosque, 16 Gressenhall Road, England. The present Caliph (the 5th) Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad was elected recently after the death of Caliph Hazrat Mirza Tahir Ahmad. Today the followers of Mirza Gulam Ahmad number about 17 crore (170 million). They have their missions in 177 countries and they have translated the holy Quran with short commentaries in 60 languages. With their own satellite channel MTA (Muslim TV Ahmadiyya), they preach the essence of Islam 24 hours a day. In Bangladesh, their headquarters are in 4 Bakshibazar Road, Dhaka. 

Christianity

'Whin ye get among th' Chinee........says [the Emperor of Germany], 'raymimber that ye ar-re the van guard iv Christianity' he says, 'an' stick ye'er baynet through ivry hated infidel you see' he says. 'Lave him understand what our western civilization means....An' if be chance ye shud pick up a little land be th' way, don't lave e'er a Frenchman or Roosshan take it from ye.'

Mr.  Dooley's Philosophy, 1900

A monotheistic religion originating in 1st century Palestine, from where it spread to become the dominant religion in Europe and in European overseas settlements. The evolution of the Christianity community was marked by divisions concerning church order and doctrine. 

As a result, contemporary Christianity is spilt into three board tendencies:

a. The Western Catholic Church, which rests on the primacy of Rome

b. 14 autocephalous Eastern Orthodox Churches, dating from the 11th century

c. A multiplicity of Protestant bodies, dating from the 16th century and thereafter

Christianity rests on a belief in a personal God who is held to have created the universe and to be omnipotent, omniscient and just. Humanity, by contrast has fallen from grace; it has sinned and is worthy of divine punishment. thanks to the intervention of a savior, Jesus Christ, however, salvation from the punishment becomes possible; Christians believe that Christ was the Son of God and that his death constituted an atonement to the God for their sins.

The question as to how individual believers can achieve 'salvation' has proven divisive within Christianity, and has major sociological significance. Notably, Weber held that one answer to the question, the doctrine of predestination, was the driving force behind Protestant Asceticism. Weber also held that Christianity's insistence on the ritual equality of all believers had sociological significance, preventing the emergence of Cast-liken divisions which might have destroyed the unity of the Western bourgeoisie and weakened its transformative revolutionary potential. Others have reinforced this line of argument by suggesting that the antiauthoritarian tendencies of 17th-century Protestant sects did much to foster democratic values. While Christianity has had an important impact on historical development (not least the tension between church and state which has been a feature of European compared with Asian societies), today it is widely held to have a declining influence in Western societies. Nevertheless, its role in the recent transformation of Europe has been considerable and there remains sociological interest in sectarianism and in the overall nature and extent of religious belief and practices in modern societies.