Religion is a paradox in itself. While it is a very personal thing, it also affects the lives of many millions all over the world. Religion, although of a spiritual nature, is manifested physically countless of times throughout history, whether it is in the guise of a person or an entire country. Lastly, while religion is mainly in the mind, a somewhat ‘mental’ creation of man, it is all too real in the modern world.
 

A religion is a means where man can face his own inner demons and battle against his morals and conscience in peace. Through the act of conferring with a higher power, justified or not, man has sought advice throughout the centuries to deal with matters in their own lives, be they mundane or essential. It is a sanctified area of the mind where man can retreat in solitude to be alone with his god, away from the bustle of daily life. Well-founded or not, a religion can provide comfort and solace in times of mortal danger or great stress. A person is never ever truly turned away from his personal god, and many a soul has found peace and acceptance in his religion.

In the current era, fundamentalism and extremism are on the rise. Religions, especially the major ones, are closing ranks rapidly to weed out ‘negative’ external influences. One particularly great problem resulting from the rise of fundamentalism is linked to that of religious texts. The Bible, for Christians. and the Koran, for Muslims, in particular, have been greatly misinterpreted throughout the years by religious fundamentalists. In fact, some parts of these religious texts have even been selectively ignored in favor of more ‘agreeable’ information. The ‘Thou shalt not kill’ commandment in both the Bible and the Koran perfectly illustrates the point. It must be noted that throughout history, more people have been killed in the name of God rather than anything else. Hence, it seemed that this ‘technical legality’ contains in it a caveat of sorts which involved the possible ‘bending’ of the rules to justify one’s cause. Misinterpretation of one’s religion has led to many conflicts all over the world.

In the recent furore over the publication of the Danish cartoons that were said to have ‘infringed’ on the ‘delicate sensibilities’ of Muslims worldwide, it seemed that someone failed to remind the fundamentalists of what the Koran specifically said with regards to such situations. In fact, the Koran advocated the rights of the non-believers and constantly preached that a proper Muslim should be able to take criticism in his stride and ignore it. Numerous examples exist in the Koran where the Prophet Muhammad demonstrated such wisdom, but sadly, it is ignored by the Muslim fundamentalists today, many of whom still mislead the masses with their crass behaviors.

Religion is also a highly effective way to manipulate the masses and dominate over people who are uneducated. The famous writer Rudyard Kipling was partially right when he wrote ‘East is East and West is West and never the twain shall meet.’ In the current era of globalization and the seemingly ‘shrinking’ of the world, it is inevitable that religions and civilizations collide. The main religions of the West, Christianity, and that of the East, Islam, have in particular seen numerous disputes breaking out over issues that were not of any particular importance.

The enormous similarities that both religions share due to them originating from the same branch of Zoroastrian beliefs do not help either. Thus, a tussle for power and seniority is prevalent among followers of both religions, driven on by fundamentalists hell-bent on seeing their own religion standing victoriously over the dead lifeless body of the other. Religion is often used to persuade the common people to do things they would not normally do rationally, a somewhat macabre manipulation of a person’s beliefs by promising them rewards in an intangible ‘after-life’. It is only through such vile machinations of the mental makeup of a person that suicide bombings occur in the Middle East.