Politicians Using Religion to Divide

Could it be that politicians cynically use the mantle or religion in order to further their political agendas and to validate the separation of people along ethnic and religious lines? Well, yes, they do. Savvy con artists, whether political or religious, are able to get people to associate their religious faith with particular individuals, thus transferring that faith to the individual political or religious leader.

This allows that person to achieve a greater control over others than would otherwise be possible:

Through the advent of globalisation and the Internet, various cultures all around the world, including Malaysia, are starting to assimilate each other's values. Malaysians are beginning to consider themselves as citizens of the world, and no longer view themselves as a particular ethnic race.

For that reason, the government is turning its sight to religion as the next powerful tool to control its people. In a land where most of its population are obsessed with symbolism and idolism, religion is a very powerful tool to ignite a crisis between the various groups of people in the country. Thus we see our self-righteous leaders in various states scrambling for the honour to become holier than the leader of the next state.

What should be done about it? The solution is obvious: preserving the best of state and religion requires that the two be separated:

Religion and morality should remain as the personal responsibility of an individual. The government should not dictate how a person prays, or practise his or her religion. A government’s duty is just to administer the country to ensure a peaceful and harmonious atmosphere throughout. Only the well-learned religious leaders should handle religious matters.

However, it is sad nowadays to note that there are some dubious religious leaders who also double up as politicians and conversely, there are politicians who also put on religious apparel. These two figures will not allow the rest of us to privately discover the beauty of our own religion. These are the two characters who will always highlight the differences between the various religions but diligently attempt to hide their similarities.

Freedom, liberty, and conscience demand no less.

 

Read More:

• Separation of Church and State 101
• Church and State News
• Secularism 101