Editor,
The article ‘Mission Education : A Pending Project’ (ST Aug 14, 2020) by Shalabas Syiemlieh has hurt the believers in the Christian State and beyond. On social media, supporters of this “humanist society” are bizarrely vocal about their contempt for religion. They say “religion frustrate progress”. They argue with great passion that we’d be better off if we just eradicated God once and for all.
Such thinking is an ideology. Such “non-belief” has devastating consequences. Not believing in God is like not believing in seat belts. Or better yet: it’s like not believing in the police, the judiciary, medicine or fire stations. You don’t have to believe in them, but living in a world without them has consequences. Whether members of the Meghalaya Atheists Society believe it or not, but people of faith are responsible for a huge amount of good in our society.
Atheists don’t give credit for what the Church (or any religious organization for that matter) have done for civilisation: the creation of our notions of justice, the hospital system, the university, public schools, charity, progress, truth and freedom itself. Who fought against and ultimately destroyed the evils of slavery? It’s us Christians! Who were the only ones who fought against China’s horrific “one child” policy? We Christians again!
A world centered around God has allowed us to pursue the great blessings of God – beauty, justice, truth and freedom. Such things mean nothing without God’s presence. Atheists may enjoy such values, and even benefit from them, but they are only living off of what others have created. There is no real reason to pursue any of these values without a sense of purpose. Purpose itself is meaningless without God. Without God, there is no reason to have children, or to hope for the continuation of our family name or our values. There is no reason to die for our country, or for freedom. After all, what’s the point? In a world without God, we need only do what the animals do: mate, eat, and make sure not to be eaten. We need only live for today.
This is contrary to the notion of “civilisation”. By definition, civilisation contemplates a future that is better than our present, and we derive lessons from the past to do so. Civilisation does not mean we just have a good time on the planet while we are here; civilisation means we seek a better vision for our collective future. We know this instinctively, but many never quite incorporate it into their worldview.
Members of this society rarely contemplate on these uncomfortable truths. But they need to. There are consequences to the atheistic mindset. And they are all horrific. I truly believe the ideology of atheism is deeply destructive and their so-called “Mission Education” is nothing but bait for fools. I urge believers of all faiths to stand against this terrorist organization. No country for atheists!
Yours etc.,
Wandashisha Laloo & Darity Wahlang
Via email
Understanding religion
Editor,
What is religion? The Cambridge dictionary defines religion as “the belief in and worship of a god or gods or any such system of belief and worship”. So basically, religion is the faith and conviction we have on an entity that we consider as sacred, holy, divine etc. If humankind has such a belief then no religion or faith will preach wrongly as all are equal in the eyes of God. The teachings and principles of religion and God are righteousness and the goodness and purity of the heart, the soul and the mind as well. There is but one God but there are different routes to reach God. The routes are the many religions we have here on earth. Therefore we may take any route we wish or follow – a route that we are born in. The end is to reach the One above.
In this respect Marbianglang Rymbai’s write-up, “Does Religion make us more Human” (ST August 12, 2020) is highly inspiring. The title is a question asked but one prefers to read it as an answer to all our dealings here on earth with one another. If each one of us read our scriptures closely, they would all be teaching us to live in harmony with each other. When we look at ourselves as creations of the One above who has made no distinctions and discriminations then does it befit us humans to create differences and discrepancies amongst ourselves? Why should there be a reference and a calling out of names of people belonging to another faith, different from the faith and belief of those in the majority?
Here in our state, the believers of Ka Niam Khasi Niamtre are called “non-believers,” heathens and pagans as we uphold the faith that has been given to us by our ancestors and we have not converted to another faith and belief. These are words that are not only harsh but derogatory and shameful. As such is it fair to simply brand us so? Is it fair that for this, we have been denied various scholarships under the Central Sector Scheme in a Christian majority state? This is a serious matter as it has subjected us to discrimination and is depriving us of our rights. The fight to rectify this lacunae is on and a positive outcome is awaited.
Rymbai presented a factual account of which I have personal experience of regarding the numerous conversions that had taken place for decades now. It may not be altogether wrong to say that there had been instances when such conversions have taken place in case of marriage or even forceful conversions of aged parents. Personally one feels that the believers and followers of the indigenous faith, Ka Niam Khasi Niamtre must not live in insecurity over the fear of facing conversion into another faith, especially Christianity. Rather one wishes to implore upon our believers that we must be strong and determined in our minds and spirit to forever keep our faith intact. We must be firmly rooted in our beliefs and will work hard to instill in the minds of our children the teachings, values and principles of our faith and religion. Today, we are fortunate that we have the Seng Khasi and Sein Raij which has within its ambit the Seinlang, the Womens’ Wing, as well as Ka Skur Sikai Niamtre that imparts teaching and knowledge of our religion and belief, of U Blei Nongbuh Nongthaw, U Tre Kirod Kynrad and helps govern our ways and lives here on earth. Those of us who are firmly rooted in our beliefs must take it upon ourselves to uphold and sustain our religion for as long as we live on this earth.
Let me conclude from where I started, that all religions are mere routes to the One above. Can we then be more tolerant towards fellow human beings who are created by the One above and the colour of whose blood is red irrespective of where one comes from and which religion one follows? I am reminded here of the words of the Dalai Lama who says that “My religion is very simple. My religion is kindness.”Can we sow the seeds of kindness in our hearts no matter what faith we belong to and what religion we follow?
Yours etc.,
Jenniefer Dkhar,
Via email