Religion of the Book and Culture of the Heart

Submitted by Dr Satish K Kapoor (India), Mar 30, 2010 at 01:45

Respected Jalabhi,

You are right to an extent,and I shall explain the reason: Religion is of two types -Religion of the Book and Religion of the Heart. The former is dogmatic ;the latter ,dynamic. The former comprises of words,words and words - and words,as you know,are prone to interpretation to suit a certain milieu;the latter speaks the universal language of the heart;the language which even animals and plants understand. Religion of the book cannot grow nor it can transcend itself - a building ,for example,cannot have shoots like a tree -it cannot have another storey by itself , like a living organism. Religion of the Book can neither broaden its mind nor heart -those who claim its proprietorship are like kupamandukas or frogs in the well who have not seen the ocean. Hence, to expect any change in this respect , is beyond logic. Swami Vivekananda in one of his lectures in the United States observed: If you tell me that you have brought out a tooth from the mouth of a crocodile,I may believe you. But if you tell me that you have changed the mind of a fanatic,perhaps I may never believe you.

Yet, hope lurks in the human heart . The infallibalists of the Book-Religion may become isolated one day . Truth has to ultimately prevail. There is every possibility that a vast number of adherents ,both men and women,may , in some part of the world ,see reason and become bold enough to discard their parent religion. This is not sheer idealism. A few historical instances vouchsafe for such facts. May sane people become catalysts of change.

The Religion of the Book without a Culture of the Heart is as good as dead or it becomes deadly. Let us not sit on the fence,and just watch or condemn the dastardly happenings all around the world. Let us all participate in the crusade to change their minds so that they may awake and arise ,and break inhuman shackles.

The religion of the Heart is the Religion of Existence -it encompasses all. Its adherent sees the world as an extension of his own SELF.

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