What is my religion, they ask.
Dissenting from the question in my mind,
I answer, "something between atheism and nature worship.”
The nods I receive to this give away their disappointment for not getting an "actual" religion as an answer.
If I am to think of what my religion is...
I'm not a devout follower of my mother's faith due to its docility.
Nor am I greatly faithful to anything but nature.
That makes it clear that I am not an atheist...
With my reverence for nature, I may also be a devotee of secularism?
Yes! Yes!
It is secularism!
I belong to my mother's faith
And like my father, I think.
I take from all religions,
learn their sense of right
And make their God mine!
To do something anew, I begin by saying “Nammo Buddhaya”
In times of peace, I say, "Hey Ram"
When troubled, I sigh "Allah"
When in need of assurance, I say," Oh Jesus Christ"
And to express gratitude, I thank Waheguru.
Well, this can look superficial,
But secularism is my religion even in the political sense.
First, I can be labelled a threat to a religion dying due to a “paucity of followers.”
Second, I am an anti-national for opposing the centre’s decisions.
Third, I advocate for religion to remain at the private-personal level, and for politicians to re-read the Constitution, as most seem unable to read beyond it being a contemporary addition to the Preamble. And for them to use a miniature of the intelligence they use in instilling hate for their vote banks, to gloss through something as easy as the Articles 25-28.
Fourth, I do not consider any one religion to be almighty, nor do I see other religions to be pitching and plotting against my mother’s faith.
Fifth, I do not regard people from history as invaders or breakers of religion, but as a part of Indian history, and this I form by reading more than two perspectives on a single event.
Sixth, I do not support the alienation of many religions and the veneration of one.
Seventh, I cross-check propaganda against facts, and never do I forget to ask for the sources of a claim.
Finally, I remain among a few who have not failed to understand that in one form or another, all religions champion similar purposes, purposes of growth, truth, peace, respect and unity.
This, I may say, was how they began, until the “intelligent” drew castes, sects, and margins in them. Until politicians strengthened insecurities and promoted fanaticism to gain power. Until all of them decided to work against my religion, pushed it into grave threats, and put it behind bars without trial and caused it to be forgotten.
Yes, you are right, I, too, am fiercely devout and sensitive about my religion, insecure about its extinction due to a paucity of followers. I get disheartened, dejected, offended and angered when something is said or done against it -
When hate is catalysed
When peace is shattered
When politics leads religion
When gods become pawns in the hands of politicians
And yes, my religion is at risk
When religion leads human beings away from humanity.
If you still don’t buy it, I can highlight some of the many benefits of following my religion. You are invited to many more warm gatherings, you have a lot more friends, you become aware of biased loopholes, you get to know tons of stories, you save yourself from accusative religious debates, you are seen just as a human, and not as a representative of a religion, and yes, you become a better human being - more empathetic and humane.
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