Religious Identity

I have been haunted by disturbing thoughts lately. Thoughts of where the whole world, the whole of humanity is leading itself to. I think the destination looks more like the abyss of destruction.. of the soul.

While people are talking about politics and how it is somehow linked to sex nowadays, while issues of national unity and racism is rising like there's no tomorrow, when we blabber on about topics we pretend we know, I wonder if we actually ponder on what the root of the problem really is.

No, I am not a political recluse. I read The Star online (almost daily, hehhe), Malaysiakini is one of my usual stop, and yes The New York Times even, so that I can picture what is actually going on in the "leading" country of the world and it effects on us as a people.

But amidst the 18Sx rated politics happening in Malaysia, despite new vocabs (read: sodomy) that small little children (who aren't suppose to know yet what they mean) get to know day in day out, have we actually taken the time to think through and through what this is all really about?

When national unity is being highlighted commercially but never really felt sincerely, when racism becomes something that is growing inside but always pushed under the rug like it will resolve itself, when we think that unity can actually be achieved by singing a homey song and doing national concerts annually, have we actually thought about where the heart of the problem lies?

I believe we should stop. Stop and think. About life itself.

We worry of what the world is turning into. And so, we talk about changing the world, or at least we think about it. But it should all start from the heart. And the purification of the heart comes from the enlightenment of our own spiritual being which will pervade in everything that we do.

We are emphasizing so much on the material aspects of life, to the detriment of spiritual values, that it is now having a devastating impact on the society. Instead of being located in the heart and in one's relationship to God, self-esteem is now placed on object and our relationship to them. Evidently, religion has been kept secret, private and separated from the real life.

I remember a conversation I had with a Christian friend from UPM, and acutely tucked in my head is the part when he said "I am a devoted Christian, but I think we should put our religion where it belongs. Life is life. Religion is the personal relationship we have with God. It should not get mixed and confused" or something along that line.

But when we cut a piece of a round apple pie and eat it, the pie won't be whole anymore won't it?

"The democratic man live day by day, gratifying the desire that occurs to him, at one time drinking and listening to the flute, at another drinking nothing but water and reducing; now practicing gymnastics then, idling again and neglecting everything; sometimes spending his time as though he were occupied with philosophy. Often he engages in politics and, jumping up, says and does whatever chances to come to him; and if he ever admires soldiers, he turns in that way. There is neither order nor necessity in his life, but calling this life sweet, free, and blessed, he follows it throughout." -The Republic, Plato-

I am trying not to fit into this category.