Friday, November 9, 2007

Politics and Religion-Preach politics in the Church


Hausienmuan Munluo

According to common perception,a huge gulf exists between politics and religion.Apparently,no doubt,politics deal with things which is generally a conglomeration of untruth,power,and crafty manoeuvres,ethic, which acording to me,means faith in the higher impulse of life,in necessary. Where as religion is based upon abstract ideals and truth. Politics implies plan/strategy,religion involves faith. Religion is basically a matter of instinct and politics that of reason. But these are the broad characteristics of politics and religion which have meeting places also- and the first meeting places is in the human mind and nature themselves. It is the human mind which proves facts,make plan and start believing in them and it is the mind which nurtures faiths. So,it is necessary to make their co-existence feasible.

However,we consider politics as involving the recognition and conciliation of opposing interest within a given unit of rule,and religions as the root of most of the profound and permanent values of life,we cannot quiet dismiss the idea of the relationship between politics and religion out of hand. Indeed, our problem today arises because we are possing the wrong questions. The question should not be whether religion and politics are related to each other,but what should be their precise relationship.?

The Bible deals in politics,there is a fight for supremacy between two nations,in the New testament there is the Roman politics and the divided Jew’s politics. Even God involves in election means appointed the king and leaders,give law and commanded the people to obey the law. It is clear from the Bible that without good politics, no nation prosper,no religion expands. Englighten and respected political leaders- Gandhi or Maulana Azad-claimed to draw inspiration from religion,and demanded separate homeland for it. Gandhi considered the ethical values imbuing every religion to be an important part of politics; that was what he means when he said that politics divorced from religion becomes debasing. Religion to Gandhi did not mean sectarianism. It implied a belief in ordered moral government of the universe. In this sense,religion is much more than a matter between man and his maker ; It is apart from a mode of worship,also a set of ideas and values.

In the west much blood has been shed on account of theoligical differences which automatically engaged the politician and the state. Europe has a history of domination of Pope over the state and even now Christian political parties exist in many countries. When the west and European countries related politics and religion so much and when the Bible contain many political gladiator or nation politics and deals so much in politics,why do our church leaders kept aloof from politics ? The church leaders failed the people here,they divided politics and religion in the church/pulpit. Neglecting politics they strikes to win the human mind where politics and religion meet each other, without politics, its like neglecting half side of the human body.And,neglecting ideas and values.

To awaken our generation/community, preachers must preach politics in the church.Without reforming our politics,religion influence in us will go nowhere, and our community would debase in the future.

Thus partial merger of institutionalised religion and instutionalised politics into a monolithic forum is necessary in our society,it would create a transition situation and would filled that vaccum created between us, by those orthodox different denomination. In practice member/preacher of every church need to associate with those of other to promote/uplift their peoples,class,professional and interest through,say,organisation of workers,occupationalgroups,writers,etc etc.. Why should not the church apply politics and religion in the interest of intellectual freedom of the members and of more abiding basis of its unity. They can be merged into a single monolithic entity without emasculating the church itself….

After speaking out all what she feel she stood there silent:My purpose was not to start this poor suffering childrens and politics to Sylvia but to ask her if she love me or not,on that day I need not ask that question again,when the eyes tell it all then the heart speak out.Then its time we bade a good night kiss..!

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