Dignitaries from Norway visits St Olav’s Church in Serampore
As a part of preparations for the Millennial anniversary in 2030 of the Norway king Olav Haraldsson (995-1030), better known as St Olav, has begun.
As a part of preparations for the Millennial anniversary in 2030 of the Norway king Olav Haraldsson (995-1030), better known as St Olav, has begun.
Fasting is a basic law in the world’s major religions. The manner of observance, of course, differs such as the timing of the year, the duration, and certain accompanying rituals.
Pope Francis seeks enhanced women's roles and research on female deacons, marking progress toward greater inclusivity.
When contacted, the Tiruppur district SP's office said that the local police are conducting a probe into the matter.
Organised religion is indeed retreating from public into private space. Spirituality and toxicity are the two sides of the coin named religion. While in the public space, in the name of spirituality, it often spreads toxicity and hatred against other faiths, in the private space, especially in uneasy times like this, it plays a benign role by bringing peace and solace to stressed individuals and families.
Hinduism has never been a structured religion, unlike Christianity. The concept of secularism therefore, does not apply to this country. Tolerance is the name of the Hindu game. This pampering of the minorities went to the extent of former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh repeatedly declaring that Muslims ought to have first claim on the country's resources. Muslims First was his regime's slogan, which continued up to 2014.
It does not help matters that the ruling dispensation has a very thin skin. Anyone not supporting the Government is seen as an enemy. The Government cannot countenance anyone holding a view different from their own, a dangerous trend because economists and civil servants are appointed to give unalloyed advice. Of course, the Government is free to reject any advice tendered to it but shooting the messenger delivering unpleasant tidings is not expected of a mature government.
The Abrahamic religions, we have seen, are deductive in their logic. They begin with a premise and work downwards. On the other hand, the Hindu view is inductive in its logic, which moves from facts on the ground upwards till it reaches a conclusion. Hinduism does not have a book as its fountain of belief, there is no premise and therefore no corollaries which a follower can refer to, or a commandment or guidance.
The East has no native concept of the 'secular'. Whether Arabic, Persian or Urdu, there is no synonym for the word 'secular'. Islam is an all-embracing prescription for life, whether individual or collective, social or political, religious or otherwise. The question of separating any of them does not arise. In contrast, Christianity provided in the Bible itself that Hinduism has no need of separating anything from the State. It has no concept of the secular. For the simple reason that the Hindu State has never had anything to do with the priest or worship or temple.
An earlier report had indicated that he might have ventured into the prohibited island to preach Christianity.
