RELIGIOUS EXTREMISM
OUTLINE
(i) Pakistan is a religious country. It came into being in the name of Islam. But unfortunately, the unity of the Muslims lies in pieces.
(ii) Religious extremism means that one religious group considers its thinking correct and truthful. This leads to hostility against other groups.
(iii) Religious extremism is produced by our emotional and non scientific thinking.
(iv) Lack of modern knowledge breeds religious extremism.
(v) It has generated many evils. It produces distrust and fear.
(vi) It breeds hostility and tension among different groups. This atmosphere of strife halts the economic progress.
ESSAY
Religious extremism is very common and popular in Pakistan. Pakistan is a religious country. It came into being in the name of Islam. But unfortunately, its religious ulemas and thinkers divided the country into many sects. The unity of the Muslims lies in pieces. The people of one sect hate strongly the people of other sect. Religious extremism means that one religious group considers its thinking correct and truthful. He thinks that the views held by it are final and conclusive. The religious views of the other groups are incorrect. He hates the other group and feels uncomfortable with it. This leads to hostility against the other group. In this way, every person adheres to his point of view and considers the other group wrong. Religious extremism is produced in the people by the following factors.
1. The observers and thinkers consider that religious extremism is produced by our emotional and non-scientific thinking. They claim that we become too much subjective and too much involved in our own thinking. Our thinking attains personal colour. It is only scientific and objective thinking which can save us from the menace of religious extremism.
2. Lack of modern knowledge breeds religious extremism. A large number of our people are uneducated. They are blind to the modern trends of knowledge in all fields of life. This thing generates a clash between ignorance and knowledge. The religious scholars, ulemas, and thinkers stick to their point of view. They try to force their views on the other by force. This produces and atmosphere of fear, suspicion and mistrust.
3. Religious extremism takes place in those minds which are simple and credulous. They take every belief granted and do not analyze it.
Religious extremism has generated many evils. It has produced tyranny and violence. It has urged the religious extremists to resort to use force against those who do not agree with their views. This thing has built a strife between 'Shias and Sunnies'. These two religious groups have killed many people of the rival group. They have killed innocent people which include thinkers, scholars, doctors, teachers and other civilized members of society. Such type of religious extremism is very harmful to society and country. It can break up the integrity and unity of country. The unity of the country is at stake due to the presence of this form of religious extremism.
Religious extremism produces the following evils.
1. It builds an atmosphere of distrust and fear. People begin to hate one another and suspect each others' intention.
2. Religious extremism leads to the formation of religious groups and organizations. These groups organize themselves into armed groups and use force to intimidate and horrify the rival groups. In Pakistan such groups exist and they kill one another mercilessly. The use of force leads to enmity and bitter hostility.
3. An atmosphere of strife, tension and horror halts the economic progress of the county. The foreign investors stop investing their money in big projects. We can overcome religious extremism by taking the following steps.
(i) Modern education should be given to the students who study in Madrassas.
(ii) Religious extremism comes into action for lack of tolerance. The people should be taught to show tolerance to each other. The teachings of Islam should be propogated through electronic media about human dignity. Islam is a religious of peace and justice. A compaign should be started on electronic media which should teach people the real principals of Islam.
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