Religions have a long history of discord. The solution doesn't lie in discarding religion but in rediscovering it.
Conspiracy theorists went to town. Four months earlier, on May 5, the Bilderberg Group—a mysterious society that has been meeting annually since 1954—met in Rottach-Egern, Germany. It was first chaired by the late Prince Bernard of Sweden. Powerful transnational politicians, businessmen and media moguls attend Bilderberg meetings. The deliberations remain undisclosed. Time magazine described it as the most secretive among secret societies.
The May 5 meeting was attended by Anders Eldrep, the husband of Merete Eldrep who is managing director of the Danish newspaper which published the cartoons. Eldrep has been regularly attending Bilderberg meetings.
Influential Americans attending the May 5 meeting included Henry Kissinger, David Rockefeller, Richard Perle and Paul Wolfowitz. Conspiracy theorists concluded that the cartoon plot was hatched in the Bilderberg meeting. Two nations gained from the cartoon crisis. America gained because Islamic fury will draw Europe closer to America’s worldview. Iran gained by becoming more firmly entrenched as a leader of radical Islam.
It matters little whether the cartoon controversy happened or was made to happen. What matters is that it did happen. It happened due to hatred existing among Jews, Muslims and Christians. Together they comprise only half the world’s population. All three religions believe in the Old Testament prophets.
People cite the Israel-Palestine dispute as the cause of the mutual hatred. Israel has roughly half the population of Delhi. Israel, Palestine and Jordan can live together in peace and prosperity. They don’t. It is not the dispute that causes hatred. It is hatred that perpetuates the dispute. So, why the hatred?
The underlying cause is religion. Priests are the self-appointed agents of God. To establish authority they stress on rituals. Rituals sharpen religious division. These religions have a long history of discord. The solution doesn’t lie in discarding religion but in rediscovering it. The world now enters a new millennium. To survive till its end, humankind must recall what the prophets, messiahs and saints actually taught and forget what priests teach. Religion needs reappraisal. Let priests start the process.
(Puri can be reached at rajinderpuri2000@yahoo.com)