Ritualistic Or Religious?

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The bombing of the 2 hotels in Jakarta is still very much in the news in Indonesia. While press reports concentrate on the progress of police investigation and the possible outcome thereof, it is refreshing to read an article published in The Jakarta Post recently. In it the writer differentiates between ritualistic and religious.

In an article entitled “Beyond The Bombing: An Introspection”, Anand Krishna, spiritual activist and author, first took President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to task for canceling an immediate visit to the two hotels targetted by suicide bombers because it was “Friday, and almost prayer time”. In somewhat of a rebuke, he said: “All considerations aside, I would have rushed to the site. I would not need any scriptural sanction to prompt me to leave my prayers and do so. My answer is not hypothetical, but based on a personal experience in a not too distant past”.

Speaking of the suicide bombers he said: ”I am sorry for allowing our children to be brainwashed and trained as suicide bombers. I apologize for not being vigilant enough toward people spreading hatred in the name of religion and education”.

And what is his solution to solve the suicide bombing? “The suicide bombers, terrorists, radicals and extremists in our country suffer from an identity crisis. And our education system is responsible for this. What we need today is a “universal religious values-based” education system, and not a “religious rituals-based” one”.

“We have made a serious blunder by defining ritual as religion, and prioritizing it over the performance of our duties. Rituals are means of awakening the spirit of religiosity within us, not the end of religion. By becoming ritualistic, I do not necessarily become religious. Hands that help are better than lips that pray”.

Does he have a solution to prevent Indonesians from becoming suicide bombers? ”We have to rebuild our nation upon the solid ground of our ancient heritage, indigenous wisdom and cultural and spiritual values. We honor the wisdom and the values of other cultures. We can learn from them. But we have no reason whatsoever to build upon such imported values.

Interesting words indeed! So think about it. Are you being ritualistic or religious?