Faculty of Tarbiyah and Teacher Training – Discussing the topic of religion often brings about sensitivity. However, we are no longer unfamiliar with news about religious conflicts worldwide. The wars in the Middle East, rooted in religious grounds, continue to claim innocent lives. Intolerance in religious practices seems to be increasingly rampant.
Politicians seeking votes often exploit religion for their political gain. Religious leaders who are poorly educated sometimes use religion to cover up their wrongdoings. The lazy poor often use religion as a justification for their laziness. The arrogant rich also use religion to legitimize their arrogance. So, is religion merely a tool to justify our wrongdoings? Shouldn’t religion be a moral guide in our temporary life?
A misguided approach to religion can occur if we follow it only because of family heritage, without a solid foundation of thought. Many people practice religion simply because it is their family’s religion. This results in ambiguity in their religious attitude and nature, similar to someone who receives an inheritance without thoughtful considered and ends up in disputes over the wealth.
In my opinion, religion should not be the result of ancestral or parental heritage but a choice that we contemplate deeply. The highest nature of humanity is to think, not just to mimic others’ beliefs that may not be true. Many people convert to another religion because they feel compelled to follow their family’s heritage, and some even become atheists.
The conclusion of this writing is that anything, including religion, should be a well-thought-out choice. Practicing religion is like choosing a life partner. If we choose the right partner, we will be happy. Conversely, if we choose wrongly, we will suffer.
“A religion that is a thoughtfully considered choice will provide us with peace, whereas a religion that is merely inherited will lead to endless suffering.” – Risal
Source:
- https://www.kompasiana.com/rizalpolewal075748/669fa5e534777c391b429f52/agama-seharusnya-menjadi-pilihan-yang-dipikirkan-bukan-hasil-dari-warisan
- https://www.freepik.com/free-vector/hand-drawn-tasbih-illustration_23615521.htm#fromView=search&page=1&position=0&uuid=0be1c1a6-1857-4be7-a0ae-d7be61153466
