One of the distinguishing features of our civilisation is the presence of a largenumber of religions and ethical systems. Mankind has always sought tounderstand the reason for creation and his own place in the scheme of things.Arnold Toynbee studied the history of man through the ages and put hisfindings in a monumental work consisting of ten volumes. He summarised thatin the history of man, religion stood as the centre. In an article in The Observeron October 24, 1954 he wrote:“I have come back a the belief that religion holds the key to the mystery ofexistence;”Religion according to the Oxford dictionary means “belief in a superhumancontrolling power especially in a personal God or gods entitled to obedienceand worship”.A common feature of all major religions is the belief in a Universal God orSupreme Divine Authority that is Omnipotent and Omniscient. Followers ofall major religions believe that the God they worship is the same God forthem as well as for others.Marxism, Freudianism and other ‘non-religious’ beliefs tried to attack theroots of organized religion. But these in turn, developed into belief systemsthemselves. For instance, when communism was many countries of theworld it was preached with the same commitment and fervour thatcharacterizes preaching and propogation of (Characterises the act ofpreaching) religions.Thus religion is an integral part of human existence.The Glorious Qur'an says in the following verse:"Say: 'O People of the Book! Come to common terms as between usand you: That we worship none but Allah; That we associate nopartners with him; that we erect not, from among ourselves, Lordsand patrons other than Allah'. If then they turn back, Say ye: "Bearwitness that we (at least) are Muslims (bowing to Allah's Will)". (Al - Qur'an 3:64)The study of various religions has been an extremely rewarding experiencefor me. It has reaffirmed the belief that God created every human soul withsome knowledge of His existence. The psycological constitution of man issuch that he accepts the existence of the Creator, unles he has beenconditioned to believe the contary. In other words, belief in God requires nocondition, while a rejection of God does.
