Reckless and uncontrolled pollution, resulting in the ever rising global warming and depletion of the ozone layer have already given mankind the taste of environmental catastrophes. We must live in harmony as the Devas do. Harmony, thy name is Law of Nature.

On the social side, the culture of fragmentation of humankind into rigid identities and illogical division into castes and subcastes, due largely to the negative role of political leaders and their religions surrogates, is lamentable. True, political leaders of one party can’t remain indifferent to other politicians, who misuse religion to take undue political mileage.

It is irony that we fight in the name of God and kill people while praising Him. How absurd does it sound that we praise the artist but dislike his painting; praise the poet but dislike his poetry. This is nothing but a culture of hypocrisy.

In my humble opinion, mankind has not been divided by Prophets and Holy Scriptures. Unity in diversity is God’s will. The basis of division and hatred are mainly economic, political, language, sectarianism, regionalism and rivalry among nations for domination and exploitation of the weaker nations. The whole human history bears a testimony to this argument. Huntington’s thesis of cultural and civilizational conflict is a motivated one and unnecessarily blown out of proportion by the world media.  I think Lenin was right and Huntington is wrong.

InterFaith in our times has gone far beyond the first step of just taking of religious tolerance. Its being increasingly recognized that world religions have much in common with each other. Belief in one God has created tolerance and respect for each other.We are interrelated and interconnected with each other.We are not a group of

islands but a Global Village. No religion can refuse to recognize the spirituality and legitimacy of truths embodied in other Scriptures. The process of globalization has compelled us to think afresh about other religions and their missionary work. No religion flows from the barrel of a gun. No religion sanctions killing of the innocent in the name of God. No religion permits blood bath and indiscriminate butchery of   humankind.

Disagreement among people is a civilized way. Different people with diverse beliefs was a theme repeatedly mentioned in the Vedas, the Gita and the  Quran. The origin of all messages of all Prophets is the same, as they have been revealed by God. Before we call ourselves Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs and Christians, let us understand, follow and practice our respective faiths. In order to understand another religion one should be deeply committed to one’s own religion. Try to understand each religion in its own distinctiveness and see its contribution to the spiritual atmosphere and unity of mankind. In every religion, there are universal human values and a basic message it has for human beings. The focus of every religion is on making man more pious, righteous and on building a social environment on these universal values, conducive to peace and prosperity of mankind.

Scholars generally point out similarities and dissimilarities in different faiths but it is more important that they meet as men, sharing the task of building a society in which all men realize their dignity as called upon to love and serve one another. The foundation of a pluralistic society, its culture, legal system and public school education require acceptance of universal. human values, derived from human experience.