An Important Conversation between 2 friends.

A: I don’t understand why there is so much fanaticism among believers of W religion — I think it has the highest proportion of fanatics within their set.

B: And how can you say that?

A: Look around — all major incidence of violence are undertaken by those people.

B: So?

A: So, isn’t there a pattern? Can’t you conclude?

B: No, I can’t… all I can say is that the only pattern among such people is that they are driven by stupidity, they have not been taught what Humanity means? — they are misguided souls.

A: And what about their faith? Why do they commit all these heinous crimes in its name?

B: To me that only proves that they have been misled by some influential people, who may be their senior or elders or friends… that these senior saw that the only route to convince these souls to do anything was to use the name of God and faith, because that is the dearest to them.

None of these so called seniors ever talk about education & employment, because then these members will start questioning or realise their potential to make the world better…

A: Come on — you are making it sound too simple.

B: And why do you say that?

A: How can they be convinced that they go ahead and kill people? People who are innocent or who are actually believers of the same faith.

B: If we can be convinced to eat the unhealthiest of food and put ourselves on the path to kill ourselves, why can’t they be convinced?

Anyone can be convinced by anyone, provided they are given a very strong reason, which they can relate to or what is their immediate need… A poor needs security, a displaced needs justice, a jobless needs job, a vulnerable needs comfort, a hungry needs food, a homeless needs shelter, insecured needs to be heard and a weak needs strength like money and power.

The seniors knew what these souls want and when these souls got what they want, they went ahead and did those things.

Mind you I am in no way condoning violence by them or anyone — I am just trying to understand why you say what you say.

A: I don’t agree — their scripture tell them to do all this.

B: Have you read their scriptures? & Do you know where does it say that?

A: No…

B: So, who told you about their scriptures?

A: Someone told me…

B: Who?

A: Everyone I know — my parents, my elders, my friends have always told me and now with what is happening around me, I think they have been true all the way. And even the same can be heard on TV.

B: Hmm… Have you gone to college?

A: Yeah…

B: So, despite being educated and living with so much access to knowledge, you have not cared to read about another faith’s scriptures to know what it says or what it doesn’t, before you formed such negative opinions.

And so, an educated person like you has got ‘convinced’ to form such sensitive opinions, which are negative in tone, solely basis about secondary sources?

Don’t you think that is slightly unreasonable on your part?

More importantly, have you ever thought of asking someone from the other faith on how they feel all this? Maybe they also feel very bad but don’t get a voice or can’t voice it, out of fear?

There is always more to what meets the eye, when it comes to such issues and so, precisely at these moments we need to be extra-careful and empathetic not to add to the already existing negative views and maintain restrain — I am not asking you to change yourself but do consider what I have expressed on merit and then do what you wish to do.

I hope I didn’t offend you.

A: Hmm… But I don’t kill.

B: But you do hurt, even if unknowingly, my friend.