-S. K Magar
With all the hue and cry by a political group riding high on the religious sentiments of the people belonging to majority faith groups during the recently held second Constitutional Assembly election polls over the issue of certain increase in the number of adherents of certain minor faith groups in this beautiful nation; portraying it as the reason to revert the nation back to the old days may have many of us wonder as to ‘freedom of religion’ being included or listed in the several points of the fundamental rights of many nations around the world or the priority it was accorded in the documents such as Universal Declaration of Human Rights as well as in International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
May be or May be not.
Let us go through this important phrase we keep on hearing about i.e ‘Freedom of belief’, ‘Freedom of Faith/religion’ etc for a while. Freedom of faith is a principle that supports the freedom of an individual or community, in public or private, to manifest religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance; the concept is generally recognized also to include the freedom to change religion or even not to follow any religion.
Surprising it might sound that the freedom to leave or discontinue membership in a religion or religious group — is also a fundamental part of religious freedom, covered by Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
The Interim Constitution of Nepal (2007) identifies Nepal as a ‘Multi religious’ nation where ‘Every person shall have the right to profess, practice and preserve his/her own religion…..’
Needless it is to say that ‘Freedom of religion’ is considered by many people and nations to be an important part of fundamental Rights. Fundamental Rights fulfill some basic and essential conditions of good life for human progress. These are fundamental in the sense that in the absence of these rights citizens cannot develop their personality and their own self. It is a painful situation when any individual cannot practice his or her freedom openly without fear in his or her heart. Coming from a background where his own parents and relatives faced difficulties from the State in the past not because they had burgled and beaten people but because they happen to embrace a different faith than the majority group the columnist well understands how it feels like when one cannot practice the ‘first freedom’ in secure manner.
‘First freedom’! What is that?
From Genesis account we know that After God created Adam and Eve, He placed them in the Garden of Eden, in a paradisiacal state unimaginable to us now. Now once He created them God didn’t say to Adam and Eve ‘Come on guys I am your Creator and you better worship me’. Rather He gave the mankind the freedom of choice. A freedom that they could chose to both love and worship God willingly or to reject Him intentionally. God didn’t wanted to create robotic machines who would just like a programmed robots would keep on ranting ‘I love you’ phrases meaninglessly hundreds of times in a day, rather He wanted to create humans in His own image who would enjoy having a loving personal relationship with Him.
‘Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, ….”-Genesis 1:26 NIV
Created in the image of God they were expected to express love to God, have a personal relationship with Him from their heart and mind thus God gave mankind the blessings of ‘First freedom’-A gift that involved risk for the Lord Himself but He still went ahead to create mankind bestowing them the gift of freedom to choose to worship God the Creator or to reject Him. In today’s world people are turning blind eye to this fact by making effort to impose one faith etc. which in no way resembles the will of a Loving God. They do this in several manners giving several vague reasons forgetting the fact that even common sense demands that what God has established as a First Right of mankind we should not be making carnal effort to disannul it.
Many people have faced troubles in the past and the mankind’s history has only bear the brunt of shame whenever the state or any particular group made effort to impose one faith agenda forcefully and unjustly. The world is a garden where different flowers blossom. We should have respect towards each other’s diverse faith and belief. To foolishly advocate and claim to corner the religious minorities blaming them of the things they don’t even imagine and making it a reason to impose one faith agenda all for the sake of making effort to have one’s political ambitions fulfilled is one of the most unethical practices around the world and it is all the more sad when one feels it is being done in your own nation.
The written Word amply makes it clear that such attitudes and actions are not new. Even in the olden time such unethical selfish actions and incidents occurred. In the book of Daniel chapter 3 we find one such incident where Nebuchadnezzar was using political authority to enforce a certain kind of worship of self above God and oppress God’s people. The story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego provides a clear illustration against the overreach of the state in religious affairs. The three faithful Jews refused to bow down and worship King Nebuchadnezzar’s image of gold. The King’s religious test allowed for three Jews to step out in boldness and proclaim faith in the one true God. Acts 5:29 implores us to “obey God rather than men.” The three were thrown into a fiery furnace but the Lord protected and saved them and they were uplifted and honored for their devotion and actions.
It is to be understood in it’s entirety that a person’s conscience, not government, should dictate his or her choice to worship—or not. Taking stand against religious oppression and defending an individual’s right to worship according to his or her conscience—regardless of that person’s religious affiliation—is in everyone’s best interest because anyone claiming to have sanity cannot exercise his or her ‘first freedom’ comfortably when he or she sees another person not being able to practice his or her ‘first freedom’ in safe and free manner.
To all those people feeling insecure because of current scenarios the Word of Truth has a reminder to continue to have hope of better days, to keep on loving all humans everywhere regardless of their faith and views with Apostle Paul’s admonition:
‘Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.’- 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 NIV
Let us continue to pray for the prosperity and peace in our nation despite these black clouds hovering; After all we are not walking alone.
Listen to God’s promise:
‘…you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior;…’ Isaiah 43:1-3 NIV
May you have a hope filled day. S. K Magar (Mr.)
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