Religion is being condemned
as the root of chaos and conflict. In spite of great progress in many other areas of life, religious
animosity is aflame even today in many parts of the world. It has to be emphasised that religion is not the root cause of this state of affairs. The factional
fights and fanatic hatred are due to the unruly ego that is given free play. Religion strives to
destroy just this vicious tendency. So it has to be supported, not condemned. What has to be
condemned is the narrow, perverted attitude of hating those who do not agree with you or who
hold different opinions of the mysterious force that animates the universe. When people are blind to the truth that the
human family is one indivisible Unity, they grope in the dark and are afraid of strange touch. The
cultivation of love, alone, can convince man of this truth that there is only one caste - the caste
of Humanity, and only one religion - the religion of Love. Since no religion upholds violence or
despises love, it is wrong to ascribe the chaos to religion.
-Divine Discourse,
October 1, 1976.