Bondage and Freedom

Author(s): Chitrabhanu
Publisher: Divine Knowledge Society

Page 96

mindedness that Jain philosophy emphasises, might persuade him to modify his outlook on religion. Amity and Appreciation would not be incomprehensible to him, for youth is not wicked. He has turned a sceptic, a cynic, even an atheist, but he is not wicked. If approached with sympathy and understanding, he will respond to the treatment we give him. Think of the stress and strain of modern life. The speed, the noise, the hectic bustle of today has robbed the young man of the opportunity to move in life with measured strides. The machine has taken the place of hands. The bubbling, creative energy of youth was formerly channelised into constructive crafts, be it spinning, weaving, pottery, metal-work, wood-work, carving-today, that energy is turned into destructive channels.
In what way, can religion help to divert this flow of energy once again into constructive channels: The simplifying of religion may do it. Stripped of rituals, prejudices, superstitions, even separated from the noble but complicated philosophy that is the bed-rock of religion the simple essence of religionFriendliness, Sympathy, Tolerance, Justice—these youth will . understand, and will not reject sụmmarily as “humbug” or “hocus-pocus,” or “beyond my little head.”
If homes and teaching institutions would sow the seeds of religion as suggested here, emphasising particularly the oneness of all religions, we may be
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