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Vol. II–1996
Definition of....
95
attitude of "No harm could come to me, whosoever be the ruler." Different forms of devotion turned him away from the actual realities. The individual became past-oriented and futuristic!3. He tended to overlook the present. As a result, society began to lag behind in the running with the world. The progress earned during the philosophic age was largly lost. Frustrated people could neither earn physical prosperity nor spiritual bliss. Modern Age : This age may be said to begin with the progress of science or industrial revolution. In this age, one could learn about the vastness of human world on the one hand, and on the other hand one could also realise the universal sameness of human tendencies despite differences in language, climate, and other factors. The multi-religionic Indian mind learnt about the fundamental principles of many other religions and sects. The scientific mind could observe that various religions have many basic similarities, their many differences are only external. The world is gradually converging into a human family due to facilities of transport, communications, publications, and propagation. There has been a phenomenal increase in the feeling of universal brotherhood and socialistic welfare. Many national and international organisations have started working in these directions. That is why the definition of religion has again gone multidimensional in this age. Many earlier dictionaries mentioned religion as a term indicating faith in God. This meaning has changed. There may be, like Jainism and Buddhism, Godless religions too. The scholars have guessed about the primal circumstances under which religion or its concepts were developed. Now, the derivative meaning of the term is being expanded with reference to modern context. The grammatically formed Sanskrit term Dharma (or religion) is being redefined as carrier of society or public welfare or 'welfare activity or activator itself. 'The English synonym religion (of Greek origin) is now defined as 'combination or socialisation' and 'as a set of behaviours leading to those processes.' Thus, the basic concept regarding religion in east and west has gone nearly equivalent. Not only that; the current definition seems turned towards canonical one leading to the guess that the Jaina canonists were also modernists or scientists, a great credit for them. According to the new-age thinking, the religion originated because of immense desire for socialisation, co-ordination, and unification among human beings. The above definition satisfies this objective. Moreover, this also overlooks the superhuman element in religion and it is thus acceptable to theists and atheists alike. It has no place for sectarianism, conservatism, and terrific activism. In early days, the concept of co-ordinated form of religion was taken as a form of belief and stablity. Four factors are mentioned for the success of any belief system : (a) concept of psychological protection through superhuman element; (b) conception about ideal life and social structure; (c) development of innate nature towards ethical duties; and (d) feeling of inner energy!4. The belief is said to be a definite process or knowledge which is a long-timed activity. In fact, the belief nurtures the religious attitude. The past
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