[Reader-list] The true face of some of the clergies., in all faiths.

[Rakesh Iyer]

Dear Shuddha (and all)

I have two issues here.

First of all, I agree with your contention that the so called 'holy men' do
indulge in acts which are totally contrary to their 'images' in front of the
larger public. This not only denigrates religion, but also has social
consequences.

I say that it denigrates religion because religion is nothing but politics.
Any politics would have an image and perception as a standout point to sell
or get people attached to it. When we look at Congress, it's politics is one
where it asks minorities to vote for it in the name of development (which
encompasses more of security and less of economic betterhood). When we look
at BJP, its politics is one where it asks Hindus to vote as a majority
community rather than on the basis of casteism, to raise their voice against
what it calls 'minority and Muslim appeasement'.

Similarly, religion also has an image and a constituency from which it gets
that image, as well as the constituency to which it has to show or put up
that image. That gets defeated the day the truth about these holy men having
indulged in sexual pleasantries comes out. And hence, it does actually
denigrate religion.

However, it doesn't denigrate faith. Just becaue a priest of a temple
indulges in such acts doesn't mean I would stop believing in Lord Ram or
Krishna. It would only point out the hypocrisy of the person and the system
which allows such persons to usurp power in the name of religion. Hence,
such things do denigrate religion.

Here, I agree with you that why behave like so holy when you indulge in such
acts. Do come out in the open. Ideally that should be the case. But it
doesn't happen.

However, where I don't agree with you is allowing them their sexual
sexcapades. In many cases, swamis are known to have sex with women in the
name of ensuring that they do have children. There are possibilities where
they may be indulging in child torture and even rapes of minors. Similarly,
possibilities of black mailing women to have sex or even enjoying with
prostitutes do exist. And here, such sadhus and maulvis are only a problem
for us.

In addition, since they have posed a holy attitude, they should have served
the cause of the society, for after all politics of any kind should
ultimately help the people (and even those who practise it have to in
principle accept this premise as well). Therefore, in my mind, such sadhus
and maulvis who indulge in such acts should be properly punished, and a
separate law should be prepared for having denigrated religion and acting
against serving the society's cause. After all, religion has been created to
serve the cause of society, not of power-hungry people. And if the latter is
the case, abolish all the religions and ban them.

Of course, in addition, their acts which cause others harm (like creating
markets for more women and child trafficking) should ensure greater
punishment to them.