Our God — Page 159
Great Benefits ofBelief in God 159 of religious differences can also lead to war. The only difference is that, whereas improper application of other factors leads to breach of peace, their proper application does not particularly lead to peace, cooperation, and brotherhood. However, religion in its original form and practised properly, particularly leads to peace, cooperation, unity, brotherhood, and sympathy. That is the truth. Accept it, if you will. Fourth, critics have misunderstood the term ‘religion’. They probably think that religion implies only belief in God, and when one gives up that belief he has, as it were, given up religion. In other words, they think religion is something that one can give up. However, while one who gives up belief in God is technically termed ‘irreligious’, religion is an essential part of human life and it is impossible to completely break out of its confines. Religion, in fact, is the name of beliefs, doctrines, and codes of conduct one adopts about life and death. Obviously, in this sense, it is logically impossible for one to part with religion inasmuch as everyone adopts a certain way of life. One can say that he does not like this religion or that religion but it is impossible to be completely inde- pendent of religion. As long as one is living, he must hold some beliefs concerning life and death and must follow a code of con- duct. The sum total of his beliefs and code of conduct would be called his religion. At most, one may separate himself from known revealed religions and invent a new religion for himself. However, he cannot really be labelled as not having a religion according to the definition given above. Whatever way of life he adopts will be his religion. If someone believes in God, that is his religion, and if he denies Him, that is his religion. In short, religion is com- posed of the way of life and beliefs that one adopts, and in that