Blog@GraceJunction

“We are Orthodox, Catholic, and evangelical Christians who have united at this hour to reaffirm fundamental truths about justice and the common good, and to call upon our fellow citizens, believers and non-believers alike, to join us in defending them”. This statement is part of the Manhattan Declaration*, a manifesto which was drafted on October 20th, 2009 and released on November 20th, 2009 with the support of more than 150 American Christian leaders. The declarations website encourages supporters to sign the declaration affirming their support for the sanctity of human life, the dignity of marriage as the conjugal union of husband and wife and the rights of conscience and religious liberty. (more…)

India, a land where we witness the confluence of almost all the major religions of the world, is a place where we wear our faith on our sleeves. Even a small friction is enough to leave two communities at loggerheads with each other. And probably that is why the country adopts secularism, which is also the concept of separating the state from the religion. The view that religious considerations should be excluded from civil affairs or public education. But the question needs to be asked whether secularism has helped in keeping the state and the religion separate? Especially when we see religious overtones to school text books, exercise of personal faith in government offices and departments, or even to the singing of a patriotic song with debatable lyrics. Why has secularism not been able to stop incidents like Babri Masjid demolition, Godhra Riots, Bombay terror attacks or the Orissa violence on religious conversion? (more…)