Fifty people have just died in a massacre by a gunman in Orlando. Most of the debate among politicians has since focused on banning guns and banning Muslims from entering US. Yet what killed fifty people was an idea; an idea that infected the mind of the gunman like a virus.

Some people have branded Islam as a religion with harmful ideologies. But when we can look at history, almost all religion seem to have been the breeding ground for these violent and disruptive viruses to spread within the societies. Perhaps the time has come for us to ask the question: Can't we do away with religion? Is it time for us as a civilization, to do away with religion in its current form, role and thereby diminish the influence it casts on human mind?

Richard Dawkins first coined the word "meme" to explain these viruses of the mind. Since then, the psychologist and writer, Susan Blackmore has extensively researched its relevance in modern times. She explains the damaging effect of these memes in passing information "from brain to brain, or from brain to computers, books, and works or art." She claims that, "the winning memes spread across the world, shaping our minds and cultures as they go."

Our environment and social circles are our strongest influences. In fact they are a greater force than our willful intentions. While it is easy to see how teenagers to young adults are easily swayed into violent and harmful actions under the power of negative influences, the older are content to quietly perpetuate religion and culture. Welding power to infuse harmful ideas in the minds of the masses, leaders such as Hitler and Mussolini caused some of the most traumatic massacres in history. On the other hand, Gandhi and Martin Luther King helped spread positive memes in their movement of non-violence and freedom.

In my own years of spiritual quest, I have adopted the forms of prayers and practices associated with religions such as Christianity, Hinduism and Buddhism. At each of these explorations, I found my own mind easily influenced into their respective belief systems. When I now look back, I can see inherent in each of them an air of righteousness that doesn't quite equate to being right!



The nature of truth has to be dynamic and alive than merely having a universal set of laws that delineate wrong from right. True tolerance has to make way for the possibility of exploring the views of every religion and school of philosophy. But at a conceptual level, the nature of truth manifests differently for each individual. The moment we cling to such conceptual forms of truth, we are bound to have conflicts with others. From such a perspective of right and wrong, there shall always remain differences, intolerances and extreme cases of religious terrorism.

The biggest challenge with religious ideologies is that it paralyzes our inquiring mind. When we begin losing our inquiring mind, we seek solace in ideas, theories and stories that give us ready answers. As John F. Kennedy once said, "We enjoy the comfort of opinion without the discomfort of thought."

Although "thought" in itself may prove to be inadequate to lead us to truth and to our heart's true desire for harmony with others, it is nevertheless a safer ground to begin our investigation into the society's mentally binding matrix. Through right forms of thought however, we can trigger actions that open up compassion, wisdom and respect for others. But such a right form of thinking and inquiring is a training that needs to be sustained within oneself and through the support of our outer environment. To launch into the forms of inquiry that has the potential to lead us to inner freedom and greater understanding, religion in its current form is an obstacle.

Imagine all the world leaders gathering together to discuss the possibility of reducing the scope and impact of religion. Ofcourse such a step would go against democracy. It would certainly create a backlash as is bound to happen if we merely focus on banning Muslims into US with the hope of ending violence.

Nevertheless limiting the influence of religion can come about as a natural step when there is greater scope in the society for each individual to purse their own spiritual quest. Then religion is not seen as a sacrifice but lends a greater deal of integrity to our inner journey. More and more, religion is being separated from spirituality. The former is suffused with external faith and blind beliefs and the latter is seen as process of self-discovery and inner freedom.

A truly progressive and democratic nation collectively honors the ideals of every individual who commit to "following their bliss" and finding harmony within themselves first. What would it take for every individual to consider giving up religion and choosing their own unfolding spirituality? Without the thought shaping role of religion, we may better prepare every individual to inquire into their motives and to look deeply within their dysfuctional thought patterns and behaviors. We may even be able to then focus on imbuing individuals with the intrinsic motivations toward peace, tolerance and harmony.



Ultimately, religion was supposed to bring us to true spirituality, where we learn to empathize with one another and give each other the space to explore their own paths. Perhaps the time has now come for us to go beyond considerations of banning guns and banning Muslims to review the role of religion itself. As a civilization, can we educate masses on not only the constraints of religion in its current form but also on the potential of discovering their Free Mind.

Can this massacre be a call for our nation to move toward mindful inquiry rather than sheltering blind beliefs? Can we do away with religion and embrace the unifying path of our own spirituality?