Modern Religious and Secular Movements This page was generated automatically upon download from the Globethics.net Library. More information on Globethics.net see https://www.globethics.net. Data and content policy of Globethics.net Library repository see https:// repository.globethics.net/pages/policy Item Type Book Authors Mathew, John V. Publisher SCEPTRE Rights With permission of the license/copyright holder Download date 26/09/2021 12:25:00 Link to Item http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12424/220606 Modern Religious and Secular Movements Modern Religious and Secular Movements Compiled by John V. Mathew MODERN RELIGIOUS AND SECULAR MOVEMENTS John V. Mathew FOREWORD For many years theological education has been done within the well-protected campus with the primary objective of training © SCEPTRE, 2013 pastors. Theological Education by Extension (TEE) is an attempt to do theology beyond campus. The vision of TEE is 74B, A.J.C. Bose Road not confined to ministerial training programme of the churches Kolkata 700 016 alone; rather is involves equipping the whole people of God; it West Bengal is for the Laos - the whole people of God. It seeks to empower India the whole people of God for formation and transformation of the whole community and search to build a just and inclusive community in the context of the people of other faiths and to all people. Thus, the theological education by extension programme is meant to strengthen building an inclusive community. Those who go through the process of such education will be able to work not only “for” the people, but also “together with the people”. Cover Design To aid external candidates in their studies, the production Debabani Basu of study materials was under consideration for a long time. We are happy that the resource materials are ready and I am sure this will greatly benefit the BD/BCS candidates especially those who do not have access to library facility. We record our appreciation to Dr. John V. Mathew, Lecturer, Allahabad for writing the Text book on Modern Religious and Secular Movements. We thank EMW, Germany, for journeying with us in strengthening theological education and making the resources available for the production of study materials. Wati Longchar Composed & Printed by Dean ESPACE Kolkata 74B, A.J.C. Bose Road October, 2013 Kolkata 700 016 Phone : (033)65351127 e-mail: [email protected] website: www.espaceindia.in Contents Froward v Chapter One : Context and Factors that led to Indian Renaissance 1 Chapter Two : Renascent and Revival Movements in Hinduism 10 Chapter Three : Renascent Movements in Islam 44 Chapter Four : Renascent Movements in Sikhism 58 Chapter Five : Ambedkar and the Neo-Buddhist Movement in India 62 Chapter Six : Guru Movements 74 Chapter Seven : Selected Religio Secular Movements 91 Chapter Eight : A Study of the Teachings and Activities of Three Popular Religious Movements in North India 116 Chapter Nine : Towards Understanding Communalism and Minority Rights 155 Suggested Books for Further Reading 177 Context and Factors that led to Indian Renaissance 1 Chapter One Context and Factors that led to Indian Renaissance Introduction The term Renaissance means ‘re-birth,’ or the revival of learning. It is a paradigm shift in the perception and approach of people towards religion, culture, society and politics. In the West, it was a period of new growth of interest and activity in the areas of art and literature. In Europe, Renaissance took place especially in northern Italy during the 14th, 15th and 16th century. Ideas came and changed the society. Renaissance brought a modern culture. It brought encouragement of expression, thinking and ideas. In the earlier age, thinking was not encouraged. Religion controlled ideas, but during the time of Renaissance, religious beliefs and doctrines were questioned. Renaissance brought conflicting ideas (between two groups) Natural (Science) Vs Supernatural (Religion) Rational (Reason) Vs Revealed (Faith) Corporal (Secular society) Vs Spiritual (Religious society) In the West during this period, Descartes came with the dictum “I think, therefore I am.” This statement changed the entire western thought system. Human reasoning and thinking was given more importance than accepted norms and traditions. With Renaissance a new world opened. Earlier thinking was only about God and religion but now it shifted to human beings. Psychology, Sociology and History developed. Natural human was emphasised rather than spiritual. Earlier humans were in bondage to the Church 2 Modern Religious and Secular Movements Context and Factors that led to Indian Renaissance 3 opinion. But now after Renaissance humans were free to think modern religious and secular movements which are the manifestation and reason. of Indian renaissance. Indian renaissance opened a new era in the history of Indian Areas Affected by New Thinking: thinking. Contact with the outside world stimulated the Indian The first area which was affected by the new thinking was religion. thinkers. Europeans came to India such as Portuguese, Dutch and Martin Luther and John Calvin brought revolutionary thinking in Britishers who brought with them western science, thinking as well Christianity. Another area which was affected was science. as western concepts of society. This gave the Indians an opportunity Copernicus and Galileo came up with new scientific theories that to know the western society. Along with colonialism, English questioned the earlier belief of the church with regard to the education came to India. On 2nd February 1835, the ‘Minute of universe. New forms of art were developed, changes came in Macaulay’ opted for English education in India and hence all higher economic life, and public property became private property. education took place in the English medium. Further, during the Economic life became universal. Concept of banking, interest, time of Renaissance, a re-discovery of Indian heritage took place. and commerce developed. There were also changes in political Indian Renaissance started in Bengal especially represented life. Before Renaissance politics was limited to monarchy and by Brahmo Samaj. The Indian reformers spoke against superstitious aristocracy. But with Renaissance, democracy came and with it a and polytheistic aspects of Hinduism. There were a small group of feeling of liberty, equality, and fraternity. Earlier religious institutions reformers who gave high standard for rational thinking. Social, dominated individual lives. But now due to Renaissance human religious and political life of India was re-examined. A spirit of being became important. Questions of ethics developed. A spirit rationalism came to India. Individual conscience was advocated of humanism came in the society. A separation of spiritual and along with the supremacy of religion. A critical attitude towards social life took place. Financial and material prosperity became religious beliefs, rituals and practices emerged. important. Recognition of minorities and their rights developed. Renaissance enabled Indians to grow their religion out of its Along with Renaissance, development of mathematics took place. mythological, ritualistic and sociological forms in which it was People look at the world from a mechanical view point (scientific established. Philosophical Hinduism was emphasized in place of view point), rather than from the view point of the church. Thus, Puranic Hinduism. The success of Swami Vivekananda and S. we see that in the West renaissance brought: 1. Reaction against Radhakrishnan to carry the message of Hinduism to the western orthodoxy (church traditions) 2. Human beings were given world was primarily due to their ability to interpret Vedanta as a importance 3. Individual conscience was emphasised 4. A new religious philosophy independent of caste system and mythology. outlook towards world developedb 5. A feeling of liberty, equality Renaissance has made Indians pay more attention to the life on earth and fraternity emerged. as well as the well being of society. It adjusted the teachings of Indian Renaissance Hinduism to the scientific thought and political social philosophy of the West. Indian notions of geography, history, ideas of the universe, th In India, 19 century was a period of great awakening among several Indian theories of government were all revolutionalized by the contact religious communities. This new awakening caused a great challenge with the West. Renaissance brought about a feeling that the role of and revival in faith and practice of Indian religions. Moreover there Hindu society is one of community with common interest. were changes in socio-cultural practices, education and political situation. These changes came in the form of reform and revival The Condition of India during the 18th and 19th Century movements in Indian religions and socio-religious and political India came directly under the British rule in 1857 but the British movements in Indian society. These movements are termed as supremacy through the East India Company began to assert itself 4 Modern Religious and Secular Movements Context and Factors that led to Indian Renaissance 5 after the battle of Plassey in 1757. In 1600 Queen Elizabeth I granted only by committing Sati. Those widows who refused to die in the permission to the East India Company to trade with India. It was funeral pyre of their husband were not allowed to re-marry. It was only in 1857, after the Sepoy Mutiny that India came directly under considered an evil for a widow to re-marry whereas a widower the British Parliament. Around 1800 India was in very bad condition. could re-marry as many times as he wanted. Due to such customs The Muslim rulers established their political control of India from there were many child widows and youthful widows who had to 1200 AD till the advent of the Britishers in 1800 AD. During this live the rest of their lives in seclusion. In some communities their period India did not have any development in its religious, social as heads were shaved off and their ornaments were removed. well as scientific field. This period is known as the dark period of There was also the custom of Devadasi system prevalent during Indian history.