Religion, Science and Society

RELIGION, SCIENCE and SOCIETY: INDIAN CONTEXT Religion and Science have been two major phenomenon of human so-ciety. Religion encompasses moral values on one side, faith and rituals on the other. Science is the attempt of society to grapple with the truth of nature in a rational manner. Religion developed in different societies in diverse ways. Science is an enterprise where global efforts contribute to a single endeavor. Religion has been used as a cover for expansion of Empires in the earlier times and currently the major im-perialist goal of control over oil resources is masquerading under the phenomenon of terrorism, which sounds to be emerging from religion. In India from last three decades in particular politics is wearing the clothes of religion. The issues related to religion are thrown up to whip up moss hysteria, under the din of which the real issues of society get undermined and society is polarized. This book is a compilation of articles and essays which have been writ-ten to engage with issues related to these two phenomenon, religion and science, mainly in Indian context. The major global context is also taken up. The range of topics is very broad, covering from origin of religion and its facets to present phenomenon of violence in the name of religion, About the Author Ram Puniyani, is a former professor of IIT Bombay, who has been engaged in activism and writing to pro-mote communal harmony and national integration. Has written several books like Communal Politics (Sage 2002], Second Assassination of Gandhi (Media House 2003), Caste and Communalism (Olive, 20151, Ambedkor and Hindutva Politics (Pharos Media, 2016), Has been recipient of Indira Gandhi National Integration Award [2006], National Integration Award (2007), Contents Preface Prelude Section I RELIGION AND HUMAN SOCIETY Religion through Ages Dharma-yuddha, Crusade and Jihad Section II RELIGION: INDIAN CONTEXT Hinduism through Ages Shared Heritage: Shared Aspiration-Challenges for India Social Perceptions and Communal Violence Secularization Process, Caste and gender Equality in India Freedom of Religions in Semi Secularized Societies: Case of India Hindu Nationalism versus Indian Nationalism Is 'Hindu' Our Identity And Nationalism? Religious Tolerance and Secularism State must not organize religious festivals Religion in Modern Context: India Section III REASON, SCIENCE AND SOCIETY Science and Society Rational Thought in Indian Tradition Section IV Undermining Reason: Contemporary India Cow's Urine as Medicine! Sabarimala Makara Jyothi: Man Made 'Divinity' God Doesn't Need Wealth, We Do Modi, Science and Magic of Mythological Fiction Rationalists Must Win the Day 20. Yogi and the Profane Laws Section V SILENCING REASON Intolerance has Gone up due to Sectarianism Who Killed Narendra Dabholkar? Killing a Rationalist: M.M. Kalburgi Govind Pansare: Struggle for Dignity, Rights and Rationalism Section VI Education for Hindutva RSS-BJP: Manipulating for Hindutva Section VII Religion in Politics: Global Scene . Globalization, Rise of Fundamentalism in Contemporary Politics New Language for Imperialist Exploitation-`Clash of Civilizations' Vicious Cycle of Islamophobia Swami, Sangh and Terror Links Section VIII Coming times: Role of Religion: Crystal Ball Religion, Atheism and Secularism Contemporary Global Crisis: due to Religion or Politics?