A week ago, I heard news on my family's radio that the neighboring country, Zandore, again carried out a second retaliatory military attack into the southern region of Barakhtozia. I still remember when the last time our country mobilized all its troops and burned down religious places in the border area of Zandore, we call that event 'Barakhtozian Assault'. This prolonged conflict has occurred since both countries gained independence. This attack is caused by religious problems between the two countries which I myself do not know how that could happen.
I also heard follow-up news from the radio, that religious tensions in Ruinstan and Bombardia are also increasingly out of control. But before I could hear the continuation, father immediately turned off that radio, and told me to go back to studying religious lessons. He said that wars between religions are caused by those who are not obedient to god, and only use religious narratives as a tool for legitimacy of power, which ends up like in countries in central Erisea.
I was silent for a moment, and in my head I thought, does god create us to fight each other, why do they never make peace even though they are based on religion that teaches not to war. I really want to express this question to my father, but I am not brave, and will never dare to ask it. So I immediately went back to my room and obeyed his order because I had nothing else to do.
Peace, a concept glorified by mankind. You can find all various schemes of this concept in any religion without exception. It is also necessary to know, religions have their own gods, and their own bearers of teachings, so this concept is very subjective from where you learn it, and the majority of what religion adherents in your country, at least that is what father said.
In the religion that I have learned until today, somehow the concept of peace is very far from what happens in my surrounding environment. I have a friend, whose father is part of a religious group in a remote village. This group has a religious leader who is highly respected. His followers do not hesitate to bring him various gifts, wash his feet, and what is worse, drink the water from washing his feet. My friend's father even once kissed the leader directly on his lips, in other words if we call it in today's language as 'oral sex', which is clearly prohibited in the religion held firmly by this group.
Isn't that clearly prohibited in the religious teaching book, why do they do it, and if I think about it, why are they willing to do it. I mean, come on, how can there be people who are so fanatical towards someone who is nobody, he is only good at spreading teachings that he might conclude himself according to his desires, and read it in front of people. Isn't it also prohibited in religion to excessively idolize someone? I also don't know, what actually is the function of religion here?
I am confused, I do not dare to ask about this to anyone, they will think I am crazy because questioning things that seem to go against the flow of religion, I ... am too afraid.