In Hindi movie, “Oh My God”, a pertinent question is raised, “Does God need religious places?” I really liked the movie as a good entertainer but somehow I differ with the suggestion made in the end of the movie. If religion is opium of masses, then how come religious people come out as winners of life?

Religion has many facets. It explains and comforts emotional suffering, it enhances self-potential and human possibilities. Religion is a glue for social cohesion and encourages welfare of all. As an agency of social control, religion helps in righteous control of economic life. But... “When God resides within and is all round us, why go to temples or mosques or religious places?”. Visit to religious place, each time is an opportunity to discover God and life once again, an opportunity to reach out and unite with that inspirational power.

“Beta, mandir jaya karo,” my mother always used to tell me as did my grandmother. I used to go but reason was more to obey her rather than out of devotion or any special understanding of the importance at that young age. Thankfully, I continued the practice and made discoveries with each visit.

I look back on life. Then and now, more number of people visit temples or mosques or churches to pray to God, ask for something and to have their wishes fulfilled. Then there are those who go to religious places and simply pray and thank God for keeping them alive and safe. These could well be enough motivations to go to God. He will answer all your prayers and fulfill all your wishes. However, there is more to it...

There are other perspectives to visiting religious places as well. Let me share some of my arguments here...

ONE - Tradition. Religious places are embodiments of culture, tradition, architecture, history and life. If only to look and try to understand the heritage we have inherited. It is our duty to learn, assimilate it in our lives and pass it on to future generations. We enrich our lives, contribute and pass it on. Each temple, for instance, has associated legends and mythology going back thousands of years, some fanciful, some parts of it truth but all containing a message for us. It is for us to interpret and draw inspiration from and use it in our lives. Visiting religious places and studying their rich past can be so fascinating and rewarding.

TWO - Serenity and a tranquil atmosphere in places of worship calm our souls from stress and problems.

THREE - Religious places generate respect. Respect for a higher power. By giving respect, one also receives it and it becomes a way of life. Treat everyone with the same respect and watch the difference it makes in relationships at various levels. If everyone in society adapts it, the difference it makes is so huge.

FOUR - One reason why so many people visit churches or mosques is to ask for forgiveness and repent. The same behavior can be transferred in dealings with people. We learn we are not above making mistakes and asking for forgiveness does not make us look small, whether it is from God or from people we have wronged.

FIVE - Some people visit places of worship and make a resolve. They can make that resolve at home and keep it. Then why go to a temple or a mosque? Simply because in a way they gain the strength to keep that resolve and implement it. Life is also about making resolves and implementing them, keeping your commitments. It is so easy to break resolves and wriggle out of commitments. Not so easy when you have made a resolve in God's presence, is it?

SIX - Man becomes proud of himself, his status, power and his achievements. However, in the presence of God he learns to be humble and view himself in perspective. This is yet another reason to visit places of worship.

To bow to his infinite wisdom, learn humility and set aside pride. If he can understand the relativity involved, he remains unassuming despite the heights he has reached.

SEVEN - Religious places set standards of behavior, it sets values, ethics, acceptable behavior and social conducts. Human values of love, kindness, forgiveness, renunciation, respect for others and other such values are propagated by religious leaders through activities like festivals and religious occasions.

EIGHT - Man can have everything in life and yet feel a vacuum inside. When you establish a spiritual connection through regular visits to places of worship, you are never empty inside.

So, why should we not be one world under God? Why should not our world be one big religious place, where we live under the umbrella of God?