Religious convictions, experiences and feelings constitute a very basic aspect of an individual’s psychology and often play a crucial role in determining that individual’s total behaviour. It is therefore not surprising that religion interacts with the processes of social change, occurring in any society – in an important and decisive way. In the ultimate analysis social consciousness, at any point of time, is deeply influenced by the psychological make-up of the individua...

Swami Harshananda distinguishes between culture and civilization in these words: External progress leads to a better standard of living, i.e., civilization. Internal progress, on the other hand, results in greater refinement of the whole personality, i.e., culture. (An Introduction to Hindu Culture, p.1) A widely held view is that civilization is a construct of culture. Maulana Maudoodi of respected memory maintains that what is known as civilization has five constituents &nda...

Issues relating to Civilization have been extensively discussed in the literature of the Islamic movement in India. Maulana Syed Abul Ala Maudoodi, while discussing different topics that had bearing upon his line of arguments, deemed it necessary to express his position vis-à-vis civilization.

The task before Maulana Maudoodi was to revive the Islamic movement. He assessed the situation prevailing in the Muslim society with a view to preserving the living elements of the...

Homosexuality is generally defined as sexual interest in and attraction to members of one’s own gender, and all ethical codes rejected it for being “unnatural.” In different religions, and cultures homosexual behaviour was banned, punished, or derided. Till recently, it was a taboo, never to be openly mentioned.

Homosexuality was uncommon in most ancient cultures. Even now in most of Africa, Asia, and Latin America, the subject and homosexual or lesbian behavi...

The attempt to legalise homosexuality is nothing but the continuation of the same series of worldwide developments in which every human susceptibility is first given a legal and social sanction, then it is glorified in the media as a victory of “Freedom of Choice” and “Human Rights” and then with all the obstacles removed it is commercialised at huge level. The time has now come when the debate should focus on the very concepts of “Freedom of Choice” and ...

Humans are the supreme creation of Allah. They have been endowed with distinct qualities that not only distinguish them from other creatures but also, when activated, enable them to live in this world in a civilized and dignified way. Humans use their superior faculties to understand themselves, the universe, existential realities and conclude how they have to live, meet the requirements for their survival and make their lives meaningful. In these endeavours humans, through their experience...

Sounds kind of creepy, doesn’t it? The name ‘Dead Sea’ is actually a kinder, gentler translation from the Hebrew name ‘Yam ha Maved’, which means, ‘Killer Sea’. It is one of the saltiest water anywhere in the world, almost six times as salty as the ocean! The Dead Sea is completely landlocked and it gets saltier with increasing depth. Down to about 130 feet (40 metres), the seawater comprises about 300 grams of salt per kilogram of sea water. That&r...

Noted anthropologist George Murdock defines family as a social group characterised by common residence, economic cooperation and reproduction. It contains adults of both sexes, at least two of whom maintain a socially and legally approved sexual relationship, and have one or more children, own or adopted, of the sexually cohabiting adults. It can also be described as a group of people affiliated by a consanguinity wherein the adults care for the young (consanguinity is the quality of being ...

Whether one believes in God or Nature, in the theory of Evolution or Creation, originating man from Ape or made out of clay, human genes carry three very undeniable and extremely dominant and demanding urges in his/her mortal frame along with an equally strong freewill to fulfil his/her indomitable urges the way he/she likes. These urges are:

1. Urge for Hunger and Thirst;

2. Urge for Sleep and Rest; and

3. Urge for Sex at a given period of life.

Individual opinions can never be called judgment. Nor can the obiter dicta – verbal observations of a judge – be a part of any ruling of the court. These two aspects need to be understood in proper perspective as the word ‘judgment’ is losing its very essence in our country. Very often the media play up the casual observations of the judges made during the hearing though they have no legal binding as such. Common people wrongly take it is as a part of ruling...

Even as this write-up was being written, the Union Law Minister Mr. Veerappa Moily said that the UPA government would not challenge the Delhi High Court judgement of decriminalising homosexuality. The Manmohan Singh government was clearly unnerved by the support rallied round by the homosexuals and decided to leave it to the Supreme Court to have the final say on the matter. The ecstasy and exuberance displayed by the homosexuals on the streets, over the tacit recognition of their ‘ri...

Concerning any among the women who commit immoral, sexual acts, / Find four witnesses from among you, / And after they testify, / Confine (the guilty) to houses until death claims them / Or until Allah provides another way. (Inspired by Surah 4: 15

My adopted daughter sees a psychologist to help her with the curse of ...

What is the percentage of homosexuals in our over-a-billion strong plural Bharat? This is the zillion-dollar question to be answered succinctly and coolly by the practitioners of the sleaze as well as its advocates and apologists.

The western data is 10 per cent. What is the Indian statistics? Will the three central Ministries, involved in the question, Health, Home and Law, enlighten the bewildered nation? We insist upon a correct, verified and responsible response to the signi...

 

 Muslim brother from the Bronx (New York) told me the following story, to which he says he is a witness: After the Friday prayers, a Muslim...

Merchant A did not inherit a penny from his father; he lost him at the tender age of five and was nurtured in an orphanage. He was extremely talented and soon he became rich. Now he has millions and millions of dollars in overseas accounts and a heap of gold and silver. He used to export silk and other precious garments to other countries via sea. One day he learnt that one of his cargo ships loaded with goods worth 10 million dollars sank in the Atlantic Ocean. He was perturbed, felt anxie...

There may be dozens of religions in the world but the aim of every religion is to provide ways for the betterment of humanity. After thousands of years of experience, some rules and rituals were laid down in every religion so that the evils can be kept away and virtues can be adopted in society. Apparently these rituals or procedures may appear different for different religions but the aim of each one of them is the same. Here, the spirit behind some of the religious rituals like Fasting, m...

Sexual topics of any kind are avoided in public conversation in India and any talk concerning homosexuality is altogether not possible freely. Today ideas are changing, works on the subject that were not taken up in the past, such as marital adjustments and birth control, are now discussed freely. However homosexuality is seldom discussed or written about. Striking down Section 377 of Indian Penal Code by Delhi High Court in its judgement of July 2, 2009 has opened up the channels of discus...

Public health officials in the United States are considering promoting routine, universal circumcision for all baby boys born in the US to reduce the spread of HIV. A formal draft of the proposed recommendations is expected to be released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention by the end of the year. Experts are also mulling whether the surgery should be offered to adult heterosexual men whose sexual practices put them at high risk of infection. But they acknowledge tha...

Medical science regards anal sex as “high-risk behaviour”. Physiologically, the anus is not designed for penetration by any hard object. The anal sphincter tightens ordinarily if stimulated, as a protective reflex action, and any attempt at penile insertion may be distressing even if done slowly and gradually. If the penis is forced into the anus, injury is possible. The lining (mucus membrane) of the rectum is very thin, tears easily, does not heal fast and therefore is vulnera...