Arun Gandhi

Islamophobia and US politics

That a nation supposedly broadminded in every sphere of life, should be so narrow-minded in religious matters is amazing and painful

By Arun Gandhi | February 23, 2011; 08:11 AM ET | Comments (13)

What happens after freedom?

Freedom is a universal concept which will only be meaningful when citizens are empowered are not exploited by anyone -- politicians, religious leaders, economic giants or cultural demagogues!

By Arun Gandhi | February 14, 2011; 05:45 PM ET | Comments (8)

Another JFK moment?

It is sad that the misuse and exploitation of our faiths has made it impossible for good people to aspire to high political offices.

By Arun Gandhi | February 8, 2011; 04:46 PM ET | Comments (8)

Anything, including philosophies and religion, that remains stagnant becomes fetid and eventually dies. Many ancient cultures have met this fate because they refused to meet the changing needs, hopes and aspirations of its followers. The Catholic religion is going the same way.

By Arun Gandhi | January 25, 2011; 04:30 PM ET | Comments (9)

The essence of christmas

If Jesus was not able to keep materialism out of the places of worship are a handful of priests going to succeed?

By Arun Gandhi | December 22, 2010; 05:28 AM ET | Comments (1)

Does God only speak to a handful of people?

I think it is about time that God intervenes to bless the American conservatives with some wisdom and humility.

By Arun Gandhi | November 30, 2010; 12:18 AM ET | Comments (7)

Religion and prejudice

Religion should help people understand that God is about love, respect, understanding and acceptance and not about judging, banishing, destroying, or discarding.

By Arun Gandhi | November 22, 2010; 09:57 AM ET | Comments (1)

Obama should avoid religious overtures

I did not agree with the president when he earlier agreed to visit the Sikh Golden Temple in India and was glad that he eventually cancelled it. As a leader of a secular nation he should refrain from visiting any religious institution, to visit or to speak. My grandfather, Mahatma Gandhi, realized more than a century ago that the only way we can reduce violence among human beings is by being secular.

By Arun Gandhi | November 9, 2010; 07:04 AM ET | Comments (4)

Voting is moral duty, not spiritual

If the Constitution requires that religion be left out of the affairs of the state then how can we have religious heads dictating who should or should not be elected? For that matter how can we have anyone bringing their religious beliefs into a political campaign? Can you imagine the chaos that would create?

By Arun Gandhi | November 1, 2010; 03:30 PM ET | Comments (20)

Faith, economy and elections

When morality declines faith suddenly becomes a very important way to camouflage the decaying standards.

By Arun Gandhi | October 22, 2010; 10:19 AM ET | Comments (0)

Misplaced priorities?

All sexuality in any form is a personal issue when it is between two consenting adults.

By Arun Gandhi | October 15, 2010; 05:43 PM ET | Comments (5)

Do the people of the United States own God?

I have travelled around the world and have not come across any country where God is invoked for mundane situations as in the United States. One might well ask: Do the people of the United States own God?

By Arun Gandhi | October 7, 2010; 09:45 AM ET | Comments (10)

Wounds of 9/11 will never heal!

The wounds of 9/11 will never heal because we lack genuine commitment to find common ground.

By Arun Gandhi | September 8, 2010; 05:15 PM ET | Comments (6)

It's unconstitutional!

Does Mr. Beck's God awaken only when America is about to go to the polls?

By Arun Gandhi | August 31, 2010; 09:26 AM ET | Comments (3)

Imam Rauf should not be held responsible for controversy

This controversy and the senseless idea of remembering 9/11 by burning the Koran proves to the Muslim world that we are arrogant and expect the world to kiss our feet.

By Arun Gandhi | August 23, 2010; 02:52 PM ET | Comments (4)

Mosque controversy a major setback for United States

Now the US is doomed if they allow the mosque to be built and doomed if they don't.

By Arun Gandhi | August 16, 2010; 04:17 PM ET | Comments (3)

Finding spiritual satisfaction in your faith

It is not necessary for everyone to have to travel to find the spiritual teachings that touch their hearts.

By Arun Gandhi | August 10, 2010; 12:04 PM ET | Comments (9)

Gandhi said religion and spiritualism are distinct

According to my grandfather, M. K. Gandhi, religion and spiritualism are distinctly apart -- that is, it is possible to practice one without believing in the other. Religion, as it is commonly understood, is the practice of a set of rituals based on the interpretation made by human beings.

By Arun Gandhi | August 2, 2010; 07:10 PM ET | Comments (11)

Do people marry or religions marry?

I think the United States is, perhaps, the only advanced country where the people are divided down the middle -- believers and non-believers. There appears to be no one in between. Both sides are deeply wedded to their belief and therefore most of them cannot make their own individual marriages last.

By Arun Gandhi | July 27, 2010; 01:42 PM ET | Comments (2)

Why not an interfaith monument?

Why can't Ground Zero be the place for healing? Why shouldn't New York, and the USA in general, give the world a lead in Interfaith understanding? It is truly amazing how we human beings, in what we would like to think of as the enlightened 21st Century, have reduced religion to meaningless shreds.

By Arun Gandhi | July 21, 2010; 03:46 PM ET | Comments (5)

Obama is right to unlink Islam and terror

As far as war and violence is concerned the record of no religion is perfect. We tend to interpret religion to suit our needs and to kill our conscience when it begins to raise its voice. We human beings are great at manipulating everything, including religion.

By Arun Gandhi | July 12, 2010; 09:27 PM ET | Comments (16)

Trivializing capital punishment

What Utah's attorney General recently did by frivolously tweeting the execution of a convicted murderer is morally and ethically indefensible and shows the erosion of one's own humanity.

By Arun Gandhi | June 22, 2010; 02:51 PM ET | Comments (0)

Abortion a product of loose morals

Abortion is a natural outcome of such loose moral values.

By Arun Gandhi | May 18, 2010; 10:35 AM ET | Comments (4)

Non-sectarian laws and judges

Judges display moral and ethical rectitude and the ability to judge equitably. I am sure this can be done irrespective of whether they are Jews, Catholics or Protestants or, for that matter, Hindus, Muslims or Buddhists.

By Arun Gandhi | May 12, 2010; 06:36 PM ET | Comments (0)

Religion and social justice

Mr. Beck, it is impossible to leave God or religion out of any human activity, unless one is indulging in something totally savage and ruthless.

By Arun Gandhi | April 19, 2010; 03:31 PM ET | Comments (1)

Vatican living in denial

The Pope should provide the moral and ethical leadership that the world requires now.

By Arun Gandhi | April 4, 2010; 04:58 PM ET | Comments (1)

Discrimination: not with my tax dollars

I certainly do not believe any religious institution taking Government funding to provide social services to the community has a right to discriminate. The Government does not discriminate when collecting taxes.

By Arun Gandhi | March 8, 2010; 05:26 AM ET | Comments (2)

The evil of proselytizing

Gandhi said: "The day you stop talking about how good your religion is and start living it then everyone will come willingly to join you." I think this is the crux of the problem here.

By Arun Gandhi | March 4, 2010; 02:35 PM ET | Comments (3)

Opening Pandora's Box overseas

If we are going to allow religion to define the country's foreign policy, then how are we going to ensure that religion does not become a state policy and partisan religious groups allowed to define all policies? Are we not opening a Pandora's Box?

By Arun Gandhi | February 25, 2010; 01:39 PM ET | Comments (1)

Our violent vocabularies

There are worse manifestations of violence in language than "retard". Even in sport we talk about the need to develop the "killer instinct," we encourage our team to "destroy" the other and so on.

By Arun Gandhi | February 16, 2010; 03:05 PM ET | Comments (15)

A waste of time and money

Why try to advertise God or morals during the Super Bowl? What a waste of money. That money could be used to really help people in Haiti.

By Arun Gandhi | February 2, 2010; 02:51 PM ET | Comments (2)

Tolerating religious intolerance

How far backwards will the modern world go to teach Islamic fundamentalists a lesson?

By Arun Gandhi | December 1, 2009; 06:16 AM ET | Comments (1)

The right to quality of life

More than 20 years ago, my mother and my mother-in-law both requested that we not to prolong their lives, if they ever had to go into hospital. Both had strokes, both could have "lived" a vegetative life on life support, but I honored their wishes and refused to put them on life support. This is my wish too.

By Arun Gandhi | November 3, 2009; 11:08 AM ET | Comments (2)

Laws against discrimination

A law may stop people from showing their hate but it will never eliminate hate. A law can only protect a person from the physical manifestation of hate, but it cannot transform the hater.

By Arun Gandhi | October 21, 2009; 02:13 PM ET | Comments (6)

Gandhi Would Dislike Pen, But Give Proceeds to Poor

Would Gandhi like a gold pen in his memory? No, but when it came to raising money for the poor, he sold his autograph, his photograph and his books.

By Arun Gandhi | October 8, 2009; 07:51 AM ET | Comments (4)

Subsidizing Religion

Q: Dozens of major religious groups and denominations are urging Atty. Gen. Eric H. Holder Jr. to renounce a Bush-era memo that allows faith-based charities that receive federal funding to discriminate in hiring. Should religious charities that receive federal grant...

By Arun Gandhi | September 23, 2009; 02:51 PM ET | Comments (1)

The Cost of Materialism and Prejudice

The message we impart to our children is to get to the top by any means possible. And success is always measured in terms of material possessions and power.

By Arun Gandhi | September 16, 2009; 01:33 PM ET | Comments (3)

Faith In Weapons!

With the inexplicable love for weapons in this country, it was just a matter of time before men of faith shifted their faith from God to Guns.

By Arun Gandhi | September 8, 2009; 09:11 PM ET | Comments (6)

Forgetting How to Forgive

We show mercy to those whom we regard as scumbags because we are better than them. We forgive those who trespass against us because we do not wish to stoop down to their level.

By Arun Gandhi | August 26, 2009; 02:47 PM ET | Comments (15)

Politics Without Principles?

If a government is unable to take care of the poorest and weakest among their citizenry then that government is not true to its moral obligations.

By Arun Gandhi | August 19, 2009; 03:10 PM ET | Comments (1)

God's Spam Filter

No, God does not tweet nor does God have time to listen to almost seven billion people insincerely pleading for mercy.

By Arun Gandhi | August 12, 2009; 11:36 AM ET | Comments (3)

Bishop Appointments Have Nothing to Do With God

We appoint, elect, and nominate people to all kinds of high positions knowing very little of their true nature.

By Arun Gandhi | August 4, 2009; 02:36 PM ET | Comments (7)

Holidays Could Be Educational

The argument that the majority religion(s) must prevail is not quite democratic.

By Arun Gandhi | July 7, 2009; 02:49 PM ET | Comments (0)

Burqua--A Symbol of Subjugation

I am inclined to agree with President Sarkozy that a hijab is a symbol of subjugation and slavery.

By Arun Gandhi | June 26, 2009; 04:19 PM ET | Comments (2)

Dealing with Untrustworthy Dictators

If Ahmedinajad retains power, can he be trusted to abide by any agreements we might make with him on nuclear arms?

By Arun Gandhi | June 17, 2009; 12:50 PM ET | Comments (1)

Talibanization of Pakistan

If the majority of the population of Pakistan want the kind of rule that Taliban offers how can the rest of the world stop them?

By Arun Gandhi | April 21, 2009; 09:25 PM ET | Comments (12)

Reviving Secular America

I believe that President Obama is bringing the United States back to its truly secular state.

By Arun Gandhi | April 13, 2009; 05:33 PM ET | Comments (2)

The Divine and Satanic in All of Us

Satan is the embodiment of all that is evil in us.

By Arun Gandhi | March 24, 2009; 02:40 PM ET | Comments (3)

Science for People or Profit?

If stem cell research submits to the profit motive, then the sacrifice of the nation's conscience to bring about relief for those who are really suffering will be a heavy price to pay.

By Arun Gandhi | March 10, 2009; 12:00 AM ET | Comments (2)

A Nation of Individuals?

No one, however innocent, will be able to escape the consequences of this crisis even though none of us individually were responsible for it.

By Arun Gandhi | March 9, 2009; 12:15 AM ET | Comments (0)

Using Religion to Justify Violence is Always Wrong

Violence is justified by priests in all religions by misinterpreting and/or misunderstanding a philosophy. Added to this is the tragedy that that we approach religion dogmatically

By Arun Gandhi | February 25, 2009; 12:03 AM ET | Comments (0)

Holocaust Deniers Living In Denial

When it comes to Holocaust deniers, I think the deliberately ignorant can best be neutralized by the sane maintaining silence.

By Arun Gandhi | February 3, 2009; 03:18 PM ET | Comments (1)

Respect Between Religions

All religions must come to an understanding that it is impossible for the whole world to be converted to any one faith.

By Arun Gandhi | January 27, 2009; 02:49 AM ET | Comments (4)

Politics and Religious Fundamentalism

I don't think a religious problem can be solved by politicians or by enacting laws.

By Arun Gandhi | December 7, 2008; 04:26 AM ET | Comments (3)

What Do We Mean By Religion?

There is no religion that has the whole truth nor one that is better than the others.

By Arun Gandhi | November 18, 2008; 11:33 AM ET | Comments (0)

Compassion Cannot Stand Alone

Love, respect, understanding and compassion must be universal and unconditional. God loves everyone and makes no distinction between Christians, Jews, Muslims, Hindus or non-believers.

By Arun Gandhi | November 11, 2008; 11:55 AM ET | Comments (1)

A Kinder and Gentler America

The election of President-elect Barack Obama, a man who has emerged from poverty, destitution and oppression, is a historic event. He is ideally suited to project a kinder, gentler image of the United States, just as President John F. Kennedy did all too briefly in the 1960s.

By Arun Gandhi | November 5, 2008; 12:02 AM ET | Comments (0)

Friends or Acquaintances?

I befriended and hosted my grandfather's assassin in the hope of changing him but after several months of dialogue and friendship, I realized he was too steeped in hate to change and I politely told him that our ways must part. Should this taint me forever? I don't think so.

By Arun Gandhi | October 7, 2008; 02:36 PM ET | Comments (2)

The Morality of Abortion

There can be nothing moral about abortion but there are times in one's life when one is called upon to make a choice that may go against the ethics of society. Abortion is one of those issues.

By Arun Gandhi | September 23, 2008; 02:32 PM ET | Comments (4)

Conservative Hypocrisy

In many ways we Americans are hypocritical about our morals and values, but for obvious reasons conservatives seem more hypocritical than anyone else. Many conservatives, for example, believe that women are unsuited to lead us into spiritual awakening but they...

By Arun Gandhi | September 3, 2008; 09:10 AM ET | Comments (0)

Be True to Your Beliefs and Ours

By all means go to Church and practice your religion without wearing it on your sleeves. Talk about God and swear by God but one that is inclusive. Is that too much to ask?

By Arun Gandhi | August 26, 2008; 02:27 PM ET | Comments (5)

God and Brute Force

Is it possible to elect a president who is a good Christian, who is humane, who believes in peace and is willing to improve relations with the world through diplomacy and dialogue?

By Arun Gandhi | August 17, 2008; 02:31 AM ET | Comments (2)

Forgiving Must Be Unconditional

I think the problem in the modern world is that like everything else "forgiving" too is conditional. When we put conditions on forgiving we destroy the essence.

By Arun Gandhi | August 12, 2008; 10:18 AM ET | Comments (1)

Faith Despite Poverty

What is remarkable about human resilience in matters of religion is that they continue to have abiding faith in God even when their woes are not really addressed in any tangible way.

By Arun Gandhi | August 5, 2008; 02:26 PM ET | Comments (0)

Believers as Hypocrites

When people claim to believe in God and still harbor prejudices against people of color and race then the only word that can describe such people is "hypocrites".

By Arun Gandhi | July 30, 2008; 12:06 PM ET | Comments (2)

Atheists Must Believe

I think the problem with most of us is that we are unable to define clearly what we mean by God and heaven or hell.

By Arun Gandhi | June 30, 2008; 09:41 AM ET | Comments (7)

The Demise of Humor

As a Hindu, it makes me sad that some people have taken it upon themselves to destroy the tolerance that Hinduism was famous for so many centuries. The self-proclaimed protectors of Hinduism are actually destroying it.

By Arun Gandhi | June 21, 2008; 12:59 PM ET | Comments (18)

Faith and Mental Health

If our Faith is centered around a personality or in a set of rituals defined by someone then we are opening the door to dogmatic practices which can lead to a deterioration in mental health.

By Arun Gandhi | June 9, 2008; 04:20 AM ET | Comments (1)

Obama's Right

A church, in my opinion, is a house of worship where people go to commune with God. If it is turned into a political or comedy stage then it defeats its purpose.

By Arun Gandhi | June 3, 2008; 03:35 AM ET | Comments (4)

Bridges With Islam

I for one cannot see this action of Pope Benedict as a positive act that will lead to peace between the different religions of the world, let alone Islam and Christianity.

By Arun Gandhi | April 8, 2008; 03:43 PM ET | Comments (13)

Divided We Fail

We have made no attempts to address sexism or racism at the social and educational levels. Until we do that we will only achieve a partial resolution of the problem.

By Arun Gandhi | March 28, 2008; 02:25 AM ET | Comments (27)

The Scourge of E-mail

Life was fast enough before E-mail and now it has just got to the point when we can't move away from the screen to see anyone or enjoy nature and the family.

By Arun Gandhi | March 13, 2008; 07:01 AM ET | Comments (14)

Jesus Would Be A Liberal

Jesus would not stand a chance of winning a presidential election just as he would not stand a chance of getting a university job.

By Arun Gandhi | March 7, 2008; 01:17 PM ET | Comments (188)

Your Religion is Like Your Mother

Instead of providing the believer with "mental peace and salvation" modern religion seems to fill people with "fear."

By Arun Gandhi | March 1, 2008; 07:06 AM ET | Comments (18)

Unity Requires Some Accomodation

The Archbishop has a valid point which has been buried under heaps of angry and ignorant responses.

By Arun Gandhi | February 12, 2008; 11:30 AM ET | Comments (7)

Secuarlism is For -- Not Against -- All Faiths

For my grandfather secularism did not mean rejection of your own faith or any other faith. It meant respect of all faiths and the belief that there is only one God but people have different names and ways of identifying that one God.

By Arun Gandhi | February 11, 2008; 07:18 AM ET | Comments (17)

Do Not Submit to Tyranny

By submitting to tyranny, to thoughtlessness, to downright injustice and to senseless intolerance we are only encouraging the maniacs on the fringes to hijack our societies and our religious beliefs.

By Arun Gandhi | February 1, 2008; 10:59 AM ET | Comments (23)

Greed is the Seed of All Sins

In my opinion the most deadly of the seven sins is GREED. It not only makes people selfish but it enables people to rob the poor for their own personal aggrandizement.

By Arun Gandhi | January 16, 2008; 12:53 PM ET | Comments (93)

My Apology for My Poorly Worded Post

I do not believe and should not have implied that the policies of the Israeli government are reflective of the views of all Jewish people. Indeed, many are as concerned as I am by the use of violence for state purposes, by Israel and many other governments. | Readers Respond to Gandhi.

By Arun Gandhi | January 10, 2008; 08:40 AM ET | Comments (351)

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