I refer to the letter All Gods the same by A Simpleton. I agree wholeheartedly. All religions teach mankind to do good and to stay away from the pitfalls of bad deeds. A classic example is Islam and Buddhism. Buddha meditated under the Bodhi tree and Muhammad meditated in Mount Hira. Both would fast and meditate for days and weeks, living in solitude.

How many of us in our fast paced, rat race lives practise meditation? We are too busy chasing paper qualifications, promotions, titles, status and financial supremacy. Yet half of our marriages end up in divorce within the first seven years, most couples admit to extramarital affairs and many of us smoke and drink. Twenty percent of us have tried drugs and drug addicts in Malaysia number between 200,000 to 1 million.

The beauty of religion is that it is in harmony with our conscience. Religion fills a vacuum in our souls, gives meaning to our lives and generates a sense of security. Sadly, we have abandoned our religion and chosen material wealth over meditation and spirituality.

The Orang Asli (aborigine/indigenous) community are instead well in tuned with nature. It is a shame that their way of life is constantly threatened by outsiders. Loggers want their land for profit. Missionaries seek to convert them. Industrialists pollute their rivers. Cigarette companies see them as easy prey. Politicians see them as suckers who will sell their vote for pittance.

Let us not compare whose religion is better. All people who advocate religion are on the same team. The real war in this world is between liars and truthful individuals, between peace-loving people and war-mongering arms dealers, between hardworking decent individuals and criminals.

The oppressed people of the world have to fight a daily battle as they are being denied basic rights by the corrupt politicians who govern their land and deny them opportunities for higher education and lucrative employment. The people of the world deserve a better standard of living which encompasses affordable healthcare, housing, clean water as well as the prioritising of the rights of women, single mothers, children, the elderly, the sick and the disabled.