Towards The Kingdom of Heaven Through The Rational Side of Religion (An Old and Rare Book)

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Over the past many months, I have observed with approval, and perhaps, an occasional tinge of envy, Antone L Nixon Femando functioning as a junior member of the academic faculty of the prestigious National Defence Academy. A dedicated and responsive Professor of Physics for BSc classes, he is popular and well-liked by the cadets. However, what actually brought him to my notice was his propensity for outdoor activity of every type. If one day saw him wielding a cricket bat with panache, another day I would see him kicking a football, swimming, riding horse-back or tossing a basket-ball with equal ease and felicity.

We did, on one or two occasions, briefly engage in discussions of a slightly philosophical nature. However, it was only when Femando handed over the manuscript of "Towards the Kingdom of Heaven" to me one day that I was struck by the extent of this versatile young man's intellectual domain.

The title of this book could be somewhat misleading, but it is certainly not a theological work. It only attempts to draw upon the treasure-house of wisdom which it claims is embedded in each religion, but which, for various reasons is neither apparent nor available to the man on the street.

Diverse as they are, religions do have at least a fine thread of similarity running common through all of them. And when one gets hold of this thread, a whole world of logic and reason opens out to him. Interestingly, this aspect of religion is in no conflict with science. And the treasures in it are immense. It clarifies the thought like nothing else. And it reveals a lot.

A writer once remarked that 'in due course, generations to come will look back at our times, amazed that such a lusty and foolish group of people even existed on this earth'. And going by some ideas in religion (which in tum, seem to be perfectly rational) this writer seerns to be quite on the mark. We have the very best in terms of material advancement. But the restlessness in our societies suggests that there is something catastrophically wrong...........!

The environment will not be able to sustain our onslaught for long. There is evil everywhere. Religious communities are squabbling within themselves and with each other. People repeatedly violate their own consciences and other peoples' rights and don't seem to notice that they have done any wrong. We indulge in the most immoral things and feel proud of it.