Religion, society should go hand in hand

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Philipose Mar Chrysostum,  the Valiya Metropolitan of the  Mar Thoma Church,  has said that there has been a wrong notion that society and religion are two separate entities remaining in watertight compartments.Speaking at the  C H  Mohammed Koya  remembrance meeting organised by the Kerala Sahruda Vedi here on Tuesday,  he said the need of the hour was that the religion and society should go hand in hand as both were complementary to each other.   “The world itself is interdependent as humans depend on trees to get oxygen and the latter to absorb carbon dioxide,’’ he said.Mar Chrysostum said that while Mohammad Koya remained truly religious,  he was firmly committed to secularism.  He pointed out that politicians of yesteryears like Achutha Menon and Mohammed Koya had functioned in the political sphere respecting one another in spite of their political differences. But today’s politicians try to destroy their political opponents taking advantage of  the opponents’ weakness.  Mar Chrysostum said that  style of functioning of Mohammed Koya  in the political field should be emulated  today to overcome challenges.  He asked the political leadership to work for creating an atmosphere  in which opponents are also respected.