[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"$fv7vjIdCMXgbCvy5XfFntq6GgsC6yhid2larFAQn7sPA":3,"$ftyW2rpEZD5CuZzcSecHB0FmegfKWPsNHIfDbtL-LsAw":16},{"author":4,"tags":11},{"author_id":5,"author_name":6,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"bio":9,"short_bio":9,"slug":10,"image_url":9},198927,"Agnivesh","A",9,null,"agnivesh",[12],{"tag_id":13,"tag_name":14,"tag_count":15},255,"god",5,{"quotes":17,"pagination":187},[18,38,58,77,98,120,139,159,176],{"id":19,"quote_text":20,"author_id":5,"source_id":15,"has_image":21,"author":22,"source":23,"quote_tag":24,"commentary":9},2817654,"Spiritually, life is a festival, a celebration. Joy is of the essence of life.",false,{"id":5,"author_name":6,"slug":10,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"image_url":9},{},[25,30,33],{"id":26,"tag":27},5800899,{"id":28,"tag_name":29},23,"joy",{"id":31,"tag":32},5800894,{"id":13,"tag_name":14},{"id":34,"tag":35},5800897,{"id":36,"tag_name":37},10719,"essence",{"id":39,"quote_text":40,"author_id":5,"source_id":15,"has_image":21,"author":41,"source":42,"quote_tag":43,"commentary":57},2817650,"The religions of the world must be assessed, not on the basis of their convoluted theologies, but in terms of the extent to which they serve as forces of liberation and empowerment.",{"id":5,"author_name":6,"slug":10,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"image_url":9},{},[44,49,52],{"id":45,"tag":46},5800890,{"id":47,"tag_name":48},13,"empowerment",{"id":50,"tag":51},5800883,{"id":13,"tag_name":14},{"id":53,"tag":54},5800886,{"id":55,"tag_name":56},3089,"empowering","**The Backstory**\nAgnivesh, a renowned Indian social activist and thinker, delivered this quote in the context of his ongoing critique of religious fundamentalism and its impact on social justice. In the 1990s and early 2000s, Agnivesh was actively involved in advocating for the rights of marginalized communities and challenging the dominant narratives of Hinduism. His work often focused on the need for a more inclusive and liberatory approach to spirituality.\n\n**The Hidden Insight**\nBeneath the surface of this quote lies a subtle yet powerful critique of the way we often evaluate religious systems. Agnivesh is not advocating for a rejection of theology or spiritual practice altogether, but rather urging us to look beyond the abstract and intellectual frameworks that often serve to reinforce social hierarchies and oppression. In doing so, he highlights the tension between the liberatory potential of spirituality and its often oppressive manifestations in practice.\n\n**How to Use This**\nTo apply this mindset in your own life, consider evaluating the social and cultural institutions you engage with (including religious or spiritual communities) based on their actual impact on marginalized groups, rather than their stated ideals or dogma. By doing so, you can work to create more just and inclusive spaces for everyone, even as you continue to engage with the complexities of spirituality and faith.",{"id":59,"quote_text":60,"author_id":5,"source_id":15,"has_image":21,"author":61,"source":62,"quote_tag":63,"commentary":9},2817647,"The essence of spirituality is the duty to live to its full the glorious destiny of being human. The purpose of religion should be to empower all people in this adventure of living with dignity and fulfilment.",{"id":5,"author_name":6,"slug":10,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"image_url":9},{},[64,69,72],{"id":65,"tag":66},5800875,{"id":67,"tag_name":68},172,"adventure",{"id":70,"tag":71},5800871,{"id":13,"tag_name":14},{"id":73,"tag":74},5800879,{"id":75,"tag_name":76},1772,"destiny",{"id":78,"quote_text":79,"author_id":5,"source_id":15,"has_image":21,"author":80,"source":81,"quote_tag":82,"commentary":9},2817643,"We must not rest until right livelihood is within reach of every human being upon this earth we love and cherish. We all have a role to play in achieving this goal.",{"id":5,"author_name":6,"slug":10,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"image_url":9},{},[83,88,93],{"id":84,"tag":85},5800861,{"id":86,"tag_name":87},167,"play",{"id":89,"tag":90},5800865,{"id":91,"tag_name":92},1242,"goal",{"id":94,"tag":95},5800869,{"id":96,"tag_name":97},1306,"achievement",{"id":99,"quote_text":100,"author_id":5,"source_id":15,"has_image":21,"author":101,"source":102,"quote_tag":103,"commentary":119},2817638,"Religions have become a hindrance, rather than a help, to our shared pursuit of peace and progress. They tend to make us meaner rather than better human beings, less sensitive to the demands of justice, compassion and fellow humanity in our times.",{"id":5,"author_name":6,"slug":10,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"image_url":9},{},[104,109,114],{"id":105,"tag":106},5800853,{"id":107,"tag_name":108},2817,"justice",{"id":110,"tag":111},5800857,{"id":112,"tag_name":113},2829,"humanity",{"id":115,"tag":116},5800849,{"id":117,"tag_name":118},3725,"compassion","**The Backstory**\nAgnivesh, a renowned Indian social activist and thinker, likely penned this quote during his advocacy for social justice and human rights. As a vocal critic of organized religion, Agnivesh was known to have faced opposition and backlash from various quarters. His statement reflects his concerns about the potential of religion to create divisions and hinder progress.\n\n**The Hidden Insight**\nThe quote reveals a paradoxical tension between the sacred and the profane, where institutions meant to promote the greater good can instead perpetuate harm. By highlighting how religions can \"make us meaner rather than better human beings,\" Agnivesh is pointing to the inherent contradictions within these systems, where the pursuit of power and control can override the values of compassion and justice.\n\n**How to Use This**\nTo apply this insight, modern professionals and creatives can cultivate a critical awareness of the systems and institutions they engage with, recognizing how they might be perpetuating harm or reinforcing oppressive dynamics. By acknowledging and challenging these contradictions, individuals can work towards creating more inclusive and equitable environments that align with their values of justice, compassion, and humanity.",{"id":121,"quote_text":122,"author_id":5,"source_id":15,"has_image":21,"author":123,"source":124,"quote_tag":125,"commentary":9},2817634,"For the world order to be one of peace and justice, for the global village to be a theater of right livelihood, it is imperative that a new and proactive spiritual vision commensurate to the challenges of the emerging world order be enunciated without delay.",{"id":5,"author_name":6,"slug":10,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"image_url":9},{},[126,131,136],{"id":127,"tag":128},5800836,{"id":129,"tag_name":130},1467,"spiritual",{"id":132,"tag":133},5800841,{"id":134,"tag_name":135},2550,"order",{"id":137,"tag":138},5800845,{"id":107,"tag_name":108},{"id":140,"quote_text":141,"author_id":5,"source_id":15,"has_image":21,"author":142,"source":143,"quote_tag":144,"commentary":158},2817628,"First, we must liberate people from religion, as religion is understood and practiced today. Second, we must effect a paradigm shift from religiosity to shared spirituality.",{"id":5,"author_name":6,"slug":10,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"image_url":9},{},[145,148,153],{"id":146,"tag":147},5800818,{"id":13,"tag_name":14},{"id":149,"tag":150},5800821,{"id":151,"tag_name":152},294,"people",{"id":154,"tag":155},5800823,{"id":156,"tag_name":157},3018,"today","**The Backstory**\nThis quote is attributed to Swami Agnivesh, an Indian social activist and reformer who dedicated his life to fighting for social justice and human rights. As a champion of secularism and rationalism, Agnivesh often critiqued the way religion was used to justify social injustices. This quote reflects his thoughts on the role of religion in modern society, particularly during the late 20th century when he was actively engaging with social and political issues.\n\n**The Hidden Insight**\nThe quote reveals a subtle yet profound tension between the desire to liberate people from oppressive religious practices and the need to preserve a sense of spirituality that can unite people across differences. Agnivesh is suggesting that traditional religious frameworks can be limiting and even oppressive, but that doesn't mean we should discard spirituality altogether – instead, we should strive to create a more inclusive and liberating form of spirituality.\n\n**How to Use This**\nTo apply this mindset today, consider how you can separate the essential values and principles of your spiritual practice from the dogmatic or oppressive elements that may be embedded within it. By doing so, you can cultivate a more personal and inclusive form of spirituality that aligns with your values and promotes greater empathy and understanding with others.",{"id":160,"quote_text":161,"author_id":5,"source_id":15,"has_image":21,"author":162,"source":163,"quote_tag":164,"commentary":9},2817619,"All human beings have a right, and duty, to be joyful. Anything that thwarts this spiritual human right goes against the very purpose of human being. Spirituality mandates us to wage a relentless war to eradicate these forces of oppression and disempowerment.",{"id":5,"author_name":6,"slug":10,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"image_url":9},{},[165,168,173],{"id":166,"tag":167},5800794,{"id":13,"tag_name":14},{"id":169,"tag":170},5800810,{"id":171,"tag_name":172},496,"war",{"id":174,"tag":175},5800800,{"id":129,"tag_name":130},{"id":177,"quote_text":178,"author_id":5,"source_id":15,"has_image":21,"author":179,"source":180,"quote_tag":181,"commentary":9},2817607,"Peace among religions is a precondition for world peace.",{"id":5,"author_name":6,"slug":10,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"image_url":9},{},[182],{"id":183,"tag":184},5800762,{"id":185,"tag_name":186},401,"world",{"currentPage":188,"totalPages":188,"totalItems":8,"itemsPerPage":189},1,10]