The Function Of Religions Poem by Rm. Shanmugam Chettiar

I belong to my religion
To belong to the people
Who are with the religion.

I remain with a fixed sect
To remain with the people
Who remain with that sect.

I identify a shrine
To identify myself
With those visiting the shrine.

The people of the religion,
Not the ideal of the religion,
Is my motive to follow.

The religion wants my membership.
The sect wants my participation.
The shrine wants my attendance.

Neither they nor I am strict
That the ideals be pursued
As the idols are worshipped.

How can then the religion
Reform and refine the human
Other than consolidation?
06.0.2008