Repetition is the most compelling argument. Like Pavlov’s dogs we have been conditioned by repetitions, generations after
countless generations, to react to trigger words and trigger situations in prescribed modes without thought or deliberation. Most such conditionings are beneficial. But some are damaging and lead to otherwise avoidable conflicts.
Eric Berne the father of Transactional Analysis discovered that every personality has three components- Parent, Adult and Child. It is the Parent component of our psyche that transmits all the bits of useful knowledge as well as trivial or harmful bits of prejudices, traditions, taboos, dogmas, superstitions and above all religion.
Religion has been with us in one form or another for a hundred thousand years or more. However all present-day
religions are of comparatively recent origin in the agrarian age- the ‘First Wave’ as Alvin Toffler calls it. These religions and their dogmas, especially those of Semitic origin, are incompatible with each other and have caused many avoidable conflicts down the ages. The countries of Asia, Africa and Europe surrounding the Mediterranean Sea formed one homogeneous fabric of culture and civilization. Christianity strengthened these ancient bonds. Came Islam and it drove a wedge into this region. Though both Christianity and Islam pay lip service to the brotherhood of man, it has not prevented them from slitting each other’s throats and spilling each other's blood for the last one thousand four hundred years, in the name of the same God. Religions are a major cause of conflicts from the Philippines in the East to Palestine and Sudan in the West. If that were not enough different sects of the same religions bomb each other to blood and gore in countries like Pakistan, Iraq and Ireland.
In spite of the differences in religions and the resulting conflicts, the area around the Mediterranean was homogeneous culturally and economically. However, Renaissance and free thought liberated the European or Christian side of the Mediterranean from the clutches of the bishops and the priests and paved the way to democracy and the Industrial Second Wave. The Southern side of the Mediterranean remained autocratic theocracies. The present contrast between the two sides in all matters is an eye-opener on how religions play havoc with peace and progress.
The book is a study on the evolution of different religions, their concepts and dogmas such as the mortal body, immortal soul, one god etc and the banality of it all. The book demonstrates how in this turbulent computer-driven Third Wave people with incompatible Parental components have to live and work in close proximity and how this can lead to conflicts, unless we see through the triviality of all kinds of dogmas, whether religious, political or economic, and then recondition ourselves. This book is about freeing ourselves from the damaging Parental transactions by clear-thinking self-talk, about avoiding unnecessary conflicts and about building win-win relationships.
In the process, the book examines Church History and Islamic History and describes how these monolithic institutions split up into smithereens to serve the vested interests of the clergy and the powers that be. The more important sects in these religions are listed in alphabetical order, with brief descriptions about their founders and the differences of opinions that led to the schisms that resulted in these sects.
There is also a separate chapter of over 50 pages on the various superstitious practices of the world like astrology, numerology, birth stones, circumcision, menstruation and birth related practices, death related practices, passage rites and others. It also questions many of the pseudo-scientific fads like alternate
medicines and environment. Eg: Homeopathic medicines contain no medicines whatsoever and is plain water. Yet, in our reluctance to let go off traditions a theory called the 'memory of water' wasormulated to substantiate the untenable tenets of Homeopathy. James Randy, the famous skeptic has offered a million dollars to anyone who can prove the efficacy of Homeopathy and dowsing.
The book contents that much of today's problems are caused by the nuclear family and the resulting sense of alienation. Solutions to modern problems lie in the modern world and not in the old world of churches, temples and mosques. Nor do solutions to modern day problems lie in the mumbo-jumbo and superstitious practices, touted by priests and shaman, clad in ludicrous costumes.'The Body Eternal' is a serious study of the physical, psychological, philosophical and religious elements of our natures. It is written by a layman for laymen, in simple terms of common sense. The message of the book is ‘Dare!!! Dare think the unthinkable, dare question the unquestionable, dare speak the unspeakable, dare do the forbidden!’