12 December 2012 - QA 6

Why does religion separate and divide people when it is supposed to bring people closer to God.
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: When ego enters there, that is when the conflict in religion begins. A religion is great because it is ‘My’ religion, not because of what it is.
It is 'My religion’ so it is great. It is the 'Me'; the ego which is the cause of conflict, and not really the religion; But we take religion as a pretext; as ones identity to create so many conflicts in the world, isn't it?
If religion is used only for the purpose of one's connection with God and not for political reasons then religion become spirituality.