Throughout history, most religions have been primarily based on placing their God above all others and showing love and acceptance. However, in today's society, religion seems to be fuel for a fire of hatred. Religion as a whole has become the most controversial and violent cause behind some of the world's latest news, from wars in the Middle East to death threats against doctors in my hometown. This violent mentality of religion is first demonstrated in the short story A Father by Bharati Mukherjee. In this short story, the main character, Mr. Bhowmick, creates a miserable life for himself based on what his religion considers acceptable. However, his family lived and cherished the freedoms of living in America creating happiness and fulfillment in their lives. Mr. Bhowmick's jealousy for a more joyful existence manifests itself when his religion drives him to an act of violence out of anger and hatred. The problem with putting your faith above all else is that it can lead you to do irrational things, without thinking about them. on the reproaches that could arise. In the story, Mr. Bhowmick marries a woman, not for love, but in an arranged situation, which is a custom of his religion. (Mukherjee 365) “He recited prayers in Sanskrit to Kali, the patron goddess of his family, the goddess of anger and revenge” (Mukherjee 364). This line shows that his religion, although not a traditional type seen in our country, remains a daily ritual that he keeps sacred even though he has moved to America. These are the same practices that the most widespread religions adopt here, known as prayer. In this story, the man's religion does not give him peace, nor does it provide him satisfaction in life, as the ideology of it was intended...... middle of paper .... ..ord". If this is religion today, it is no wonder that people see hatred spread by something that was created to bring people together, not to tear worlds apart. Works cited Shofar. “An Interdisciplinary Journal of Jewish Studies” Fall 2010, Vol. 29 Number 1, p73-94, 22pMoses, Paul. “Is religion a question of war – or peace” CNN. . Web April 14, 2011. Mukherjee, Bharati. “A Father.” McMahan, Elizabeth., et al. Boston: Longman, 2010. Print. Reportedly Stabbed His Sleeping Son and Blames God." Wichita Eagle. Web April 13, 2011. http://www.mapsofwar.com/ind/history-of-religion.htmlhttp://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/Holocaust/ history.htmlhttp://www.adherents.com/rel_USA.htmlhttp://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/01/us/01tiller.html