Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, chief of the Dera Sacha Sauda (DSS), was recently charged with the rape of two female sect members. As a result of the conviction, a major outrage incited due to proponents of his ideology refusing to concede with the decision. Singh is a renowned leader in India, garnering over 60 million followers in his 23 years of leadership, mainly in Punjab and Haryana. The DSS is a spiritual cult, which subscribes to numerous eccentric rituals such as castrations of female followers and radical political views.
The rape charged stemmed from a letter written from a devotee to former Prime Minister of India Atal Bihari Vajpayee in 2002. The letter explained how Singh raped her and other followers, leading an investigation to reveal 18 that sadhvis (female sages) were allegedly victimized.
DSS followers were not taking this revelation civilly, as a huge riot ensued. Followers smashed numerous cars and media vans, as well as torching buildings and railways stations. As a result, the aftermath has left at least 30 dead and 250 injured.
Sadly, this form of idolatry is what brings a negative stench to religion as a whole. Moreover, it causes people to have a certain perception of Yahweh, due to people deifying themselves as false gods.
While Singh showed how flawed humanity is, even when some profess themselves as “god,” it also shows that there is only one supreme and sovereign God, who sent His son Jesus to shed His blood for everyone. No matter what culture or community one resides, Jesus died for all, and everyone is welcome to being a kingdom citizen.
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