Religion is man-made. Every religion says my 'God is the best.'

The words of Rajkumar Hirani — "Religion is man-made. Every religion says my 'God is the best.'" — strike like a mirror held before humanity, forcing us to confront both our longing for the divine and our weakness for division. In these words, Hirani does not reject the sacred, but questions the ways men have built walls around it. He reminds us that religion, for all its beauty, is shaped by human hands, bound by human pride, and too often claimed as a banner of superiority. The eternal mystery of God, vast and ungraspable, is narrowed when mortals declare: “Only my vision is true, only my God is greatest.”

The origin of this thought lies in the tension between the universal and the particular. From the dawn of civilization, men and women have sought to understand the divine — in fire, in river, in star, in silence. Out of this yearning arose rituals, scriptures, and temples, each pointing toward the infinite. Yet over time, these became institutions, and institutions hardened into boundaries. What began as devotion to the sacred became competition among sects. Thus Hirani observes: while the divine may be eternal, religions are man-made, shaped by cultures, histories, and politics, each insisting upon its supremacy.

History abounds with examples. Consider the wars of the Reformation in Europe, where Catholics and Protestants shed rivers of blood, each declaring that their vision of God was the only true one. Or recall the Crusades, when Christians marched to Jerusalem believing their God demanded it, while Muslims stood to defend the same land in the name of their God. Each side claimed, “My God is the best,” and in that cry, cities burned and generations suffered. The divine was not honored in such conflict; it was overshadowed by human pride.

Yet alongside these tragedies, there have always been voices that rise above division. Akbar the Great, emperor of India, though a Muslim, invited leaders of all faiths to his court. He declared that truth could be found in many paths, and sought to weave unity from diversity. He understood that while religion may be man-made, the search for the sacred belongs to all humanity. In his example, we see that respect for every tradition brings peace, while the cry of supremacy brings only ruin.

The meaning of Hirani’s words, then, is not to cast aside faith, but to urge humility. If religion is man-made, we must remember that no mortal tongue can fully capture the divine. The moment we claim our God is greater than another’s, we risk shrinking the infinite into an idol of our own making. True reverence lies not in proclaiming superiority, but in honoring the mystery beyond all human divisions.

The lesson is clear: if you would live wisely, seek the essence of faith, not the pride of sect. Honor your own tradition, but do not despise another’s. Recognize that the sacred cannot be contained in one book, one temple, one creed, but shines through them all like sunlight through stained glass. Each color is different, yet the light is one.

What, then, should you do in practice? Walk with humility. Learn not only the teachings of your own faith, but also listen to the voices of others. Reject arrogance, for it breeds conflict. Embrace compassion, for it is the common thread woven through every religion. And when you hear others claim, “My God is the best,” remember that such words reflect not the greatness of God, but the limits of man.

Thus let this wisdom be passed on: religions may be man-made, but the longing they express is eternal. Respect every path, seek the truth within your own, and remember that the divine is greater than the banners we raise. In this way, you will honor both God and humanity, not through pride, but through humility and love.