Read the passage carefully and answer the following questions:
The two dominant features of our age are science and democracy. They have come to stay and have brought a revolution to human life. We cannot ask educated people to accept the deliverances of faith without rational evidence. Whatever we are called upon to accept must be justified and supported by reason. Otherwise our religious beliefs will be reduced to wishful thinking. Modern man must learn to live with a religion which commends itself to his intellectual conscience, to the spirit of science. Moreover, religion should be the sustaining faith of democracy, which insists on the intellectual and spiritual development of every human being irrespective of his caste, creed, community or race. Any religion which divides man from man and supports privileges, exploitation and wars cannot commend itself to us today.
Why does the writer want religion to be “the sustaining faith of democracy”?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 4
The correct answer is Option (4) → Democracy stands for the growth of every person, and religion should support that aim.
Sustaining means supporting and keeping something going.
- The passage says democracy “insists on” the growth of “every human being”. To insist on means to firmly demand.
- This growth is for all, “irrespective of” caste, creed or race. Irrespective of means without caring about.
- The writer wants religion to back this same aim. That is why religion should be the faith that keeps democracy going.
Why the Other Options are Incorrect?
Option 1: Democracy cannot work unless every citizen follows the same religion. — Incorrect. Contradicted: the writer wants growth for all, whatever their “creed”. Creed means a set of religious beliefs. So he does not ask for one religion.
Option 2: Religion should decide who may take part in a democracy. — Incorrect. Opposite meaning: the writer rejects a religion that “divides man from man”. Keeping some people out would divide them.
Option 3: Democracy has made religion unnecessary, so religion must change. — Incorrect. Contradicted: the writer wants religion to support democracy. He does not say religion is no longer needed.