Acharya Prashant addresses a question regarding the role of religion in the Israel-Hamas conflict. He explains that the root of the problem lies in what religion means to the common person. For the average individual, religion is a collection of tales, stories, beliefs, and assumptions. This leads to conflict because different people can believe in different stories. For instance, one person might believe their prophet is supreme, while another believes their avatar is the ultimate. Since these beliefs are based on imagination and not verifiable truth, they inevitably clash. He contrasts this with science, where disagreements are resolved through logical debate and evidence, not violence. The speaker argues that when religion is based on belief, it becomes a core part of one's identity. Any challenge to these beliefs is perceived as an attack on one's very existence, which can provoke extreme cruelty and violence. This is because a belief-based identity is inherently fragile and fearful, as it lacks the certainty of knowledge. This fear and insecurity manifest as aggression and a desire to impose one's beliefs on others. Acharya Prashant distinguishes between a cult and true religion. A cult, he states, is what forces you to believe, whereas true religion is about knowing. He criticizes religions that are centered around personalities, where followers are expected to blindly follow the footsteps of one great individual. This, he argues, is detrimental to inner freedom. True religion should be about inquiry, questioning, and self-investigation. It should be based on philosophy (darshan), which is the effort to know, rather than just stories and beliefs. The etymological meaning of 'religion' is to return to one's center, which requires self-knowledge. When religion is hollow and based on stories, it will inevitably lead to conflict, both internally and with others.