Acharya Prashant addresses the question of whether it is right to criticize or condemn religion, prompted by the attack on Salman Rushdie. He states unequivocally that such criticism should be allowed. He explains that true religion is not fragile; it progresses through inquiry and wants to be tested and scrutinized. The authenticity of a religion, he argues, is determined by the extent to which it permits questions, criticism, and analysis. The speaker observes a rising trend of bigotry and intolerance in all so-called religions and sects worldwide, which he considers a sign of weakness. This intolerance manifests in violent reactions, such as attacks and beheadings, and legal actions over hurt religious sentiments. He notes that all forms of expression, including books and films, are being suppressed, and a cloth is being stuffed into the mouths of those who dare to speak. He advises those who wish to speak to first think a hundred times if what they are saying is worth saying, questioning if they are even qualified to condemn. He says he has often rebuked those who condemn religion without understanding it, calling them "madāndh" (intoxicated and blind). On the other hand, he refers to those who violently defend religion as "dharmāndh" (blinded by religion), questioning what right one blind person has to condemn another. He clarifies that the true purpose of religion is to lead the mind towards purity and peace, a goal no one can object to. This process is dialectical, a dialogue, as exemplified in scriptures like the Bhagavad Gita, where Arjun questions and even accuses Shri Krishna without being punished. The speaker contrasts this with the modern tendency to cling to the past for a sense of pride, which he calls the root illness. If one takes pride in the past's glory, one must also accept its sins. He advises to dis-identify from the past, taking only what is nourishing and useful for the present. Religion is not history or stories; it is the living heartbeat of today, the purity of the present moment.