It’s a violation of humanity

As the crisis unfolds it is noted that apart from cash rich Christian nutcases in USA Islam is finding itself wanting in theocratic states (like Iran, as also Pakistan while feudals strictly control Saudi hence pass writ undermining religion) and in poorer democracies like India where theocracy has a limited control over common people the impact is still felt. It has to do with communitarian nature of Islam (in that sense in comparison to viciously segregatory values of hinduism it fares better but again fails when it comes to women) however single source as revelation –which is strictly codified, as also lack of renaissance like reformation finds itself majorly primitive in dealing with contemporary crisis. This is not to say that reformation helps. We have well passed reforming religions as a solution. Challenges of 21^st century can be handled effectively by deconstructing religions and working on reality based community association which cares, and is secure, in synergizing with individual liberty and expressions. Fantastical fictions of religions are becoming a serious threat and wasting precious time and energy. Also, people with religious mindset are inherently unsuited to be part any solution least wherein path breaking innovations are needed. World has changed quite drastically in a century, particularly so in the last few decades. Reality therefore cannot be understood or defined from the point of view of impressions of last century. Hence these debates of science vs religion is quite obsolete. Rational values, logical thinking, inquisitive mind, empathy based value system, seeking spiritual connections is all expressions of evolving mind. Science is a necessary extension of these expressions. Therefore primitive systems that stratifies mind, segregates human and seek to assert codified insights of past as the only truth (indeed miracle) doesn’t really measure up to even common sense. It can be source of entertainment but cannot be taken seriously nor given any importance (even if lots of people are hallucinated), and surely the attempts to express these as defining identity of human being must be strongly resisted. It is a violation of not only human right but is an assault on humanity.  

Market media in India is hinging on divisions to work out a beneficial narration. It is also scheming and predating on the fear that has enveloped common people. A compelling story works when villains are identified. Predicaments of some muslims are in focus. These are undoubtedly responsible for spread of the disease. Data points to about 30%cases spread across the country (it is responsible for spread in Pakistan too where clerics have become a serious nuisance). This need to be taken seriously. But more than any conspiracy, which may be investigated –religious nutcases can go to any extend, it seems to be case of plain stupidity that only religion can inspire among its followers. Unlike hindus gathering such muslim gatherings in the capital attracts foreigners (this also true about buddhist gatherings I happen to notice in Gaya many years back) this therefore went out of hand, ofcourse buffoonish religion driven justification of omnipotence of god by the leader of the gathering helped the matter. The leader (mullah saad) was working on narration of religion that focuses of communitarian gathering (ofcourse women not allowed, and are to be kept packed in houses) as an expression of consolidating faith. Unfortunately (or rather stupidly) for the gathering the way this disease spreads went against them. While some went into quarantine there were many who still carried the omnipotence narration as also habituated by medieval mindset and hatred against non-muslims they created ruckus. Some sinisterly went hiding creating fear and revulsion among common people. They created much nuisance. The narration of blaming these muslims has some truth but the media went overboard. In the meanwhile attacks on medicos added to the narration as also videos of misguided youths nurtured in omnipotence of religion blurting out nonsense added to the problem. You cannot always blame fear of state as argument. One need to consider why some people are susceptible to rumors (anti-vaccines movement among materially comfortable literate christians in West, anti-polio attacks by poor semiliterate in Pakistan and Afghanistan. Hindu nutcases are different category, it starts from the foundation itself unlike miracle books it’s the sanctum fictions…). In the meanwhile apart from regular dose of astrology (a “science” that only nutcases understand) they didn’t question the PM on goodness of lighting of lamp for 9 minutes (?) at 9oclock. He could have said “before going to sleep lets light lamp for them at 9oclock”. I too didn’t consider until when I started getting messages about the “significance”. Morons quoted from mysterious world of numerology (that blessed are handed as entitled knowledge which the world is yet to know) to planet alignment (even NASA has confirmed it…this acknowledgement from NASA even if spurious is high on the list of buffoons to consolidate “scientific intelligence of ancient civilization” narration). Recently I came across news on religious superstition driven handling of virus techniques – including conducting ‘havan’ in ayush ministry (taxpayers money misused obviously by squatter officials revealing community garb) for purifying the air. In this primitive conception of dimwits smoke is purifying hence improves immunity, indeed “scientific”. There may be some trace elements in the smoke that may have some properties but majorly smoke is CO and CO2 that is indeed quite bad for health particularly for those conducting it. Same is the case of repulsive nutcases take on cow urine). The primitive society based on religions will always finds it expression that will baffle. While virus need to be fought by coming together and sharing religious humans are getting divided by hallucinations of superiority over each other based on fantasies and uniting in its stupidities at the expense of life.  These pathetic squabbling during these serious crisis boils down to how much religions have degraded humanity and difficult situation it has created for common people who are trapped and exploited for their insecurities. It is quite clear that medieval frameworks are incapable to handle the realities we live in, infact it doesn’t even inform anything at all. It takes us away from reality into some hallucinatory response thus becoming threat to others.  

Enter people like Arundhati Roy who are very strongly ensconced in western narrations of fattened fluffs. Ofcourse there are benefits of aligning with these influential sections who control the dominant narration and pose as guardian angels. You get to travel, as you are now “representing”. Then there are strong interest groups that give and share awards. I wasn’t aware of these in the beginning but having observed some devious people I am quite certain that some people work on established narration to accrue benefits from the entrenched and therefore position themselves. Indeed these influential groups have a strong hold over narration and like to keep it as such so as to showcase themselves as benign guardians generally at the expense of common people wherever they are located. They may not follow religions but would strongly identify with religions and seek to perpetuate these under the garb of minority-majority narration. They position as savior while using common people as fodder. They insist on sticking on to the established narration without scrutinizing at the expense of people. They patronize segregatory and demeaning religions in the garb of human rights least bothered that religion itself is the source of human rights violations. They degrade humans by fixing their identity on religion. They undermine humanity by nurturing deviant values and traditions emerging from religions as culture. Finally they insult decency of common people by being superficial and showing least concern as they continue with clique agreed intellectual narrations. As they push humans into religions (which by its very definition is anachronistic patriarchal feudals vicious intrusion into reality) they also create competitions among other religions. They climb high moral grounds as savior and show themselves as evolved. Meanwhile the viciousness of the majority as a reactionary forces gains credibility among common people. In the process hard earned egalitarian value systems are undermined as jingoist revivalist take center stage. Urgent issues and existential matters are sidelined. Worst kind people, charlatans, capitalize the scene. The rise of xenophobia and worst kind of leaders across the world has this as a major factor. Systems that seeks to capitalize on herd look for easy outing hence corporate and market media will authenticate. 

     

To face the emerging challenges of 21^st century medieval value system based on religious fictions is going to be a major impediment. These are an affront on humanity and always seek to undermine individuals.  To start with you will have to deny religions and all the birth based value systems and identities (including hilarious thick skinned royals as also feudal patriarchy that is carefully nurtured under the garb of faith).You will have to deconstruct systems, closely scrutinize it, remove and reject them if it doesn’t pass the basic test of egalitarian values that is necessarily hinged on individual freedom and liberty. As Walt Whitman put it so succinctly "dismiss whatever insults your soul". Authoritarian values are consolidated when there is ignorance, when reality is denied, by submitting to authority and by the lack of intellectual capacity and fearlessness to ask pertinent uncomfortable questions and insist on answer. Therefore by its very nature religion works to authenticate authoritarianism and degrades basic foundations of democracy. Hence apart from denying immense possibilities as individuals religion also converts humans into unthinking entities (what can be worse than this violation) who could easily be manipulated.