You
must read the referenced article before you can make head or tail out of this
brief note. It is about how religion comes in the way of development of
humanity. Those are strong words, I know. But the article will support that
strong assertion.
As
I read the first few paragraphs of the article, I instinctively drew a parallel
between the ultra-orthodox Jews and the Islamist Islam (both of the school of
the doctrinal rigidity). The article comes out explicitly in favor of such
parallelisms down the line!
You
would also note that it is religious-rigidity that, while being the thin end of
the wedge, sustains itself by pushing in relentlessly. It really cannot help
itself!
I
have read a serious article (most probably in The New Yorker) on this ultra-orthodox sect (I am calling it a sect
for now, while recognizing that it can indeed become a perniciously
all-encompassing religion in short order, given its increasing role in Israel’s
politics; just as Islamist Islam is becoming in Egypt) and I distinctly
remember assessing the situation then as at the top of a slippery slope with no exit
ramps. Now, I am becoming more confident of my assessment.
Now,
why should I stop myself from going beyond the religion-specific criticism of
Islam and take cudgels against religion itself? Christianity has its own
rigidities and so do Hinduism (of whatever sect), Buddhism (as a religion and
not as a philosophy). Whatever good one may claim for religion, its evils are
the ones that should startle us, warn us.
I
have warned you. Are you startled yet?
Reference
1.
Israelis
Facing a Seismic Shift Over Role of Women, Ethan Bronner and Isabel Kershner, New York
Times, January 14, 2012 (http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/15/world/middleeast/israel-faces-crisis-over-role-of-ultra-orthodox-in-society.html?nl=todaysheadlines&emc=tha2)
5 comments:
I share your anxiety about the way religion keeps interfering with the progress of humanity. Is there a solution to this problem, I wonder. Why are people unable to break free from the shackles of religion? Why does religion hold such a strong appeal? Why don't people bother to exercise their brain? Just some questions.
Your question matheikal as to why people refuse to use their brains is the definition of a virus in the meme field ... the meme exists only to propagate itself, mutating at will as it were ... there must have been an advantage for the gene to support the religious meme but the latter has taken root of its own and is spreading viciously even when it has become humanity's downside ... the gene field is helpless, and that is the pity.
RE
people need to be relegious..they need not follow any relegion.in the name of religion we kill and commit so many atrocities..
people need to be relegious..they need not follow any relegion.in the name of religion we kill and commit so many atrocities..
DS sir, the the religion you talk about falls within the ambit of expressing awe at how nature is,how we would eternally fall short of understanding it on its own without any "external" interventions.
Why those quotes around "external"? The awe should give rise to joy and that joy is ALL encompassing. If God of any religion falls within that sphere OK. Otherwise, God is external and God and religion have no relevance to me. My moral anchor should be within nature because I am a product of nature.
RE
Post a Comment