Faith Or Blind Faith!

Last year four priests in Kerala were arrested for reportedly blackmailing a mother of two, miss using salacious stuff obtained from her religious confession, which is mandated to be untouched and never spoken about. In doing so, they have not only violated the trust of the woman, but they have also committed a grave crime in the eyes of the law and also the religion that they claim to practice.

They have absolutely shaken the very foundation of religion. A bishop has also been accused by a nun of sexually assaulting her.

Not very long ago, a priest in Kerala impregnated a teenage girl and, when she delivered the baby, the man of god bribed her father into admitting the blame for the atrocity. For long, scandals of priest-perpetrated pedophilia have rocked the church globally.

Religion is revered in our country. Culture is treasured in our country.

Faith in one’s religion, respect for one’s culture is in no way wrong or erroneous but blind faith is not only fallacious but can be extremely dangerous not just for the person but also for the people around. Superstition is a widespread social problem. Following it blindly makes the social problem not only a problem but a perilous one at that. Like any other country, we will find numerous superstitions and blind beliefs in people of India.

Perhaps, a lot more. The number of superstitions and blind beliefs is massive and extremely common in our Indian society as it is made of people belonging to numerous religions, cultural, ethnic, linguistic and racial groups that are extremely different from one another. There are quite a few superstitions that are actually very common amongst the people belonging to different groups. Superstitions and blind faiths are usually ascribed to the education or rather lack of it. But, in India,well educated people have also been observed following many beliefs that have no proper reasoning. One can legislate against crime, fraud, but can one outlaw blind faith, even if accentuated by superstitions, if it harms no one? The line that separates superstition from faith is rather thin, but the line which separates faith from blind faith is very thick. It is later that law must fight against.

Blind faith can only be overcome by actual experience and education. Religion, culture and superstitions are linked very closely. Any new direction or new reason in religion is rarely accepted freely here. This gives way to people in India revering “Men of God” as almost godly, that they can do no bad. This enables the priests, Sadhus, Moulvis to believe that they can’t be questioned and rightly so. Any question or any accusation against these men of God are dealt with extreme anger and closed mindedness.

Religious leaders are put on a pedestal; they are given the status of being morally and spiritually elevated in comparison to the ordinary folks. If that is truly the case, that part is up for discussion! Many might belive that the opposite of faith is having no reason but rather it is blind faith. Faith without rationality is blind faith, a fertile breeding ground for crime and insanity. The holy criminals who are now being exposed are stockers and retailers of blind faith. Everyone who promots or propagates blind faith is, from a spiritual stance , an offender. Religiosity stemming from irrationality and illogicality is a crime against humanity.