OF RATIONALITY AND BLIND FAITH
In an age increasingly relying on the intellect and rationality, why do we still find ourselves hovering around the fringes, if not plunged into blind faith and irrationality like superstitions and obsessive rituals to ward off the 'evil eye' and such like? Is this some kind of inbuilt instinct to prevent us from becoming machine-like creatures moving between two large blocks of black and white, 'yes' and 'no', unequivocality? Who can tell.
Yet, it is very difficult for a thinking person to accept the 'god-like' stature of a mere human who shares our frailties and weaknesses. In recent times, we have had many supposed 'gurus' and 'god men' discredited by their acts of venality. The most recent case is that of Asaram, who has been accused of sexual misdemeanour by a minor. The kind of uproar created by his supporters has been staggering-blocking roads, vandalism, threatening the victim's family. He himself tried every possible trick in the book to evade arrest, till he was left with no option-certainly not behaviour expected of a 'god'-like creature who promises succour to his disciples.Hiring Ram Jethmalani is the kind of black humour stand-up comedy thrives on.
In an age increasingly relying on the intellect and rationality, why do we still find ourselves hovering around the fringes, if not plunged into blind faith and irrationality like superstitions and obsessive rituals to ward off the 'evil eye' and such like? Is this some kind of inbuilt instinct to prevent us from becoming machine-like creatures moving between two large blocks of black and white, 'yes' and 'no', unequivocality? Who can tell.
Yet, it is very difficult for a thinking person to accept the 'god-like' stature of a mere human who shares our frailties and weaknesses. In recent times, we have had many supposed 'gurus' and 'god men' discredited by their acts of venality. The most recent case is that of Asaram, who has been accused of sexual misdemeanour by a minor. The kind of uproar created by his supporters has been staggering-blocking roads, vandalism, threatening the victim's family. He himself tried every possible trick in the book to evade arrest, till he was left with no option-certainly not behaviour expected of a 'god'-like creature who promises succour to his disciples.Hiring Ram Jethmalani is the kind of black humour stand-up comedy thrives on.
And yet, it is not that I speak for the majority when I say this. Depending
on their leanings, people would go so far as saying, ''Haan, it could be right
in his case, though his oratory had me fooled. But you know, X/YZ is not like
that. He is the REAL thing. You feel such peace of mind when you listen to him(better
still 'Him')"..and the beat goes on.
Though it should come as no surprise in a land that happily tosses around things like 'If you wash your hair on Tuesday, your brother will die', or 'If you sweep your house the day someone leaves, he will be felled', 'If you cut your nails at night, there will be a theft in your house'.
Not that it is only us who have these 'gurus'. Who can beat the West for their astonishing cults and 'masters' who often ask them to commit suicide en masse, or unleash terror and mayhem in the land? Other sects, peoples, and beliefs fall prey to the same kind of thing. Which returns us to the same question-'Why and how are we susceptible to this kind of irrationality, even as we lead absolutely normal and rational lives?' Maybe it is a deep-rooted insecurity that yearns for magical remedy as a last resort, that is desperate to believe that 'There are more things in heaven and earth...Than are dreamt of in your philosophy.' Till we live, we need to believe that there is a power of last appeal. That there is hope .That there is stardust somewhere, that will cover the dark spots in our skies.
Though it should come as no surprise in a land that happily tosses around things like 'If you wash your hair on Tuesday, your brother will die', or 'If you sweep your house the day someone leaves, he will be felled', 'If you cut your nails at night, there will be a theft in your house'.
Not that it is only us who have these 'gurus'. Who can beat the West for their astonishing cults and 'masters' who often ask them to commit suicide en masse, or unleash terror and mayhem in the land? Other sects, peoples, and beliefs fall prey to the same kind of thing. Which returns us to the same question-'Why and how are we susceptible to this kind of irrationality, even as we lead absolutely normal and rational lives?' Maybe it is a deep-rooted insecurity that yearns for magical remedy as a last resort, that is desperate to believe that 'There are more things in heaven and earth...Than are dreamt of in your philosophy.' Till we live, we need to believe that there is a power of last appeal. That there is hope .That there is stardust somewhere, that will cover the dark spots in our skies.
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