Faith and
poverty
Not only does blind faith render a person incapable of logic
and reason, its virus like properties tend to have a general impact on an
entire country’s economy it seems. In recent times many reports have been
published linking religious faith to the poverty cycle in general. The results
of the Gallup poll (published in 2010) expresses that the most economically
challenged countries are those where there is a large number of religious
following. When asked if religious has any serious implications in a country’s
economy, the poll conducted in 2009 revealed that most poverty induced
countries agreed with the notion that religious belief has serious effects on a
country’s economy. Bangladesh’s name is on top of that list.
Following the findings established in the Gallup poll, The
New York Times published an editorial discussing the finer points of these
discoveries. Columnist Charles Bloe wrote in the editorial –
A hundred countries were tested in the Gallup poll on 2009.
It is evident from the resulting discoveries that religious faith and poverty
share an intimate connection. The richer countries are less reliant on
religion. In stark comparison the more economically handicapped nations are the
ones were religion has deeper roots.
In contrast the USA for example which is an economically
stable nation (gross GDP $46,000), where religion has telling influence on day
to day affairs. Despite being the richest most entity in the world, its poverty
rates are grouped with those of Mexico, Argentina and Chile. Now a strange
anomaly such as this is still perfectly explainable. One of the biggest reasons
of course is the ever blossoming imperialistic mind set. When a country the
size and stature of the USA reaches the peak of its powers, in terms of
military prowess that is, internal conflicts then seem inevitable and the
ramifications tends to devalue (or deface/take the shine off if you will) a
nation’s most influential or developed features. Something similar occurred
with Greek and Roman empires at the end of their days. Besides that the recent
boom of capitalism in America has sort of converted religion into a marketable
entity. For instance the various cultural
festivals that are organized in honour of the Church there have managed to attract
people who aren’t exclusively tied to religion in any way, the common men in
other words. Starting from a simple Spring festival, right down to piano
concerts performed by children are all Church centric. Apart from this
“American Anomaly” and a handful of oil rich Middle Eastern countries, there
seems to be a strong connection between religious faith and poverty in general.
Once the development of renewable energy and other technology accelerates and
price of oil plummets, it goes without saying that the Middle East will also be
inflicted to the religion-poverty conundrum.
It’s intriguing how the rise of religious influence in a
country is directly proportional to the gradual decline of its economy. Whereas
countries which have little reservations for religion into their social system
are opulent and found prosper. What’s the secret here?
Even to the naked eye it is abundantly clear. Again, not to
be repetitive, but the trend of poverty is seen largely in nations who are
grossly subservient to religion in every possible embarrassing way. That in
turn provides incentives to terrorists and who use this infatuation as a weapon
to create disharmony. Almost all third world countries demonstrate these
similar traits. We can try and analyse this from the opposite angle as well. A
slump in facets such as the literacy rate and technological advancements and
indeed overall decline in general, coincides sharply with a country’s extreme
diligence towards advocating religion and its other constituents. To be honest,
it shouldn’t come as a shock. How can a country expect to be at the forefront
of ‘development’ if it continues to favour religion and neglect all other
duties and responsibilities associated with incremental improvement? The vice
like grip of religion is tugging us behind it seems.
Is it possible for there to be a bleaker outcome borne from
this, than our incessant obsession with religion?
Religion is
a deadly poison
Whilst I was making the comparison with viruses, many might
have assumed that it was primarily used to draw comparisons. However I used the
term ‘virus’, both in a literal and figurative capacity. Sure, religion does
not have biological form when compared to bacteria or viruses, but it acts and
behaves like a virus in every other possible way. Professor Victor Stengor, in
his book ‘God – The Folly of faith’, has identified 5 main characteristics
shared by religion of all forms. They are as follows –
1)
It infects human minds.
2)
It festers and manufactures antibodies against
those with different opinions (vis-à-vis different viruses).
3)
It immediately resorts to gain control over key
psychological and physical aspects of a person. It then locks these features
away in such a manner that it becomes impossible even for the person in
question, to rediscover his lost facets.
4)
It utilizes some special techniques to spread
the virus.
5)
The host is sort of ‘programmed’ to act and
think in a way to suit the needs of the virus’s gradual propagation.
Another interesting comparison can be made with the common
cold or flu. Children are known to be most susceptible to the cold or flu
virus, because it is easier to inflict damage on the developing immune system
of a child instead of a fully developed adult’s one. As such we tend to succumb
to colds and flu more often than not during our childhood. It is this exact
vulnerability during our youth, which religion as a virus utilizes to plant and
then consequently subjugate us.
Children are the ones who are most commonly brainwashed, all
in the name of teaching them “religious values”. Bangladesh’s Government
Education Board for example, has recently renamed their year 9 and 10 Islamic
textbook from “Religious education” to “Religion and moral education”. The book
explicitly defines what a “Kufr” is and what a “Kafir” is amongst other
directives, which are literally malevolent towards the society as a whole. The
book classifies non-believers as ‘A-grade’ “Kafirs”. The book goes on to
further describe them as ungrateful and as those who deserve no respect in this
world. They are stubborn and rebellious, insidious and villainous and they are
doomed to fail regardless of what they do. Page 53 of the same book
meticulously discusses the mechanics of Jihad. Not only does it explore its
definition, it goes on to list who you should go into ‘Jihad’ against and why,
all in the name of protecting the legacy of Allah’s and his ‘deen’ Islam. The
book does so with validated references.
Many of you might wonder, if you ever get the opportunity to
read this book that is, as to why exactly people like Bin Laden, Bangla Bhai or
Shaikh Rahman are branded as terrorists. Because in light of these teaching,
these individuals only appear to be ‘carrying out the word’ of Allah. If you
flounder about a bit longer into the deepest recesses of the book, you may also
start to wonder if this book has been centred on Imam Al Ghazzali’s savage ideologies.
For example he despised the Motaliz, a group of independent thinkers and
philosophers within Islam and sought to destroy them completely. But it is
regarding his notions on Jihad, that Al-Ghazzali delivered his most shocking
directive till date. He said –
“Every Muslim should engage in Jihad at least once in their
lives. Even if the conflict involves women and children, they can be attacked
with large stones or with a bow and arrow. They can also be burned alive or
drowned to death.”
As such it is perhaps evident as to how Gazzali and the
Maududis tempestuously violent doctrines have groomed, reshaped and then
corrupted the minds of young people. It is understood that in Pakistan children
are taught that A is for Alif (the first letter of the Arabic alphabet) and B
is for “Banduk” (meaning gun in English). As such it is unsurprising in many
ways that a nation which houses such principles also breeds an army capable of
murdering 3 million people and raping 200,000 women. After all, morning shows
the day!
In truth religion needs to be identified as a virus, as a
disease for that matter. Its parasitic capacities, its destructive capabilities
should be made evidently clear. But the believers of course view it as a means
to gain moral and ethical values.
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