Disorienting Dilemma

Let me start with a disclaimer – The thoughts and characters in this piece arise from imagination and experience. If they seem to echo anyone in real life, that resemblance is unintended.

 

I am confused a lot these days. Nothing special about it; I usually am. But it is more than just confusion – a Disorienting Dilemma. Two decades ago, when I was travelling frequently, I would visit every bookshop I could, especially at railway stations and airports. I used to see more books on atheism, trying to disprove religions as a myth. Today, I see more books on religion. Not spirituality, but more about religion and religiosity and history of the same. 

In my middle age, I was almost certain that the world was becoming more secular and irreligious; today, there seems to be a renaissance of religiosity. But is there a renaissance of spirituality? I am not too sure. Just to clarify – Religiosity is about belonging to a tradition, while spirituality is about personally seeking the sacred. Or, as another definition puts it – religion is a system of beliefs, rituals, and dogmas, while spirituality refers to thoughts, feelings, and behaviours connected to the sacred (God). 

 

Three changes we observe are:

 

One – there is a Domestication of Divinity. We grew up with a statement near our dining table – most families had it – “God is the silent presence at our dining table, blessing our food, our conversations, and the love we share.” (Or something to this effect.) And we preferred Him to be silent, because if He had opened His mouth, our conversations would have had to change! Now we have taken the domestication to the next level. We hear stories from leaders about how the divinity wants what they do and have approved their direction. 

 

There is a story in the Good Book. 

 

“Joshua (the leader of the nation) was walking near enemy camps, thinking about the days ahead, when he suddenly noticed someone standing in front of him – a strong, quiet figure holding a drawn sword. Curious and cautious, he stepped closer. ‘Are you with us or with our enemies?’ he asked. The man smiled slightly and said, ‘I’m not here to take sides. I’ve come as the Commander of the Lord’s army.’” 

 

The leader of the nation wanted to be sure that God was on their side, but instead the representative of God said He was neither with them nor their enemies. Abraham Lincoln captured this truth with remarkable clarity: “My concern is not whether God is on our side; my greatest concern is to be on God’s side.”

 

But today’s leaders seem to be so sure that God is on their side – whatever religion they follow. Self-Appointed Ambassadors of the God whom they have domesticated. But little do they know that God cannot be domesticated. Religion can be. Or, rather, they know this well but ignore or underplay this truth for personal or economic purposes, masquerading as a country’s purpose. 

 

And the charismatic personalities they possess, they Hypnotise Humanity. And the unsuspecting humans, ordinary people like us, fall for it. Yes, Divinity must be on their side, with their loud proclamations and rhetoric. 

I wonder what God (not the domesticated one) would be thinking. I read this recently in the Good Book again. 

 

“Why the big noise, nations? Why the mean plots, peoples? Earth-leaders push for position, Demagogues and delegates meet for summit talks… Heaven-throned God breaks out laughing. At first, He’s amused at their presumption; Then He gets good and angry.” 

 

Maybe that is what I should learn too. Recognise that religiosity, as promoted, cannot get us anywhere. That God is beyond our domestication. Laugh at this domestication and get angry at how the unsuspecting are deceived. And explore what it means to be on God’s side. 

 

I remember what I was taught as a young child – to be on God’s side, is to love Him, and to love our neighbour and those whom we do not like too, including the self appointed ambassadors. A good advice to follow…