Politics and religion are so similar in many aspects that sometimes it is very difficult to distinguish them from each other. In many countries, they help each other in many ways, they work very closely and assist each other to keep their hold on people's minds and their votes. Especially in a country like India, religion is used extensively in politics. There are many ways by which politicians use religion to achieve their political goals. Sometimes politicians, like some religious leaders, start thinking that they are gods and they start behaving that way. Instead of interacting with people, understanding their problems, serving them, and answering their questions, they live a comfortable and disconnected life. They only occasionally come to visit them (that too with a lot of security and in helicopters or planes), give their speeches, and disappear, just like giving some sort of 'darshan' to people. They also think that people should be happy just to see them and listen to them as if they are someone whose mere presence or their words will solve all the problems of their devotees. When these politicians start behaving like demigods they lose touch with reality, their image becomes everything for them, and they start delivering their speeches like sermons. They don't like any difficult questions from anyone, not even from their own supporters or bhakts. There is a lot in common between the way politics and religion work (at least in India). Religion also works on very similar lines, just listen, don't ask any difficult questions, if you don't believe in the powers of our God then you are an enemy.
There are some parties like the BJP who owe their existence to some religious organizations (like RSS), they even became a major national party with the help of a religious movement started by them (the Ram Mandir movement). Why do some political parties or politicians make use of religion to gain power? Can we keep politics and religion separate from each other? How and why do politics and religion help each other so much? These are very complex questions and there are equally complex answers to them. One blog post is not enough to answer them all. Depending on the culture and nature of society interdependence of politics and religion varies from region to region. But no doubt that this is a lethal combination because only one is enough to bring out the fanatic side of people and if we mix both of them together the mixture becomes more lethal. It completely shuts the logical thinking of people and then all that remains is blind faith and fanaticism where there is no scope for discussion, debate, or opposition. Either you are with us or against us. Politics is all about debates, discussions, questions, answers, policy brainstorming, and the active participation of people (because after all, it's for people). It is a very interactive and dynamic process, nothing should be an untouchable or taboo subject in politics, whatever is there in society must be discussed in a political forum. In religion, certain things are not allowed, and questioning is allowed only to a certain extent, after that either one is accused of blasphemy and punished or thrown out of that organization. When people mix religion with politics, it kills the spirit of the political process, and it becomes hard to differentiate politics from religion.
One thing is for sure both politicians and religious institutes want to control people's minds and they also want their money. Political parties and religion both need a lot of money and power to survive. To achieve these goals they want people to believe whatever they say without any questioning. They try their best to create situations where people are not encouraged to ask questions (or are afraid to ask any questions). Grand rallies or god-like images of their leaders are ways to intimidate people so that they hesitate to ask questions. This intellectual intimidation mostly works, people just get mesmerized by the presence of these charismatic personalities and surrender before them thinking that this great leader is going to solve all their problems. But it never happens, actually, we don't need superheroes we need good leaders who are willing to work with people and for people. We need leaders who are interested in designing a system that can work efficiently, a system that doesn't depend on a star performer but is a star in itself.
The use of religion or religious symbols is prohibited by law in India during political campaigns, but many political parties do this anyway. There are laws but there are also ways to bypass them. I think there is nothing wrong in discussing social issues that are related to some religious beliefs like same-sex marriage and abortion but there should be a free and fair discussion about these topics, not some emotional speeches intended to polarize society. If people are not interested in healthy debate then better not to raise these issues during election time as nothing comes out of them except social polarization. These issues can be discussed on a proper forum where there is no political interference. For many people both politics and religion are very sensitive issues, many have very passionate and strong views about their political and religious beliefs. Normally only one of these subjects is enough to create some heated discussion or debate then imagine combining both of them. I personally believe these two areas should be kept separate as much as possible. We have seen some disastrous effects of religious conflicts on our society we should not make the situation worse by mixing politics with it. I hope political parties, religious institutes, and mainly 'the people' realize this and act accordingly.
Thanks for reading and please share your views on this topic.
[Copyright: Vinay Thakur. Please contact the author for re-posting or publishing]
There are some parties like the BJP who owe their existence to some religious organizations (like RSS), they even became a major national party with the help of a religious movement started by them (the Ram Mandir movement). Why do some political parties or politicians make use of religion to gain power? Can we keep politics and religion separate from each other? How and why do politics and religion help each other so much? These are very complex questions and there are equally complex answers to them. One blog post is not enough to answer them all. Depending on the culture and nature of society interdependence of politics and religion varies from region to region. But no doubt that this is a lethal combination because only one is enough to bring out the fanatic side of people and if we mix both of them together the mixture becomes more lethal. It completely shuts the logical thinking of people and then all that remains is blind faith and fanaticism where there is no scope for discussion, debate, or opposition. Either you are with us or against us. Politics is all about debates, discussions, questions, answers, policy brainstorming, and the active participation of people (because after all, it's for people). It is a very interactive and dynamic process, nothing should be an untouchable or taboo subject in politics, whatever is there in society must be discussed in a political forum. In religion, certain things are not allowed, and questioning is allowed only to a certain extent, after that either one is accused of blasphemy and punished or thrown out of that organization. When people mix religion with politics, it kills the spirit of the political process, and it becomes hard to differentiate politics from religion.
One thing is for sure both politicians and religious institutes want to control people's minds and they also want their money. Political parties and religion both need a lot of money and power to survive. To achieve these goals they want people to believe whatever they say without any questioning. They try their best to create situations where people are not encouraged to ask questions (or are afraid to ask any questions). Grand rallies or god-like images of their leaders are ways to intimidate people so that they hesitate to ask questions. This intellectual intimidation mostly works, people just get mesmerized by the presence of these charismatic personalities and surrender before them thinking that this great leader is going to solve all their problems. But it never happens, actually, we don't need superheroes we need good leaders who are willing to work with people and for people. We need leaders who are interested in designing a system that can work efficiently, a system that doesn't depend on a star performer but is a star in itself.
The use of religion or religious symbols is prohibited by law in India during political campaigns, but many political parties do this anyway. There are laws but there are also ways to bypass them. I think there is nothing wrong in discussing social issues that are related to some religious beliefs like same-sex marriage and abortion but there should be a free and fair discussion about these topics, not some emotional speeches intended to polarize society. If people are not interested in healthy debate then better not to raise these issues during election time as nothing comes out of them except social polarization. These issues can be discussed on a proper forum where there is no political interference. For many people both politics and religion are very sensitive issues, many have very passionate and strong views about their political and religious beliefs. Normally only one of these subjects is enough to create some heated discussion or debate then imagine combining both of them. I personally believe these two areas should be kept separate as much as possible. We have seen some disastrous effects of religious conflicts on our society we should not make the situation worse by mixing politics with it. I hope political parties, religious institutes, and mainly 'the people' realize this and act accordingly.
Thanks for reading and please share your views on this topic.
[Copyright: Vinay Thakur. Please contact the author for re-posting or publishing]
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