Regardless of all the accumulated knowledge we have gathered throughout our history of evolution and civilization, we still kill each other like our wild counterparts in the bush. Whether our knowledge stems from religion, science, mathematics, technology, or simple social advances, it remains in constant evolution. Common sense tells us that our knowledge isn’t final. Since we continue to evolve, constantly learning and discovering new things every day, claiming to know everything would clearly be false.
Not only are we learning new things, but we’re also discovering new fields of knowledge with conflicting experts. There are things we can physically see and know, and then there are unseen unknowns that are still factual. For instance, you can see, sit in, and drive a car to various places; then there are intangible entities like air, life itself, thoughts, emotions, imagination, love, compassion, and God. These aspects lead us to places where we can learn about our unseen and unknown by understanding the deeper feelings of our soul. From love and belief systems, you can generate tangible and genuine feelings of satisfaction, happiness, and contentment, or you can construct the most intricate and technologically advanced things simply from your imagination.
Happiness, a state of mind, can be gained or lost, yet it has real and physical impacts on an individual’s life. You can create a state of calm and relaxation through thought processes alone or become miserable and anxious seemingly out of thin air, all from your thoughts. For example, if I swear at you in a language you don’t understand, especially if I’m smiling, you won’t physically respond with anger. However, if you understand my words, you’ll hear them, process them, and within milliseconds, feel genuine anger rising as a physical reality. How can a thought have such a profound physical impact? Asking why your feelings are tied to your thoughts can unveil a whole new world within yourself. As human beings, we need to further explore ourselves, particularly why we escalate minor issues to the point of killing each other, especially concerning our belief systems and politics of belonging.
In reality, our experiences extend beyond our visible and known world. We are extremely complex and continuously evolving entities, so our mathematically and scientifically correct world is merely one branch of our knowledge. This isn’t enough for us mortal human beings to feel completely fulfilled. We must not only nourish our bodies but also our souls, believing in the spirit within and the entire spiritual realm of the unseen and unknown. Whether fully understood or not as individuals, we must still make choices within our allotted time. By doing so, we can achieve deeper happiness and contentment, becoming fulfilled as healthy souls. Our responsibility is to experience and fully live a temporary life in all dimensions of wellness, including physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual health, especially as beings aware of our mortality. We should all be cautious of the power of our politics of belonging. Our sense of belonging can alter even our knowledge. Remember, it’s not just about knowledge; it’s about the politics and related biases, prejudices, and discriminations that concern us.
Consider the power of our belief systems and how they can even change an individual’s biology to create placebo effect-related healing. Interestingly, our politics of belonging affects us in similar ways. History shows that we are emotionally swayed by political speeches to the extent that we willingly go to war and face death in the name of our groups. Even the most revered figures, like our prophets, couldn’t exclude prejudice and discrimination from religious beliefs. Interestingly, as ordinary individuals, we can be emotionally influenced to the extent that hormonal changes after winning or losing a sports match can be measured.
Some time ago, I wrote a blog titled “Inferiority Complex: The Dirty Truth of Humanity.” Personally, I sought to understand why our politics of belonging is so potent that even the most intellectual people can act like puppets. Scientific evidence suggests that some of us are governed more by our chemicals, where our animal side dominates our spiritual side. Religious or not, some people fail to recognize the distinction between these internal facets, a balance that each of us must achieve.
I Googled and found this quote:
“Spectators’ testosterone levels at the World Cup final. Bernhardt et al. (1998) conducted a study at the 1994 World Cup final (played between Brazil and Italy). They collected salivary samples from fans of both teams before and shortly after the game. Brazil won this otherwise extraordinarily boring final on penalty kicks. The researchers observed a statistically significant effect on testosterone levels: Brazilian fans showed an increase, while Italian fans exhibited a decrease. This is remarkable, demonstrating that we can experience a vicarious endocrinological response. As social creatures, our brains can identify our favorite sports teams as part of our in-group, despite never having met the players we care so deeply about.”
Wear your spiritual jewelry with pride, as it brings our unseen and unknown aspects to light. Our spiritual jewelry, such as personal justice, compassion, sacrifice, forgiveness, prioritizing others over ourselves, and love, isn’t taught through mathematically and scientifically correct knowledge alone. We don’t merely possess these gifts from birth; we also learn them from knowledge beyond science and math. This aspect of human beings is connected to a different realm of knowledge, which we can access by believing that there’s more to us than what science and technology tell us. Without stepping beyond our scientifically and mathematically correct knowledge, we can’t comprehend the power of our imagination or learn about love and God.
This is the realm where discrepancies hold the right answer. It’s where spiritually unaware individuals become baffled, dismissing others as ignorant while failing to acknowledge the importance of a spiritually fulfilled mortal life. Regardless of science and religion, we must all nurture this spiritual side to claim that we’re well-rounded, evolved human beings. Remember, our good and bad deeds aren’t automatic; that’s why if intoxication was in the alcohol, the bottle would dance. As human beings, we consume that alcohol and choose whether to dance for better or worse, depending on the strength of our nurtured side.
Here is where God merges with the human individual and emerges as a physical entity to make spiritual occurrences physically real. This is where we, as human individuals, differ from all other creatures, with our atom of autonomy. Unfortunately, this same process also breathes life into the devil, depending solely on the choices made by us as individuals.
Certainly, we encounter problems with our physical side due to insecurities and actions stemming from free will. Our politics of belonging is the real devil in the details. This is why most religions preach severe consequences during life and even beyond, hoping to control our animalistic side. They employ a carrot-and-stick philosophy of heaven and hell, treating those who disobey as animals and rewarding obedient ones with incentives. To me, this still reduces human individuals to animals, whether they comply with orders or not. The true politics behind this is to train individuals to be responsible for their actions. Unfortunately, regarding ourselves as animals and striving not to succumb to our animalistic side can be confusing, necessitating conscious thought and choice. This animalistic aspect is legitimate and essential for converting spirituality into physicality, making it impossible to eradicate the physical side and live solely spiritually. Remember, one cannot function without the other, so spiritual existence depends on physicality. Without spirit, one cannot physically survive, compelling us to function as human beings, not mere spirits or physical animals.
Lack of belief and insecurity are closely related, shaping our behavior through the politics of our sense of belonging. Unfortunately, removing rewards and fears may lead individuals to revert to animalistic behaviors unless we evolve internally. If we individually believe that we are more than mere animals, we can achieve inner balance. Our spiritual side is suppressed by those who perceive God and the Devil as external entities, permitting them to commit spiritual crimes with minimal consequences, as punishment only awaits in an imagined afterlife. Since God doesn’t intervene before spiritual crimes are committed, individuals with a suppressed or absent spiritual side may live like animals. To me, the responsibility for this falls on our education about God and the Devil doing everything.
The purpose of instilling fear of God is to encourage goodness, with good intentions; however, leveraging fear for political gain, making individuals weaker and more fearful, is entirely different. Being good requires fearlessness, yet driven by a loving faith in God. Interestingly, our atom of autonomy within us understands the motivations behind our goodness. For instance, when a disobedient son is punished and an obedient one rewarded by a father, it relates to the father’s human nature. Associating human traits with God is a clear strategy of control. However, since God Almighty or our personal atom of autonomy transcends all human insecurities, understanding the reasons behind obedience or disobedience renders thoughts of punishment or reward inconsequential.
If we believe in and nurture our personal spiritual side, we can see ourselves as God-like entities who need neither bribery nor fear to do good. Unlike animals, human beings are naturally good worldwide. Ever wonder why? It’s because we carry our spiritual jewelry from birth, driven by our godly nature like a preexisting condition. That’s why we aren’t like other animals; we understand delayed gratification and even sacrifice. Human societies have incorporated God since the dawn of civilization.
Interestingly, deep individual happiness, contentment, and satisfaction in mortal life can’t be attained solely through physical means. Since we aren’t merely physical bodies, spiritual satisfaction and contentment arise from a spiritually integrated life. Living with spiritual values not only makes our mortal lives easier but also enhances our ability to find happiness and contentment along the way.
When a scientist discovers something that significantly benefits others’ lives, they experience deep satisfaction in their work—thanks to our spiritual nature, irrespective of our beliefs. Examining the reasons behind these feelings, akin to scrutinizing scientific knowledge, can lead scientists toward spirituality themselves. It’s natural for us to desire aiding others, so behind our knowledge-driven discoveries lies a desire to advance humanity as a whole. However, our group politics can corrupt us as individuals. Despite our awareness of being temporary beings, our personal sacrifices of time and energy are spiritually fruitful.
While our drive and desire to achieve aren’t always driven solely by personal gain, motives like fitting in, impressing, or seeking admiration from our groups still stem from a desire to belong. Breaking down these reasons reveals personal unknowns, prompting us to delve into why our genetics drive us physically. Despite what we know or do, exploring these mysteries can consume our entire allotted time. Thus, there’s more to being human than adhering to mathematical and scientific correctness.
Since each of us is born as the CEO of our lives, with decisions being our prerogative, acknowledging others in the same boat necessitates accepting differing opinions. Remember, if you possess unseen and unknown yet physical realities, your knowledge isn’t complete. With incomplete knowledge, you can’t assume others should conform to your beliefs or face repercussions.
Incomplete knowledge is a reality for evolving entities like human beings. Believing that our ancestors or prophets knew everything can be scientifically or mathematically disproven. That’s why scientists don’t always agree with religious knowledge. Personally, I believe claiming religious knowledge is nonsensical, just as dismissing scientists as uninformed is disputing each other under the influence of group belonging.
Reflect on history and current group politics to see how many have succumbed to our unknown knowledge. Will we ever possess complete knowledge to justify or cease our killings? Our expanding brains still leave us with unseen and unknowns. As human beings, killing each other over evolving knowledge has always been, is, and will remain absurd. If you believe your group possesses ultimate knowledge, you must delve deeper into being human. The politics of belonging can undermine our free will and inner God, prompting us to explore our spiritual or godly side beyond group influences.
Superior weaponry, advanced scientific and mathematical knowledge shouldn’t deem one group right, compelling everyone to join their cause. As mortal, evolving human beings, we don’t merely live physical lives; we require spiritual nurturing and equal treatment for happiness and contentment. Otherwise, not just individuals but entire nations can fall prey to depression. It’s time to evolve from our animal nature to spiritually dominant human beings, overcoming the urge to deprive each other of love.
Throughout history, acknowledging the importance of unseen and unknowns has been as vital and potent as what’s known and seen. Our imagination opens doors to discovering mathematical and scientific correctness. I assert that all mathematical and scientifically correct knowledge has evolved from our unseen and unknowns. When fulfilling our mortal responsibilities, we must consider not only branches of human knowledge but view life as a living, breathing tree with all its branches. You can’t be solely religious, believing blindly that God controls everything. In this day and age, you risk being left behind by those who either don’t believe in God or understand humanity’s true place in the larger scheme of life.
Choosing to be subservient while spiritually fulfilled but lagging behind physically is an individual human choice, just as being exploited by others who benefit from your subservience in the name of God is equally wrong. To me, it’s wrong because God has blessed us all to be CEOs of our lives. Our evolving nature demands growth in all aspects of life. As CEOs, it’s our individual responsibility not to neglect any area of life, as doing so undermines the purpose intended by God. If we allow this to happen, our CEO status becomes meaningless, contradicting the importance of religious teachings. Being deemed unimportant, irrelevant, or a sinner would hinder us from reaching the potential God intended for us. In essence, I’m saying that no individual human is insignificant or naturally subordinate. We are all CEOs with God-like abilities, yet our politics of belonging often reduces us to being used by others. Our relevance isn’t dictated by God or the Devil; nature treats us all equally. Therefore, it’s our individual choices that determine our significance. Why would anyone choose to be irrelevant? If you seek answers, first free yourself from the constraints of group belonging. Once you do, your clouded thinking will clear. Remember, evolving comprehensively as a CEO not only makes you more valuable to God but also more beneficial to yourself.
In today’s technologically advanced world, you need not be left behind, riding horse buggies in a world of fast transportation. You can maintain your spiritual values regardless of the path you choose. Ultimately, you must strive to be a decent human being, a status that cannot be achieved if you forfeit your CEO status. If you decide to specialize as a department head, whether in science and technology or in religious matters like the unseen, unknown, and unexplained, you undermine your CEO status.
Unfortunately, despite our evolution, many of us fail to achieve CEO status because we cannot speak out against the politics of our belonging groups. From a young age, we’re conditioned to belong to groups rather than to humanity as a whole. This early indoctrination can even reshape our biology to suit our group mentality. Consider this: if everyone is taught to fervently support their nation, religion, or sports team, how can we teach future generations to transcend these political realities and unite as humanity? The days when group identity provided sole security are long gone. Today’s challenges demand collective solutions for collective problems. Climate change, infectious diseases, and internet-related crimes were once unknown; now they compel us to evolve and unite as humanity. The COVID-19 pandemic should serve as a lesson, yet our group politics remain a major obstacle. Despite these challenges, we manage to harm each other within the same nation. Addressing modern-day problems requires us to embrace humanity as a whole, not just as an aspiration but as a present-day necessity.
Breaking free from such mental chains is no easy task, especially when dissenters face ostracism or worse from their groups. Personal loyalties to groups present another dilemma, especially for those enlightened enough to recognize their universal humanity. Consider the Great Wall of China; similarly, we each have mental, emotional, and spiritual barriers erected by our groups. As CEOs, it’s our prerogative and eventual duty to comprehend and overcome these internal barriers to unite with humanity. Being human is our fundamental identity; everything else is politically imposed data. While group affiliations are subsidiary identities, they’re crucial steps toward realizing our potential. Only a CEO can navigate an identity crisis. Remember, God, humanity, and our spiritual essence are unaffected by politics; it’s your personal responsibility to maintain a spiritually intact life.
If you scrutinize this issue closely, you’ll see that your problems stem from a lack of spiritual awareness. However, group politics often blind us to this fact, as all groups fear individual empowerment.
Observing humanity as a whole, you’ll notice that our collective knowledge—from transportation and the internet to science, technology, and medicine—benefits everyone. Look at our smartphones, cars, planes, and medications; they’re products of collective human endeavor. The point is clear by now.
When adhering to the traditions, customs, rituals, and rules of any society—be it religious or scientifically and mathematically sound—consider the purpose and objectives behind these practices.
For instance, if a tradition requires peeing while seated rather than standing, it shouldn’t invoke God or prophets; instead, it should promote cleanliness and hygiene. If the objective is to prevent urine from soiling clothing or the body, the method of achieving this goal shouldn’t matter. If urinating while standing achieves cleanliness, then it should be acceptable. However, some individuals oppose this due to tradition. In today’s world, modern urinals are designed with this objective in mind, yet they’re still intended for standing use. Understanding the origins of such traditions clarifies the issue. If you urinate on sand or a hard surface, everything changes. Thus, our responsibility should be to achieve the objective, irrespective of tradition. Maintaining cleanliness and hygiene can be straightforward or challenging depending on your mindset. If indoctrination compels you to uphold outdated traditions in this progressive era, you miss the purpose behind the tradition.
(THIS IS A TRUE INCIDENT.)
I view life as a personal and individual journey; some of us venture to distant lands. One place my journey took me was Iraq, shortly before the Iran-Iraq War broke out, so most of our work remained uninitiated. We resided in trailer homes, where our showers and toilets were also housed. As I could converse in English, Japanese management personnel often communicated with me. One day, a department head asked about an issue I was unaware of. Consulting our Pakistani labor leader, I learned that toilets were clogged due to people disposing of dirt or stones, used for drying after urinating—a tradition among religious adherents since time immemorial. Although this occurred long ago, it continues to impact modern-day toilets, despite Japanese attempts to introduce modified designs. Although water basins and toilet paper were available, toilets still clogged. Common sense should have prevailed; unfortunately, not everyone values religious traditions, customs, rituals, and rules similarly. Personally, I advocate adapting and adjusting to address contemporary challenges, but not everyone shares this view. Consequently, I found myself explaining these traditions to Japanese individuals, who were perplexed by my explanations. Unlike those who aren’t very religious, they struggled to grasp the potent ritualistic and traditional significance of religion. If we adapt to our era and make necessary amendments, we can resolve issues as they arise.
Another event worth mentioning is my curiosity-driven journey to the north, where I experienced twenty-four-hour daylight. My purpose was to critically examine sun-based prayers and fasting rituals. Once again, I sought the rationale behind religious traditions, customs, rituals, and rules. Despite accommodating religious beliefs, I emphasize the importance of rationality. Even seemingly minor religious rules should be explained, not blindly enforced. When it comes to believing in God, explanations should be clear and accessible to all. Through this blog, I aim to elucidate and simplify these concepts.
Returning to the topic of twenty-four-hour daylight, our daily prayers begin before sunrise, at midday, early afternoon, before sunset, at sunset, and after dark. Fasting involves consuming meals before dawn and breaking fast at sunset; thus, the sun plays a crucial role in our religious practices. However, what happens when the sun doesn’t rise or set? In such situations, we must adapt to our era while retaining our religious beliefs. For example, using toilet paper for hygiene is more practical and effective than clogging toilets. Failure to adapt to contemporary circumstances can lead to confusion regarding the purpose of prayers. Respecting ancestral knowledge in similar eras is one thing, but blindly adhering to traditions, customs, rituals, and rules after centuries of evolution is another. As a CEO of your life, you must evolve and make adjustments along the way. If influenced by individuals resistant to change, you may resist evolution and struggle with self-esteem issues. For instance, riding a horse-drawn carriage in today’s world pales in comparison to faster modes of transportation. My point is clear: observe the prevalence of cell phones. If you don’t question trends as a CEO, you may find yourself stuck in the past, perpetuating conflicts even after societal evolution. Consider the Shia-Sunni conflict, where groups continue fighting an ancestral war that defies logic.
God has blessed humans not only with an evolving nature but also with the ability to heal in all aspects of life. Physically, our bodies can heal cuts, wounds, and diseases. So, what excuse do we have for not healing from our past, especially when it pertains to our religions? Shi’as, for example, keep wounds fresh by reopening them annually to pass down to future generations—all due to the politics of group belonging. If we learn to belong to humanity instead, we could direct our energy towards evolution and healing rather than fighting and perpetuating thousand-year-old disputes.
Humanity, God, and spirituality call for healing and evolution, yet the politics of group belonging often cause us to defy these spiritual imperatives, ironically in the name of God. Go figure.
A modern-day individual, particularly a CEO, can easily grasp this concept. However, for most of us, our strong sense of group belonging prevents us from thinking beyond our group loyalties. Even a CEO must conform to religious traditions, customs, rituals, and rules. Not too long ago, examples like the Iranian Revolution and ongoing political influences in America illustrate this. With firearms in nearly every household, America could implode due to the politics of racial or political group belonging. If we could question our sense of belonging and redirect it towards humanity, circumstances could drastically change. The real question is: would our groups allow such a shift? Throughout history and civilization, this transformation has never occurred. It can only happen when an ordinary individual takes charge, assumes the role of CEO, puts groups in their place, and embraces humanity as a whole. They would need to transcend group politics and recognize the humanity in every race, gender, color, nationality, religion, and even in differing opinions.
As a collective, we often cling to ancestral knowledge, yet the world continues to change before our eyes. If everyone were to introspect and discover their inner CEO, they would easily grasp one of the most spiritual concepts: treating others as they wish to be treated and not perpetuating actions they find objectionable to themselves or their loved ones. When your group calls upon you to support their agenda or cause, you must use your personal sense of justice, prioritizing it over the politics of group belonging.
Just because we’ve historically waged wars and committed spiritual transgressions in the name of our groups doesn’t mean we should continue doing so indefinitely. We must evolve to thrive in the era we inhabit, shedding our ancestral skin annually rather than reopening old wounds to justify perpetuating conflicts. Always remember, as evolving spiritual beings, we don’t need to fuel prejudice and discrimination.
If Americans fail to see each other as fellow Americans, how can any individual see the humanity in others? America was supposed to be a beacon of democracy, attracting the best and brightest from around the world. If we prioritize our spiritual side over our baser instincts, there would be no need for individuals to change their nation or religion. Physically, we may appear different, but spiritually, we are a unified entity. If you wonder why people commit harm against each other, the answer lies in individual choice. We all have the equal opportunity to choose good or bad, but some remain in survival mode, viewing themselves solely as physical entities or animals. This perspective limits their understanding of life to its surface, ignoring its deeper spiritual dimensions.
Being alive is typically associated with being a physical entity, akin to animals marking their territory in the wild. Similarly, humans establish hundreds of political boundaries on Earth, and some even advocate creating more in the name of group identity. As unique beings, we must be physical to embody spirituality and be spiritually attuned to excel physically. Our virtuous thoughts stem from our spiritual side, typically when our basic needs, like sustenance, are fulfilled. If you doubt this, try fasting for a couple of weeks and then attempt to read the Qur’an or Bible while adhering to its teachings. You’ll likely find yourself prioritizing food over spiritual devotion, even to God. Remember, your identity is that of a human being, not merely a spirit or animal. To be wholly human, both facets must coexist; you cannot separate them except in death.
Your existence relies on the external and internal functions of the universe. Moreover, you do not operate solely on your volition; you depend on oxygen and favorable conditions. If everything were subject to your will alone, conquering mortality would be your first achievement. Ultimately, you need assistance even to contemplate, so is it fair to claim all your achievements as exclusively yours? Unfortunately, this spiritual flaw extends beyond individuals; collectively, we often make this assertion.
Disregarding oxygen and favorable environments as aid from the unknown is disingenuous. Trillions of personal cells and non-self bacteria collaborate intricately to sustain us. Yet, those who deny external aid while asserting sole responsibility for their existence overlook these complexities. Personally, I acknowledge this aid as fact and do not take sole credit for my survival. Although perspectives on life vary, failing to recognize the contributions of unknown forces denies spirituality. Overcoming our egotism is crucial for spiritual awareness. We function only after drawing that essential breath; why then do we justify our accomplishments as solely ours? Perhaps, we are unwilling to accept simplicity, or we collectively indoctrinate others to believe it’s entirely individual effort. To me, denying this assistance while shamelessly disregarding it is not just incorrect but spiritually deficient.
When you view yourself solely as a physical entity, your capacity to question is hampered by early education. You recognize the body’s significance but overlook your fundamental essence of being alive. You witness death daily, yet despite this awareness, we choose to overlook our mortal nature. We suppress this awareness, conditioned not to confront it until old age. Living as a physical body is distinct from living as a soul or spirit; we’re taught to stifle our spiritual side until it withers, robbing us of our true human potential. While our living body is purely animalistic, needing oxygen, water, and food, as complex human beings, mere survival does not suffice. True happiness and contentment demand alignment with our deeper nature.
If you equate happiness and contentment solely with physical existence, you’ll be drawn to materialistic pursuits, awakening abruptly to the realization that abandoning everything awaits, without ever achieving deeper joy and contentment. This profound satisfaction arises from adorning your soul or spirit with spiritual virtues like compassion, sacrifice, forgiveness, and love—themes espoused by most religions, yet violated fervently in the name of group politics.
As CEOs of our lives, we should transcend the politics of manipulation and control. Emotional upheavals and political influences can compromise one’s rationality, justifying morally wrong actions. People hide behind their group affiliations, shielded and even celebrated for heinous deeds. Yet, as individuals, we must answer to our inner, God-like conscience. Those tormented by guilt for wartime atrocities can attest to the immense personal responsibility they bear.
Reflect on your personal history; where do you stand as an individual? Have you been so indoctrinated that you’re now merely an extension of an ideology? Or do you see yourself as an independent entity, accountable for your actions? Can you grasp the responsibilities of living in your era?
Once the proverbial can of worms has been opened for millennia, civilization and evolutionary progress cannot be undone. Returning to discriminatory days of religious glory is neither practical nor feasible in an era championing equal human rights. Embrace evolution as God’s will. If it was not meant by God, it would not have come to pass. Decide clearly whether you accept God’s will. Only then can you discern the politics of group identity hidden in plain sight. Respecting ideologies is one thing, but wielding nuclear weapons to kill over them is quite another. We must evolve, for God’s sake, to appreciate the advancements of the smartphone and equal human rights era we inhabit.