I read a poem while growing up, although I don’t recall the author. It goes something like this:
“Na khudaa he milla na visaal-e-sanam Na idher kay rahay na udher kay rahay.”
The author says:
“Neither I could find God nor I got to my love, I lost from both sides.”
Religions often claim that everything written in their holy books is the word of God and, therefore, unchangeable. They assert that God is in control and that humans are insignificant. Religions have used this belief for political purposes to control people.
Today, this is backfiring as moderates and extremists within each religion are at war. Religious leaders find it hard to remain relevant if they cannot make necessary changes.
Spirituality, on the other hand, remains consistent. Humanity helping each other to evolve elevates the concept of God to an even higher level. I believe in God’s existence and almightiness, but not without humanity. The two are like positive and negative wires needed to light up a bulb; separated, they are worthless.
When you stray from spirituality and delve into the politics of belonging, you inevitably end up in predicaments like the Pope recently found himself in.
Ideally, the Pope should not be caught in controversy because either you are accepting equality, or you are religiously promoting prejudice. I would like to see some media investigate the claims of the lady who said the Pope thanked her for sticking with her religious convictions, even when they were against the law and spirituality. It is against spirituality because all people are created equal for the same purpose. Whether you are a brain cell, heart cell, skin cell, liver cell, lung cell, or colon cell, your purpose is to make the body live. In return, the body provides you with life, so no cells are superior or inferior in the survival of both. If you believe you become better or superior by believing in a particular religion, think again. Even the colon cell has its importance; if it fails, the whole body comes crashing down because no life-giving food comes in. A religion, race, gender, or nation does not make a person better or superior; personal character makes the difference.
The sense of belonging is a powerful phenomenon, so it is naturally hard for an ordinary individual to overcome. That is why even the Pope can’t stay away from politics. Not too long ago, he said not to judge homosexuals or women who have had abortions. Now, he meets and encourages a lady who refused to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples. The sense of belonging to religion is the ultimate goal for a large segment of the population, so politics cannot be separated from religion.
That is why I believe spirituality is pure and free from politics. If a religion can’t stay away from politics, it is no longer spiritual. They will lose compassion, forgiveness, sacrifice, and love. Without these jewels, there is nothing left but politics. Can you find these jewels today? Just look around and see the killings in the name of God—pure and simple politics of belonging and nothing more.
There is nothing wrong with politics in running a community or country, but when mixed with religion, it can be deadly. This has been proven repeatedly, and the ongoing wars, individual sufferings, and refugee crises are living proof that politics and religion should not mix. Religions should remain spiritual, respecting and valuing individuals above even God because, without individuals, God loses His miracle workhorse. Without individuals, nothing can be materialized, prayers can’t be fulfilled, and the poor can’t be helped. The whole notion of God comes crashing down because there is no one left to believe in God.
Religions, spirituality, and other governing systems should benefit human beings both individually and collectively. Look around and go through history—does this happen? Religious and political killings continue, regardless of our evolution. The main reason is the politics of belonging to one particular group instead of humanity.
We have worked hard to remove ourselves from the food chain, but the only predator we can’t get rid of is ourselves. We commit suicide, kill, and get killed individually and collectively by our own kind. What will it take for us to evolve from this level? Our religions have failed us miserably, nationalism causes grief, and racism and prejudice remain prevalent despite the popularity of equal human rights.
The necessity of the time calls for all of us to become CEOs of our own lives, harnessing our out-of-control sense of belonging to our groups and dealing with present-day problems by joining humanity as a whole.
As a CEO, you can see the problems behind the problems. Our sense of belonging to our respective groups causes many unresolved issues. When someone commits suicide because of what others think of them, it is a sign of an out-of-control sense of belonging because you want to belong, fit in, impress, or be admired by those around you. If you balance your sense of belonging with a sense of freedom, you can achieve the status God intended for you.
A CEO understands the role of brain chemistry, overrides personal insecurities and learned social knowledge with spiritual knowledge.
I have said it before, and I will say it again: it is time to take the next leap of faith with spirituality to overcome all kinds of prejudice. The process has already started with the emergence of melting pot societies and individual human rights becoming the new religion.
If the Pope can’t discourage prejudice, he should at least not encourage it. In melting pot societies, if you don’t have human rights above all else, it can’t be a melting pot. Humanity should be above all groups, whether a gang, community, nation, religion, or sect.
A while back, I saw a gay man promoting Quebec’s charter. I thought it was odd and contradictory because if you support individual rights, you can’t promote one particular group’s interests over humanity. In Quebec, the promotion of equality and strong opposition to the niqab coexist with a so-called language police. It is a jumbled mix of politics and belonging. You can’t promote something for one group if you want a prejudice-free society. Homosexuals and extremely religious people with polygamy or niqab are protected by the same supreme court laws. It is twisted but clear: to live in a melting pot society, you must respect individual rights. We can’t solve the bigger issue of polygamy, which no one discusses as a political and women’s rights issue, but the niqab has taken the front seat in politics. Polygamy has been a religious issue for a long time, protected by human rights laws. Some may say it is against women’s liberation and a sign of oppression, but it persists in North America. I believe it is a bigger issue than the niqab.
We are going through changing times and will flip-flop for a while to get it right. Until then, we must bear our contradictions collectively.
When extreme religious beliefs rob individuals of love by killing their loved ones, I must stand against all kinds of extremism and bigotry because healing from love loss wounds is not easy.
The longer the killings continue, the more people suffer from love loss, leading to more passionate revenge killings. This perpetual emotional war could lead to self-destruction. Ironically, this destruction is predicted in most holy books. My question to humanity is: are we going to follow religions because of these predictions, or do we have a say in changing them? I believe each of us is blessed with the CEO status, so it is up to us to decide and change the predictions. Can we do it? Yes, if we can shift our sense of belonging from a group to humanity as a whole.