Scepticism as Opposed to Denial

Scepticism as oppose to denial is about the believers and non-believers - my little world of people, places, events and perspectives. A question in a school text prompted me to come up with this musing. It asked whether throwing/showering rice (akshata, in a Maharastrian marriage) justified when many go to sleep daily without a single meal !

If the child throws this question to a believer parent, teacher or a guardian, they come up with religious explanations for the practice. In the process, they are supposedly quelling the child's doubts. If this child plays with rice at home, throws or tosses it around he/she receives a big smack on the back, a dressing down and lectures on respect, privilege and positioning with respect to poor kids.

What adults are doing here is not assuaging the kid's doubts but their own deep-rooted dilemmas. More like suppressing them. Adulthood comes with self-justification and more doubts for any curious child.

Maybe I am no expert on the subject but so are not many around me who claim to be one. My musing is an introspection of the world with the subjectivity of my knowledge and expression.

Statistically, the unaffiliated/atheists/irreligious/secularists are the third largest group in the world after Christians, Islamic faithfuls and notably ahead of Hindus. But the world around me seems to be in denial of existence of a non-believer. If anything, it is now increasingly becoming more hostile to 16% of humanity. Take for example, festivals. These are a source of joy, especially for kids. But a closer inspection revealed something interesting to me.

Children like festivals because of festivities and almost never because of their religious significance. One argument my mother always gave me was the religion serving as a platform, excuse and an occasion for people to come together. It fosters fraternity, helps solve issues personal or social. None seem to be applicable in my environment. 

First, children don't need an excuse to come together. It is a natural process, a very human process. Take them to a party or your board meeting. Only let your colleague's kids be there too. And they get along like house on fire. Entrance exams, raging fear of their ward's less grades, unhealthy comparison with neighbours prevent children from playing. After school, they are picked up and dumped in whole other set of academic disciplines rather than sports fields, dance classes or simply by-lanes of the houses. Festivals with or without religion are just another relief for them.

Second, I have never seen any 'concerned adult' in my area ever planning a meeting to improve colony parks, drainage, security, lifestyle issues or as they claim to foster harmony in locality. They are concerned about a practice, a tradition which must be a norm carried forth by further generation. And every such imposition is preceded by justifications. Justifications which hold no ground and are directed inwards not outwards. In fact, these are another excuse to unleash unhealthy competition, showcase biases or vulgarly display riches.

Contrary to this, try arranging a Sunday morning breakfast for neighbourhood or a family outing with kids for no reason. Office work, class tests, incoming relatives - all sorts of excuses will be thrown at you. The sad day where people actually need incentive of festival or religion even to feel good about self and celebrate has indeed arrived. 

It is not that one off vacation in Switzerland that will decide how good we live. Socialisation, tolerance, harmony and civic sense is an ongoing process. It comes through in street games, school picnics, family dinners and encouraging scepticism as opposed to conformity. 

Now I am sure there are arguments and counter-arguments for the points I made above. But everywhere I see celebration involving religion or religious symbols are unhealthy and truthfully not remotely sensitive to the participant, place or event being celebrated.

Scepticism as opposed to denial does not vindicate my belief system or anyone system for that matter. It is a course correction to reaffirm that ubiquity doesn't mean correctness. I am no Dawkins or Darwin to take on pundits of any or all faiths. But I am certainly a part of the society where these live and thrive. I stand up to my full height to tell all proponents of these practices to stop justifying, misleading, forcing and terrorising sceptics. Especially if sceptics are morally confused children.

If someone is honestly convinced about a system let them put it to test by that elusive five-letter word - CHOICE. Hostility cannot be a refuge for the righteous. I have ardent believer friends and a family of worshippers. The former group doesn't allow our differences to overrun our joyful times together, the latter thinks difference equals to fight. Society is a reflection of both these types. But the problem is when one group strongly disregards, subdues and denies the existence of other type.

Scepticism as opposed to denial begins with but never ends with mere analysis. Let our beliefs stand the test of time.