fundamentalism destroys everything

 "Ati sarvatra varjayet."- Chanakya, a renowned scholar of contemporary India, revealed this Sanskrit sutra that helped to decipher the natural law. It merely serves as a warning that having too much of something is harmful and can lead to irreparable damage. Fundamentalism is also a pinnacle in terms of unshakable adherence to a collection of unchangeable beliefs.

 

                                        photo by Freepik

 

 Globally, fundamentalism was supposed to have peaked in the 17th century. Its fundamental tenet is strict adherence to religious practices and beliefs that are based on sacred religious texts like the Bible, Quran, Manusmriti, etc. Without evaluating its applicability and relevance in the present world, it promotes a way of living that resists change and impedes the development of a man as a socio-cultural, political, and human being.

 

 Extremism of views, thoughts, behaviors, beliefs, and superstitions is the fundamental cause of the barriers. It can also refer to a mentality in which one begins to value everything at their disposal as being superior to everything else. Fundamentalism, which carries a religious connotation, has origins in numerous societies all over the world. The majority of religions have at one point or another adopted fundamentalist ideology.

 

 The disadvantaged segment of society looked to Buddhism as an option when it emerged in India as a reaction to fundamentalism and Brahmanism. They have a religion that is not overly strict but can nonetheless help people find salvation. According to Buddha, the "middle way" is the middle ground between stretching the speech string to the point that it breaks and leaving it too slack so that the sound cannot escape. To achieve equilibrium in all of one's actions, in other words.

 Having said that, Buddhism is nonetheless subject to fundamentalism despite its rejection of it. The severe sectarian strife in Myanmar between the Rohingya Muslims and Rakhine Buddhists serves as confirmation of this. Myanmar, a predominantly Buddhist nation, denied the Rohingyas citizenship, subjecting them to severe institutionalized discrimination throughout the nation. The incident is well-known as the Rohingya crisis since it has rendered Muslim Rohingyas stateless. The so-called spiritual community's act of apartheid is completely against both Buddhism and humanity. They did behave in a fundamentalist manner.

 The ones who are constantly opposed to modernity are fundamentalists. They feel that the traditional methods are the only viable options. Orthodox Christians were outraged to a great extent when Galileo Galilee's tests revealed that the sun is the center of the cosmos. They believed that the discovery was an attempt to alter their interpretation of the Bible.

 According to the Bible, the earth was the center of the cosmos, and contemporary science would not be accepted unless Jesus underwent rebirth to demonstrate this. Fundamentalism has its roots in this rigidity toward one's own views and beliefs found in written literature.

 

 Perhaps change is a natural occurrence. It can't be prevented. Both the environment and each of us are always changing. Since nothing in this world will ever grow or blossom without change, change is typically regarded as a positive aspect of existence. But extremists are hardly ever willing to adapt. Due to this, the hypothesis of evolution faced intense hostility.

 A science instructor in the USA was accused of teaching Charles Darwin's theory of evolution in violation of the law. Other religious organisations continue to reject evolutionary explanations in favor of creationism, the notion that the universe and all life were created by supernatural forces, despite the fact that many religious groups have discovered ways to reconcile their beliefs with evolution.

 

 As a result, fundamentalism has blocked the way for new discoveries, and it has taken generations for them to be accepted by the general public. Only a few major changes, such as those brought about by advances in technology, have significantly altered our way of life since the middle of the 20th century. Communication has become so simple as a result that we no longer remember how things used to be. But have new scientific advancements and technological developments altered how we pursue our ideas and convictions? Have we lost our religious fervour?

 

 The world had usually gotten less religious between 2017 and 2019, according to poll data from the Pew Research Center. Out of the 49 nations examined, 43 displayed a clear fall in religion. The main exception to this, though, was India, where religion has grown. The survey paints an overall picture of India as a religious nation that is ideologically committed to religious diversity, but that is also exclusive and segmented in its toleration, supports less personal freedom, and is increasingly devoted to Hindutva standards of national identity and attracted to authoritarianism.

 

 Demanding a Hindu Rashtra from the Indians is fundamentalist given the religious and cultural diversity of the nation. In addition to undermining our unity, it also casts a shadow over some of the most important demands of the populace, like those for decent healthcare, employment, the eradication of poverty, and gender equality, all of which are fundamental for the advancement of our country. The leaders frequently take advantage of this human frailty for their own political ends. Politicians seem to be more interested in achieving our religious ambitions than addressing our pressing difficulties, enacting laws and regulations that serve as propaganda to divide voters.

 Fundamentalism in religion has always been more detrimental than beneficial for society as a whole. Society's peace and cohesiveness have suffered as a result. Similar to how racial and gender discrimination, fundamentalism has these effects as well. 

 Gandhi was thrown out of the train in Durban despite possessing a valid first class ticket. His presence in a first-class carriage offended a white man, which led to this confrontation. Mahatma Gandhi was inspired by this to combat racism. Nelson Mandela and Mahatma Gandhi are two well-known individuals who were active in the struggle against racial prejudice in South Africa. People continue to demonstrate against racial prejudice in the streets even now, hundreds of years later (black lives matter).

 The majority of educated, middle-class, and upper-class society still harbors the irrationality behind racial superiority. The same is discernible when it comes to genders. Women's rights are still limited and governed by the head of the household and the state in the majority of patriarchal societies. For instance, before 2018, Saudi Arabian women were subject to jail for failing to cover their heads.

 Even in several Panchayats in different Indian states, women are not allowed to wear jeans. Politicians frequently sexist comment about women. The under-representation of women in politics may be a significant factor in the subjugation of Indian women. Despite the fact that there is a 33% reserve for women in municipal government, they hardly ever receive leadership positions. Husbands of elected women MP exercise effective political influence and decision-making. Sarpanch pati is the term used to describe this phenomena.

 Gender equality has not been achieved in India. The nation still struggles to provide female candidates for parliament reservations. But in 2010, a similar law was submitted. Less than 24% of lawmakers around the world are women. They fall short even in terms of the right to equal remuneration for similar work.

  

 The fundamentalist attitude to society, which rejects fairness and equality for all people regardless of gender, ethnicity, or religion, may diminish the worth of all that humanity has accomplished during the course of development. Therefore, every religion should be examined by its own intellectual proponents before establishing standards for others.

 They ought to read their sacred texts with the goal of coming up with answers that will enhance the beauty of the world and make it a better place to live. It should guarantee everyone's survival, regardless of their sex, caste, color, or religion. Additionally, religion must be adaptable enough to take into account modernity's advancements and new discoveries.