Monday was the 114th anniversary of John Ruskin's death (20th January). You would remember him as the leading English art critic of the Victorian era who famously said, "Our duty is to preserve what the past has had to say for itself, and to say for ourselves what shall be true for the future". On his wedding night, legend has it, the critic fainted on finding that- unlike the Elysian statues of his fantasies- women had body hair. Its time to change rotten ideas for innovation starts with a natural distrust of the status quo. When you’re prepared to start asking simple questions of everyday things- the world is suddenly full of possibilities.
Saturday, January 25, 2014
Thursday, January 9, 2014
Too Radical an Approach in the Indian Context?
In Bellevue, Washington, students at Eastside Catholic School responded to the dismissal of their beloved teacher and coach by pouring en masse into the street outside the school, where they chanted, “Change the church!” Students at other Catholic schools responded with tweets and solidarity sit-ins. Those students who stood in the cold chanting “Change the Church” can be seen as naïve idealists who don’t understand how religion works and why. Alternately, they can be seen as people whose eyes aren’t clouded by the veil of history, who are free to trust their own sense of compassion and fairness and draw hope from the future rather than from some idealized past.
But changing the Church is easier said than done. Religion, by its very nature, is change-averse. Each religion explains and sanctifies a specific set of cultural values; a worldview that is snapshot of human history. Most of today’s largest religions emerged during what is called the Axial Age- a time in which male superiority was taken for granted, the wheelbarrow was yet to be invented, nobody knew about the other side of the planet. But why do churches so often have to be forced to admit what has become obvious on the outside: that slavery is wrong, that no skin color or bloodline is spiritually superior, that women and children are people and not merchandise, that the pleasure and pain of other species matter and so on... Christians see themselves as a light shining on a hill, meaning a moral beacon to the world; and the faithful love to say that they have taken the lead in humanity’s moral growth: in the abolition of slavery, for example. Indeed many great abolitionists were inspired, in part, by their faith though reality is that Christian texts and teachings had been used for centuries to justify slavery and the Christian abolition movement emerged only in concert with broader cultural and economic changes. A perusal of history reveals that moral and spiritual changes occur independent of any religion to which religions later lend voice, organizational structure and moral authority while claiming for the entire credit. Thanks.
But changing the Church is easier said than done. Religion, by its very nature, is change-averse. Each religion explains and sanctifies a specific set of cultural values; a worldview that is snapshot of human history. Most of today’s largest religions emerged during what is called the Axial Age- a time in which male superiority was taken for granted, the wheelbarrow was yet to be invented, nobody knew about the other side of the planet. But why do churches so often have to be forced to admit what has become obvious on the outside: that slavery is wrong, that no skin color or bloodline is spiritually superior, that women and children are people and not merchandise, that the pleasure and pain of other species matter and so on... Christians see themselves as a light shining on a hill, meaning a moral beacon to the world; and the faithful love to say that they have taken the lead in humanity’s moral growth: in the abolition of slavery, for example. Indeed many great abolitionists were inspired, in part, by their faith though reality is that Christian texts and teachings had been used for centuries to justify slavery and the Christian abolition movement emerged only in concert with broader cultural and economic changes. A perusal of history reveals that moral and spiritual changes occur independent of any religion to which religions later lend voice, organizational structure and moral authority while claiming for the entire credit. Thanks.
Saturday, January 4, 2014
Hey, don't be too smart.
“None are more hopelessly enslaved than those who falsely believe they are free,”- Goethe.
One could say that intelligence is a combination of wisdom, good judgment, logical dexterity and factual knowledge and by definition a man can't have too much of it. I'd like to agree, though I'm an exception to the rule. And I fear it is already too late to reclaim the word 'intelligence' from this well-rounded cognitive amalgam as it now encompasses IQ, EQ and the more dubious spiritual and environmental varieties.
Our brains are incredible things, for sure, but without the motivations, desires and preferences generated by our animal instinct, they would have nothing to do. At this time of the year, for example, we celebrate good food, good drink, good friends, and family – good or otherwise. From a purely rational point of view, none of these things would have any value because reason alone can only distinguish true and false: not good and bad; better or worse.
Lack of intelligence is much more a common problem than having too much of it. But, even intelligence shall not be excessive: just because something is good, it does not mean 'the more, the merrier'.
Hey, don't be too smart!
Thanks.
One could say that intelligence is a combination of wisdom, good judgment, logical dexterity and factual knowledge and by definition a man can't have too much of it. I'd like to agree, though I'm an exception to the rule. And I fear it is already too late to reclaim the word 'intelligence' from this well-rounded cognitive amalgam as it now encompasses IQ, EQ and the more dubious spiritual and environmental varieties.
Our brains are incredible things, for sure, but without the motivations, desires and preferences generated by our animal instinct, they would have nothing to do. At this time of the year, for example, we celebrate good food, good drink, good friends, and family – good or otherwise. From a purely rational point of view, none of these things would have any value because reason alone can only distinguish true and false: not good and bad; better or worse.
Lack of intelligence is much more a common problem than having too much of it. But, even intelligence shall not be excessive: just because something is good, it does not mean 'the more, the merrier'.
Hey, don't be too smart!
Thanks.
Monday, December 23, 2013
The diplomatic fix: Indian diplomat Devyani Khobragade runs into trouble in USA.
What I've observed while running an arm of the American Government is that they don't fiddle with their operating practices or lose focus when they hear high-sounding names and titles (designations). We all know that America is far from perfection but when it comes to rules and regulations, they don't care for the status or the office of a person involved as we do in India. We have heard about various American leaders, bureaucrats and luminaries (not Indian leaders only) having been stopped, searched or fined by seemingly petty officers. It was big news when Ed Rendell, the Pennsylvania Governor was stopped and fined for some traffic violation by the highway police. If somebody is arrested (in the present case, there is a valid reason too), that person is to be taken to a nearby police station and kept there (in custody) from where he is taken to the court after preliminary investigation for adjudication proceedings. Rule of law prevails and emphatically enough, its not like India where the police may record arrest after several days and/ or produce the accused in court after several weeks or may minimize the offence depending on recommendation/ money. They don't have five-star amenities or VIP rooms in police districts (as they call it there). Everyone arrested (and they range from pan handlers to mafia bosses) has to be kept in a well-lit area where one or two armed officers will be on duty, watching over. And they strip- search everyone who gets there, not caring for their ranks or positions in society because that's what they are trained to do (besides, they may not have Master Degrees to know all about diplomats, diplomacy, immunity and associated jargon: this may be the first time they hear those words. This writer once walked into a U.S. court room and asked to see his clients- the accused in a criminal case who were arraigned there that day but was told by the duty officer that he doesn't know who the accused are, nevertheless, pointed out the defendants). After all, all those brought there are under some criminal charges or due to whatever suspicious activities and are detained according to the law of the land. Those officers and the police department don't want to take the risk of having somebody among the detainees keeping drugs or prescription meds or weapons (may be as small as a piece of blade or as simple as a string or elastic piece- of even an underwear- but capable of killing somebody) or potassium cyanide or some other poison, stacked away in some folds of their bodies, to end their own lives... After all, a person arrested and detained may have sufficient plus one reason to go to any extent viz., committing suicide and so the authorities will have to search each and everyone, especially a new offender who wouldn't have a rap sheet from which they can discern the history of that person. This does not mean in any way that I am advancing the American case but saying only that he who is assigned to do a particular job will do it which is the rule and not the exception there (they are required to do so or they may lose their jobs). They don't look for which political party the offender belongs to or who one is related to. This is still a mind set that the Indians are not used to. (profiling- racial or otherwise- is an allegation that has surfaced recently, though). Further, I believe that American bureaucracy had information of all that was about to happen; they may have planned it to establish their law regarding minimum wages- this may not have happened for the first time or with the first person. This 'nanny business', paying low wages, trafficking etc. would have been going on for some time. I would even guess that 'the Nanny' even might have applied for political assylm in America saying her employer is powerful and influential at home, capable of ruining her life and her family. In the circumstances, the US officials would have been waiting for the perfect timing or building up strong evidence or both. Now that our government has made a fuss over it, it's best to make amends/ adjustments at the diplomatic, still better, political level in a hushed tone (Am I voting against my own premise, here?) or boldly face the charges by employing a great lawyer in America. Thanks.
Bishop's extravagance
If I admit for argument's sake that the LA Bishop is driving Bentleys and Benzes as it is in vogue in the high-class vicinity of California , tell me how one will justify the Mar Thoma Metropolitan in Thiruvalla, Kerala, India being allotted EIGHTY LAKHS of rupees for the purchase of a luxury car by the apex body of the church when he already has a Mercedes Benz in which he is driven around. Also, how will one answer questions regarding the demolition of his residential building which is only 3 decades old and in excellent condition in order to construct a PALACE worth nearly TWELVE CRORES? These god-men live in such luxury when millions of people in India live without food, clothes and shelter; where they are deprived of their manhood along with the bare necessities of life. thanks.
Sunday, October 20, 2013
On attaining 58
പിന്നിട്ട വഴികൾ ... തിരിഞ്ഞു നോക്കാൻ സമയമില്ല,
അഥവാ, സമയമായില്ല.
ഇനി ഒരവസരം കിട്ടിയാൽ ആ വഴി തന്നെ നടക്കാൻ തെരഞ്ഞെടുക്കുമോ?
അല്ലെങ്കിൽ, എന്തിനൊരു പ്രവചനം?
ഏതൊരു പ്രവാചക ശബ്ദം ആണ് അന്യൂനമായിരുന്നിട്ടുള്ളത്?
ചെയ്യാനുള്ളത് അതിന്റെ സമയാസമയങ്ങളിൽ ചെയ്യുക,
അതല്ലേ അതിന്റെ ഒരു ശരി?
അഥവാ, സമയമായില്ല.
ഇനി ഒരവസരം കിട്ടിയാൽ ആ വഴി തന്നെ നടക്കാൻ തെരഞ്ഞെടുക്കുമോ?
അല്ലെങ്കിൽ, എന്തിനൊരു പ്രവചനം?
ഏതൊരു പ്രവാചക ശബ്ദം ആണ് അന്യൂനമായിരുന്നിട്ടുള്ളത്?
ചെയ്യാനുള്ളത് അതിന്റെ സമയാസമയങ്ങളിൽ ചെയ്യുക,
അതല്ലേ അതിന്റെ ഒരു ശരി?
ജന്മദിനാശംസകൾ നേർന്ന ബന്ധുക്കൾക്ക്, സുഹൃത്തുക്കൾക്ക്, ശിഷ്യർക്ക് ഹൃദയത്തിന്റെ ഭാഷയിൽ നന്ദി...
തുടരാം നമുക്കീ യാത്ര ഒന്നിച്ച്,
മുന്നോട്ട്.
Wednesday, September 25, 2013
The Sunday Assembly
The non-religious Assembly is perhaps the fastest growing church in the world: Isn't It a Religion Now?
Atheists Start Their Own Mega-church: Organized Atheism is now a franchise. And structured godlessness is ready for export.
The other day, The Sunday Assembly—the London-based “Atheist Church” that has, since its January launch, been stealing headlines the world over—announced a new “global missionary tour.” In October and November, affiliated Sunday Assemblies will open in 22 cities: in England, Ireland, Scotland, Canada, the United States and Australia. “I think this is the moment,” Assembly founder Sanderson Jones told me in an email last week, “when the Sunday Assembly goes from being an interesting phenomenon to becoming a truly global movement.”
The Assembly has come a long way in eight months: from a scrappy East London community venture (motto: “Live Better, Help Often and Wonder More;” method: “part atheist church, part foot-stomping good time”) to the kind of organization that sends out embargoed press releases about global expansion projects. “The 3,000 percent growth rate might make this non-religious Assembly the fastest growing church in the world,” organizers boast.
There’s more to come: In October, the Sunday Assembly (SA) will launch a crowd-funded indiegogo campaign, with the ambitious goal of raising £500,000 (or, about $793,000). This will be followed by a second wave of openings. “ The effort reads as part quixotic hipster start-up, part Southern mega-church.
Like any attempt at organized non-belief, the Sunday Assemblies will attract their fair share of derision from critics. But the franchise model might dismay some followers too. For, a corporate empire needs an executive board; a brand needs brand managers; a federation needs a strict set of guiding tenets—and of course, consequences for those who stray from the fold. And isn’t that all wholly opposed to free thought?
Atheists Start Their Own Mega-church: Organized Atheism is now a franchise. And structured godlessness is ready for export.
The other day, The Sunday Assembly—the London-based “Atheist Church” that has, since its January launch, been stealing headlines the world over—announced a new “global missionary tour.” In October and November, affiliated Sunday Assemblies will open in 22 cities: in England, Ireland, Scotland, Canada, the United States and Australia. “I think this is the moment,” Assembly founder Sanderson Jones told me in an email last week, “when the Sunday Assembly goes from being an interesting phenomenon to becoming a truly global movement.”
The Assembly has come a long way in eight months: from a scrappy East London community venture (motto: “Live Better, Help Often and Wonder More;” method: “part atheist church, part foot-stomping good time”) to the kind of organization that sends out embargoed press releases about global expansion projects. “The 3,000 percent growth rate might make this non-religious Assembly the fastest growing church in the world,” organizers boast.
There’s more to come: In October, the Sunday Assembly (SA) will launch a crowd-funded indiegogo campaign, with the ambitious goal of raising £500,000 (or, about $793,000). This will be followed by a second wave of openings. “ The effort reads as part quixotic hipster start-up, part Southern mega-church.
Like any attempt at organized non-belief, the Sunday Assemblies will attract their fair share of derision from critics. But the franchise model might dismay some followers too. For, a corporate empire needs an executive board; a brand needs brand managers; a federation needs a strict set of guiding tenets—and of course, consequences for those who stray from the fold. And isn’t that all wholly opposed to free thought?
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