From Christianity to Islam, traditional religion is on the decline

Invited to teach some hundreds of college students about the science behind “miracles” last summer, I was overwhelmed by the response. I was not aware that there was a whole generation of intelligent and courageous young rationalists growing up in our country. They were confident, enthused, serious, committed and full of ideas. I know now that rationalism will win the battle for India’s future. It won’t be easy though. And it won’t be very soon. We need a long breath. 

There are many more potential supporters. They wouldn’t call themselves rationalists yet. It’s the great majority, born into some religious tradition that shaped their cultural experiences and outlook and still gives them a feeling of belongingness and identity. 

What they cherish are but the colourful cultural shells of traditional organised religion. From Christianity to Judaism , from Hinduism and Buddhism to Islam , traditional religion is on the decline. The enormous power they have long been wielding over believers has withered away. Traditional religion has become an anachronism. 

In the past three centuries, the achievements of reason and science have dramatically transformed human life. They freed us from superstition and dogmas and established knowledge and evidence as the basis of thinking. They brought us vaccines and antibiotics and eradicated diseases; we overcame pain, gained control over the forces of nature and multiplied life expectancy. We lightened workload, and earned time to unfold creativity, and realise dreams. Today, the vast majority is living in a better world. And we can decide our destiny. 

But it is not easy. Darkness is coming back. The hydra is reborn and threatens once again to undermine civilisation. Too many people have never overcome the wounds of childhood. They are too weak to stand on their own and incapable of facing freedom. They are confused by the complexity of reality. They panic before responsibilities. The traditional religion has become too weak a hold. Still, it has spawned a multi-million-dollar-market. From astrologers to past-life therapists, computer-soothsayers, new-age sects, nail-bed gurus, witches, satanists, tai chee experts, tantriks, angels, faith healers and paranormal ghost hunters. 

What is this incalculable element in the brains of their customers that goes here berserk? It’s a common mechanism. Psychological experiments with healthy parachute jumpers found their imagination running riot just before jumping. Suddenly they show a tendency to perceive a non-existing pattern, objects and faces in randomly generated images that they would not see otherwise. There is also evidence that the feeling of helplessness and loss of control increases the tendency to imagine causal connection between unrelated acts and events. Here lies the secret of superstitious belief. 

Extreme helplessness combined with lack of awareness and understanding of the actual situation characterize an early phase of childhood. The frightened and still unequipped little thinker develops a system of shortcuts to explain the world that is known as magical thinking. He will soon overcome limitations, if he grows up in a healthy environment that does not misuse or reinforce his mistakes. But if not, he will fall back on his childhood structures whenever he feels loss of control again. He will bow to astrology when pressed by an economic crisis or call a tantrik to cure a dangerous illness. 

The simple-hearted and open-minded villagers in India tend to be happy and thankful when I solve their mysteries. Most of these people wish to come out of their superstitions and improve their education and their lives. But those who defend their absurdities are immune to insight. Most times they turn out to be first or second grade profiteers of the mumbo jumbo. 

Sanal Edamaruku 
President, Rationalist International Association