So, how do we break this cycle? Is it possible? This is probably not easy, but, as usual, it should start with education and awareness. Unfortunately, today, people are also not allowed to ask questions, seriously thinking, or seek evidence-based solutions.
Schools must include a lesson on compulsorily important thinking and scientific investigation. Public awareness campaigns should highlight the dangers of blind faith and the importance of doubt.
Unfortunately, in recent times, the scientific community has not enough to combat superstition on its data-based and evidence-based thinking or based on blind faith. Finally, our goal will be to create a society where individuals are not only inactive receivers of information, but are active participants in their spiritual journey.
Legal reform is still another important factor with this national malicious. While India is proud of being a secular state, the lack of inspection in religious affairs has allowed the fraud -flourished deities to flourish. To ensure strict rules and accountability measures, it is necessary that religious leaders cannot exploit their followers.
Any fraud practice or criminal behavior should be rapidly addressed, and the legal system should be more active in dealing with these cases. The fact is that statistics such as lion are capable of avoiding justice for years despite the clear evidence of their wrongdoings, a great failure of the system.
However, here is a difficult part: any attempt to regulate religion should be sensitively handled. India is a deep religious country, and real physicians should not be isolated or attacked.
The real challenge lies in empowering individuals to be free from this cycle – which is to gain truth and knowledge from within rather than relying on the figures benefiting from their vulnerability. This is a high time when we recognize the fine line between trust and exploitation. Until we do this, the cycle of blind faith and manipulation will continue, leaving millions of people trapped in a system who hunting on their deep fear and highest hopes.
(The author is a professor and dean in Christ University, Bangalore. This is an opinion. The idea expressed above is his own. The Quint Neither endors nor responsible for them.)
