Recently there has been a spike in COVID-19 cases in India. The cause behind such a sudden increase is related to a religious congregation in Delhi. A ritual being followed by these sects of people which requires close contact among the people attending the congregation. This has led to the spread of the virus among people. Attendees coming from many countries and even in many parts of India itself has become a cause of concern. Even some cases related to the congregations have been found in Jammu Kashmir, and Andaman and the Nicobar Islands. Even the congregation has been blamed for spreading the virus in Malaysia and the Philippines!
BBC
Similar cases related to religious congregations have been reported in many countries related to many religions and beliefs.
The New York Times
COVID-19 has spread like a fire throughout the world, despite taking precautions, it’s becoming difficult to stop the spread of the virus. It’s so contagious that even if a single person does not take proper precautionary measures, he can spread it to the whole community and can make it an epidemic!
In this scenario, precaution and prevention norms, which actually work, become crucial to be followed by every person. The most advised and followed method to stop the spread of the virus is social distancing.
BUT
Here come religions. The essence of religions is socializing and following practices that require congregations of a large crowd. Every religion has some holy places where a lot of numbers of people visit to get blessings; also, many festivals are celebrated throughout the world associated with religions. The startling thing about people who took part in all these religious activities is that many of them leave rationalism behind while believing in their religion or customs. They stop inquiring about the benefit of religious activities and start believing it the ultimate reality.
Some people have so much belief in their custom, religion, or God that precautionary majors do not appeal to them. Some of the comment of these people are following-
1
) If I get infected with the virus, God will save me. God is my mask and sanitizer. Nothing happens without the will of God, so if I get infected its God's will!
2) Drinking something that has been said in some belief system having some medical value, will save them from getting infected.
3) People should not be stopped from going some secret palace even if they get infected dying at that place will get them heaven directly.
These beliefs are egregious! This simply only does not put on risk to these people but also people living around then at the very least.
When somebody is wrong, and he thinks that he is right that makes him dangerous. And having an attitude as above-mentioned falls in this category.
Yes, we all believe in one thing or another, some believe in religion, some in naturalism, some in democracy, some in communism, some in injustice system, some in nationalism. That is how we have been developed throughout history, and almost everything functions smoothly with belief systems. Actually, it would become difficult to survive without any belief system; countries will not function without nationalism and justice system. Yes, beliefs are the backbone of life, and it is giving us a positive force to keep connected everything.
It’s okay to believe in something,
Afterall, we all are the frog who lives in a well, but it becomes problematic when we start living in the well where the light does not reach! Why We Disagree?
Clearly, the light does not reach all those people who are leaving everything on God, or perhaps we are not able to see the light they are living in, is it?
Some natural question arises from the current situation-
How the societies or governments are supposed to deal with it? This question matters a lot to democratic countries for whom giving choices to people matters.
Is Corona challenging belief systems, or is it just challenging superstition? How different is superstition from religion?
What reactions can be expected from these sects of people? Are there chances that these people go on denial mode and start to doubt all other things except their belief as they are likely to find it under thread from logic?
There is something unique about belief systems, whenever these have been put under pressure, it has emerged stronger. All the above-mentioned belief has definitely been put under-pressure as governments throughout the world are banning all religious places and not allowing a large number of people to gather at any particular location. This will make all those people feel that their belief is under threat, and they will start to deny everything except what they believe in. This will beget the most infectious disease,
The Fear. See throughout history, fear has been the most powerful force; it has destroyed systems, waged wars created terrorism.
Actually, it is not government vs. Corona, but
it’s actually government trying to curve corona; the corona is putting pressure on beliefs, and creating fear and fear is weakening governments! To make the situation worse, fear among different belief systems might start to appear. It is not that clear currently, but if the situation gets a little further and for a little longer time period, it will become conspicuous.
Suppose corona doesn’t get curtail in next one or two months (
which is likely to be the case, considering the success of Taiwan, Hong Kong, and South Korea) and its get extended till 5 and 6 more months with severity in the cases then what governments are supposed to do not only to manage Corona but also to fear? Ponder a while!
Keep thinking; stay indoors!
Disclaimer:
While writing this article, I deliberately chose not to mention data or place because that would come with the naming of some belief system, and I preferred not to mention them.