By Varghese Alengaden
Indore, April 4, 2020: The government ordered nationwide lockdown to contain the coronavirus pandemic is a golden opportunity for people to connect to their creator without mediators.
Because the virus has sent our godmen, priests and preachers scurrying for cover. All their claims of divine powers to heal sickness, cast out evil spirits, perform magic and miracles have become meaningless.
The government ordered lockdown to make people stay inside home to contain coronavirus. Along with government offices, educational institutions, corporate offices and markets all worship places and pilgrim centers too had to close. People were forbidden to assemble for prayers and rituals.
Locking down churches, temples and religious places has never happened in history. No religious leader has protested it. However, they may be worried about the lockdown’s adverse impact on their religious business.
Religion has remained the most profitable business from time immemorial. It thrived by creating fear and greed for favors among people. The nexus between the priestly class and those in power had managed to build a powerful profitable industry selling the drug of religion.
Although the gathering at places of worship is banned religious leaders have invented other ways to market their drug religion. They go online to supply the drug under a variety of names and forms. They preach eloquent sermons and perform rituals online to cast out the coronavirus demon. There seems to be difference between these people and showmen.
The lockdown has cheered liberal writers and thinkers who were upset with religious places used for traditional supply of religion drug and brainwashing. They expected people would take the opportunity to study, reflect and introspect about life’s purpose and priorities.
The solitude from the lockdown would have led them to critically look at traditional religious practices they had followed over the years. But the online supply of drugs would deprive them this golden opportunity.
They may not get time to experiment new ways of connect with their creator. The online business would push people further down into the abyss of intellectual and spiritual bankruptcy.
Priests of traditional religion may brand me a blasphemer or a heretic. When Jesus lambasted the hypocrisy of the priestly class of Jewish religion He was accused of blasphemy.
Jesus wanted to liberate the common people from the burden of institutional religion and its cultic culture. He proposed a new spiritual movement as an alternative without rituals, rules and dogma. He asked people to break the walls dividing people. He gave a clarion call to worship God in truth and spirit. He also asked people to worship God in flesh and blood.
When the priestly class locked themselves safely in the security of their homes thousands of doctors, nurses, volunteers and police personnel are working day and night to save the lives of people struggling with the coronavirus. None of the miracle-working priests and godmen are seen anywhere to heal those suffering from various illness. God can be met in hospital wards and places of the poor and the hungry.
What should we do during the lockdown?
We should watch some select movies with great messages. Some suggestions: Jesus of Nazareth by Franco Zeffirelli (English); Dharam by Bhavna Talwar (Hindi with English Subtitle); PK by Rajkumar Hirani (Hindi with English Subtitle); OMG: (Oh My God) with English subtitles; Pranchiettan the Saint (Malayalam with subtitles); Brother Sun and Sister Moon in English; and Parzania (Heaven and Hell on Earth) English.
The lockdown is also a good time to read some serious books and articles. Reading biographies of people who accomplished great things and made a difference in the world will be useful. God has allowed this lockdown for our enhancement. We can make use of it in the best way possible.
We should also experiment new alternatives for the institutional religion. This is what Jesus did while he was alive. Of course, he paid a high price for challenging the mighty religious structure.
During the Holy Week (April 5-12) let us meditate on the passion and death of Christ instead of celebrating the rituals at least once when we are forced to sit at home. Maybe we can celebrate a new way of Easter where we also may rise to a new life with a new vision.