[TLDR (too long didn’t read): If you are reading this, chances are you care about HR. This Reader analyzes what is happening with the radicalization and the spreading of some outlying religious groups. For a quick overview, just read the bolded text]. Traducir/traduire los/les Readers; usar/utiliser deepl.com
1. The conversion mentioned above is happening and it involves active proselytizing.* Assorted and varied religious groups mobilize religious belief, faith and ritual to create ‘a community of the elect’ whose mission is to save humanity from a threatening and imminent apocalypse. The conversion may or may not be associated with ideas of racial superiority or a chosen people, but its vocation is always anti-democratic. When it dominates the state, it tends to turn into a theocracy.
*: Reminds me of what Vargas Llosa says about proselytism: “What is gained by missionaries ‘civilizing savages’, by forcing them to change their language their religion and their customs, making them look like zombies like those semi accultured indigenous people you see in the capital”? (Mario Vargas Llosa, The Storyteller) Is that the price they pay for survival?
2. Political religion today comes in three main versions: Neo-pentecostalism, orthodox Judaism, and radical Islam (plus radical Hinduism these days?). Active conservative and ultra-conservative political involvement includes the creation of militant religious movements that are homophobic, sexist and that demonize left-wing policies considering them ghosts of communism. They are often financed by ultra-conservative and even far-right organizations ‘with-a-mission’. Not unusually, these groups embrace the most predatory forms of Capitalism and have an unorthodox, dubious position towards human rights (HR).
3. In the last fifteen years, the trend has expanded remarkably, largely as a result of a) the crisis of social democracy induced by neoliberalism, b) of the self-(un)regulated globalization of financial capital and c) of the increase in migratory movements. Being nationalist, racist and xenophobic and accepting neoliberal globalization, is why these movements tend to be financed by big business. Their supporters get involved in the insidious manipulation of the organs of sovereignty in order to free governance from effective democratic control. This often takes the form of ‘soft coups’, so called because they appear to take place within constitutional frameworks but, in reality, remove political forces that are potentially more hostile to neoliberalism from government by judicial and other means. For this, they use the media hostile to the government as its main weapon. (all the above from Boaventura de Sousa Santos)
4. Advised by high-level intelligence services, the capitalist intelligentsia does neither see the advancement of these major radically militant, die-hard religious movements, as a fundamental risk (nor does it acknowledge the growing gender equality movement or the growth of social and ecological consciousness as a risk –until it will be too late?). The latter does not detract from the advancement that Christian and other religious multitudes have had. But this advancement did not go from having convictions and practicing various kinds of rites, to truly living their convictions, to bringing their utopias to contingent social and political action. (Luis Weinstein) [How many times have I thought that if the religious fervor of so many was channeled towards structural social change, Capitalism would have fallen to pieces more quickly. But, instead, the most conservative (and sometimes fanatical) currents have triumphed].
Who takes advantage of this state of affairs?
5. The extreme Right’s discourse, with its anti-human rights stance, is often linked with manipulation of religious sentiments and identities. Their promotion of white male supremacy further underlies their discourse. But its proponents bend over backwards to emphasize that they are not against any religion as such, that they respect everyone’s freedom of religion, and that they oppose using religious faith for political purposes. But reality tells us otherwise (think USA, India…).
6. We urgently need to develop newer narratives, language and culturally appropriate approaches to reach out to the various sectors of ordinary people who are currently under the influence (or under the risk) of this extreme discourse. This is essential to penetrate the neofascist smokescreen of extreme religious polarization. (Abhay Shukla)
The other side of the coin: Two considerations
7. It is useless to praise God if the Earth, i.e., the suffering planet, is destroyed. What we are dealing with is the power of man as such (that man claims to be unlimited); it translates into unbridled human intervention in nature. (The globalization of ecocide…?). It is not enough to point to the great economic powers as ultimately responsible for the fate of the Earth. The cause of the Earth must have many defenders: at the top and at the base of the whole human community –and religions have a role to play. (Raniero La Valle)
8. Some colleagues forget (or do not know) the valuable role played by not few priests and pastors in the defense and promotion of human rights. This purpose of the Church will not be to the liking of the right wing and the military sectors who think that the Catholic and Protestant hierarchy should refrain from any willingness to collaborate with social change movements. Churches can (but do they always?) become true allies of truth and justice. Not only in relation to HR, but also in their courageous efforts to promote the economic and social reforms that the country needs so that there is greater equity, equality, fair salaries and pensions, as well as a real access to health and education. (Juan P. Cardenas) [Yes, there is another side of the coin. But let us not forget that, for long, in the face of slavery and of misery cum HR violations galore, the Church preached resignation…].
Bottom line
9. If it is assumed that in the Left the main thing should be social justice and the reduction of rich/poor disparities, the truth is that it is worth maintaining good relations with progressive religious national leaders that can contribute decisively to the social mobilization of citizens (in our case for HR). (J. P. Cardenas)
Claudio Schuftan, Ho Chi Minh City
Your comments are welcome at schuftan@gmail.com
All Readers are available at www.claudioschuftan.com