When Absurdities And Idiosyncrasies Constitute Religiosity

By Sumit Paul, New Age Islam 21 February 2024 "What's outright indecent in a social context is always absolutely decent in a religious sphere." Bertrand Russell, Unpopular Essays, 1950 The memories of studying Jainism flooded back as I read tributes to a sky-clad (using a euphemism) Digambar Jain muni in premier dailies. He breathed his last a few days ago. I've always believed that just like 'spirituality,' 'secularism' is also a very vague and nebulous term. While studying Jainism and its various sects during my religious studies in comparative religions at leading British and American Universities, I focussed on the Digambar sect of Jainism. The Munis and ascetic persons belonging to this sect roam naked like gymnosophists of ancient Greece. I once asked an Indian scholar of Jainism, who belonged to this sect, regarding this 'awkward' social behaviour in the name of religion. He agreed with me in toto and said that this bizarre religious manifestation was totally unacceptable. I quote him verbatim what he said, "When you see a person sans clothes, your very first reaction is of embarrassment. Even the followers of Digambar Jain community will prefer to look askance when they get to see a person minus clothes because embarrassment to see a naked person is a natural social reaction that's embedded in all of us. But those very people belonging to Digambar sect will brainlessly genuflect before an ascetic from their community who chose to shed all his clothes in the name of faith. This dichotomy in reaction stems from hardcore religiosity. Nakedness causes embarrassment in the social domain but it's very much extolled when it gets religious sanction. He further added that the very concept of roaming naked in the name of religion and god is a blatant social nuisance and an acute national embarrassment. The government must put a ban on it. Now the question is: What's so great about shedding all your clothes in the name of religion and god? Cannot your religion and god be served by wearing all clothes? What was the contextual necessity for Mahavir to shed his clothes? As many as 6 Agamas, written during Mahavir's lifetime and slightly late, don't say that Mahavir did away with all clothes. That's a later-day interpolation, say 2200 years ago, as Jainism, like Buddhism, is 2600-yr-old. Humans can go to any stupid length/s to satiate their religious ego. Alfred Adler believed that followers of different faiths indulge in all weird things just to show that they're religiously different and also 'superior.' The Buddha realized this extremism in religious thoughts, So, he chose the middle path that was between the extreme austerity of Jainism and corresponding bohemianism of Charvaka Darshan. 'Never tilt towards extreme behaviour,' (Par Beni Dhyana Neti Inn Vikritam) was his message in Pali. So, despite being totally non-violent, Buddha didn't stretch Ahimsa the way Jainism stretched it and made it impractical to the point of being rank ridiculous. All these religions, their innumerable sects and followers are not in search of a higher reality or consciousness. They're all trying to prove that their respective sectarian religiosity is the best and the only way. This saddens all those who use their reasons and brains. But how many people apply their brains? This is a million-dollar question. Isn't it? ------ A regular columnist for New Age Islam, Sumit Paul is a researcher in comparative religions, with special reference to Islam. He has contributed articles to the world's premier publications in several languages including Persian. URL: https://newageislam.com/spiritual-meditations/absurdities-idiosyncrasies-religiosity/d/131766 New Age Islam, Islam Online, Islamic Website, African Muslim News, Arab World News, South Asia News, Indian Muslim News, World Muslim News, Women in Islam, Islamic Feminism, Arab Women, Women In Arab, Islamophobia in America, Muslim Women in West, Islam Women and Feminism