Catherine Rong
India is home to a variety of religion's, from Hinduism to
Jainism. With this information, it can be assumed that India is religiously
tolerant. A common misconception is that religion's purpose is positive on
society. This is false; today there are hunger strikes that add to the hunger
crisis in India.
India in the twentieth
century started the use of hunger strikes, which were “in tune with new ideas
about hunger, vitamins and famine, as well as with the prison reform movement”
(Lennon). The strike would enable the use of the press, bringing government and
public awareness to the issues in India. (Lennon) With this strategic
thought, the use of starving oneself seemed like a solution to resolve state
problems. However, a
hunger strike is essentially based on the premise that the stakeholder will
give up as it is a life and death situation. If the stakeholder decides not to
act, a life is lost; it is sad and depressing if death happens due to a hunger
strike. What India requires in the case of corruption and other
evils is not so much pressure tactics through hunger strikes, but nationwide
movements in solidarity with all citizens to create awareness about issues at
stake.
The role of religion in today's society is to help heal the individual. When
individuals are healed, families are healed, and when families are healed,
society is healed. Most of the problems of today's society can be repaired
through following religious moral codes, one example is Jainism, “While Jains comprise less than 1% of India’s
population, they contribute more than half of all the money donated in India to
provide medical and other social assistance to India’s poor people” (Lam). The
principles of many religions lead to aiding the less fortunate, who do not have
access to basic necessities. With selflessness and service action, the helping
mentality can make people donate to a worthy cause and move towards an end to
Indian hunger.
Works Cited
Lam, Victoria
Lennon, Joseph. "Spartacus Educational." Spartacus Educational. July 2009. Web. 09 May 2012. <http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/Whunger.htm>.
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ReplyDeleteRadhika Kapadia
ReplyDeleteCatherine, I believe that your references to hunger strikes are interesting in that they recall Gandhi's own use of religious based hunger strikes to effect a social change against poverty. Religious moral codes and ethics can help guide an individual, as you mentioned, to a path of healing. I believe that this is one important aspect of religion that can clearly help foster a change. But I also believe that religion is the major socially divisive factor that causes poverty and hunger in India. The principles of religions such as Islam, which aid only other Muslims, claim Quranic declaration of only aiding other Muslims, leading to resentment among members of the numerous other religions native to India, such as Jainism, Hinduism, and Sikhism.
Stacy
ReplyDeleteCatherine, your views on how religion can help hunger in India are very interesting and I believe that you're right. The principles of many religions can help the society of India because they promote aiding the less fortunate which will ended up helping the poverty and hunger in India. However, I also believe the point that Radhika is trying to make is also very valid. Religion is not only a solution for the hunger but is also a cause for the hunger and poverty in India. As we see in India's history, religion has promoted a caste system and many other examples like this that have hinder India's society.
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ReplyDeleteMichael
ReplyDeleteCatherine, I agree with your points on religion. Religion is one of the main solutions to the problems in India, and the kindness of the Jains demonstrates this fact in many ways. However, I can't consider your issue on hunger strike a valid religion topic. While religion can be a factor in hunger strikes, it is mostly a social and economic issue, focusing on removing corrupt corporations and getting better wages, as you have stated. Thus, I fail to see the main religious aspect behind your topic.
Your responses show that we all can come to an agreement.
ReplyDeleteRhadika, thank you for pointing out that religion is a social divider.
Stacy, I appreciate how you vouched for Rhadika's statement.
Michael, although I appreciate your agreement with my solution, I feel like hunger strikes have religious value. The reason is because the strikes are enacted with religious belief, Indians would not go through starvation if they did not personally believe that their God would reward them afterwards.