“Knowledge will forever govern ignorance, and a people who mean to be their own governors must arm themselves with the power which knowledge gives.”—James Madison
Generally in the past, and especially these days, human beings are more and more vulnerable to believing anything that is being shown on multiple social media platforms. Those interested in presenting a false image about themselves can easily do so by using a variety of easily available tools for self-projection that may be poles apart from reality. This could be harmonious with the concept of different forms of the belief system in which we are born. At birth, although humans are gifted with a clean brain with the passage of time, it gets wired up with the type of programming that is done on it by the family and society at large. This is the reason why this world has differences in thought processes and sets of beliefs. Each according to their specific time and place of birth.
As time lapses, these social norms and ideologies gain solid ground, and any deviation is strictly forbidden. The tendency to follow the path laid out before us is so natural and convenient that for hardly a moment do we stop to ponder over its truthfulness or rationality. When one is accepted as a respectable member of a certain social structure, there really appears no sanity in trying to break bonds, to rebel or to even raise questions and become susceptible to being oppressed or even ostracised. Observing innumerable cases where dissenters are punished for raising their voices, the laid-back usually finds security in the idea of silently adhering to whatever good or bad rules a society prescribes.
In a few decades from today, teachers and clerics had great importance as they were and still are considered torchbearers of knowledge and religion. Those wanting to quench their thirst for learning and wisdom, seek the help of these scholars. Through lectures and books, students receive guidance and are taught whatever these teachers learn from their predecessors. The majority of the pupils appreciate and accept these teachings as authentic therefore, that particular line of knowledge continues to be passed on from generation to generation.
Today, however, the internet has become the biggest and most genuine seer that seems to have taken over tremendous space that was previously in the domain of human beings. Anything that needs to be propagated can easily be done, not just through pulpits or loudspeakers but via social media. The technological savvy can prepare amazing apps while the ingenious are capable of harnessing machine learning and high-volume data to present the public with credible information that can overnight alter its mindset.
The internet is being widely used for the purpose of preaching, indoctrinating people with their desired perception of faith. In our milieu too, there is widespread use of online applications that are formulated to suit the demand of various sects for prayers and other rituals
Just like certain enzymes are necessary to digest some foods, in the same way, it is essential that the brain must release certain hormones to rationally comprehend, analyse, and absorb knowledge. Those who are deprived of these abilities will swallow whatever is fed to them even though this may result in mental sickness that can lead to social disorder. So as to assimilate truth efforts must be made to verify facts before actually placing one’s trust in it. Just because someone has fastidiously concocted a documentary or research paper using algorithms specially designed to produce desired results does not mean that these are to be taken at face value.
In an article, Kunwar Khuldune Shahid has touched upon the intensive use of technology by some religious stalwarts who were earlier claiming that all scientific advancements are the work of the devil. That involvement with these is a sure-shot recipe for being thrown in hell. In Kunwar’s words: “Religion has dominated the affairs of Muslim communities more than those of other religious groups; thus, in recent times, the challenge of science to religious authority has been a particular problem for the Islamic clergy. However, by limiting the spread of reason, and selectively adopting some but not all of the latest inventions, Muslim clerics have managed to forge a love-hate relationship with science and technology.”
Over time, religious leaders have realised how these ‘devils’ can be ‘circumcised’ or ‘christened’ to be atoned and utilised to propagate their different ideologies and maintain their hegemony in organised religions. Now the internet is being widely used for the purpose of preaching, indoctrinating people with their desired perception of faith. In our milieu too, there is widespread use of online applications that are formulated to suit the demand of various sects for prayers and other rituals.
After the medieval “Baghdadi Manazaras” a new form of debate is likely to ensue where two or more divisions of religion, armed with their view of ‘authentic’ ChatGPT-generated theories would find themselves locked in online disputes. Meanwhile, their followers would be tempted to engage in refined or abusive language, depending on their peculiar dispositions, with not just their opponents but even artificial intelligence (AI). Just like various political camps that use these new platforms for hurling accusations at each other or bad-mouthing their acts, in the same manner, this new crop of religious bigots would be engaged in a verbal battle on social media.
Embracing just anything without bothering to reflect on it shows the absence of thinking. Even worse is when that knowledge is further disseminated to the gullible others because rather than consolidating or unifying a society, this can cause conflicts, disconnection, and of course, disintegration. Soren Kierkegaard’s remarks: “People demand freedom of speech as a compensation for the freedom of thought which they seldom use,” says a lot, especially regarding our society where people mostly act or say first and think later.