hidden image

Some Personal Dimensions

P. A. Joseph P. A. Joseph
04 Sep 2023
All human societies are addicted to co-dependent addictions. These are in a way shared, and agreed upon in every culture and institution.

In a way we are all addicts. Mostly human beings are addictive by nature. Sometimes we are not aware of this. You may call it by any name. It may be called passions or attachments. Some take these as illusions or entrapment.  Everyone experiences that serious measures are required to understand it and to come out of it. Some may be addicted to substances like alcohol, drugs, gadgets, cosmetics, perfumes and things like that. In any way we are all addicted to our own habitual way of doing anything, often our own defenses, our special patterned way of thinking. The very fact that we hesitate to admit it shows how much we are blinded by it.  In any way, we find difficult to discern or handle what we are addicted to. It is always hidden and disguised as something else. Jesus asked an addicted person, “what is your name” (Lk: 8,30). That meant a lot. To heal the addiction, first of all we must be aware of it, acknowledge it, and accept it. This is really the first phase of our healing.

All human societies are addicted to co-dependent addictions. These are in a way shared, and agreed upon in every culture and institution. These have become the way of the society as a sort of compulsive blindness where we cannot enter. To cite some examples, the Americans are addicted to war and empire; a poor person’s addiction is to powerlessness and victimhood; the white person’s addiction is to superiority; religions’ addiction is tradition; the church’s addiction is to its own exceptionalism, uniformity, etc.

To whichever society, religion we belong, we must be able to come out of the addiction -- either personal or societal.  We see people of different religions and cultures becoming victims in various ways. People who routinely go for pilgrimage to holy places, who do rigorous fasting, or do so many other ritual practices, fall into the same addiction even after long-lived practices. 

All the religions give motivation to prayer and contemplation to get rid of all addictions. The end is to guide the people to develop alternate consciousness, to get rid of superiority thinking, promote loving relationship, to change the operating system, to bring in reconciliation in societies, to accept the path of forgiving, and to work for peace-making. It is to be noted these are the core of all religions. If these are lacking or ignored, the so called religion ceases to be such. These values cannot be enforced on anyone group, but must be realized and accepted as the core of religion. It is meaningless to give stress on any form of ritual or tradition. 
 

Recent Posts

The Emergency must be remembered, not as a tool to target a political party but as a lesson against authoritarian excess. Yet, we cannot ignore that worse violations of democratic norms and human righ
apicture A. J. Philip
30 Jun 2025
Fifty years later, India faces a chilling déjà vu with an 'undeclared' Emergency. Freedom of speech is stifled, dissent is suppressed, and institutions are compromised. True democracy demands resistan
apicture Cedric Prakash
30 Jun 2025
Amit Shah's claim that those who speak English will be ashamed evidences that the BJP-RSS is trying to bring down the populace and push India into another Vedic dark age where ignorance and superstiti
apicture Jacob Peenikaparambil
30 Jun 2025
The NSE's ?1,400 crore settlement with SEBI raises critical concerns about India's financial markets. Any perceived regulatory capture risks eroding trust.
apicture Jaswant Kaur
30 Jun 2025
Christian education in India has had a profound influence on democracy and social justice in the country. It played a pivotal role in challenging caste oppression, promoting inclusivity, and fostering
apicture Fr Soroj Mullick, SDB
30 Jun 2025
"The spread of digital culture, particularly evident among young people, is profoundly changing their experience of space and time; it influences their daily activities, communication, and interperson
apicture Joe Eruppakkatt
30 Jun 2025
Welcome to the Happy State of Emergency: Where freedom is carefully curated, minds are pre-cooked, and Big Brother doesn't need to frown—he just raises one eyebrow... and we salute…!
apicture Robert Clements
30 Jun 2025
The North-South divide reflects India's broader regional and cultural tensions. The progress of Southern states in health, education, and development contrasts with the Hindi belt's struggles on devel
apicture Thomas Menamparampil
23 Jun 2025
India's 2027 census and ensuing delimitation will redefine its political landscape. As northern states gain influence due to burgeoning population, southern states will face reduced representation des
apicture Dr John Singarayar
23 Jun 2025
For India to become a global healthcare power, it must democratise medical education—revise outdated rules, invest in public institutions, expand seats, embrace technology, and ensure affordability. A
apicture A. J. Philip
23 Jun 2025