Man is Society and Society is Man – That’s how it goes. Society is founded on the basic structure of norms which are set of unwritten rules imposed upon men by men to provide an arena of opportunity and a space to breathe to all the fellow men.
The development of society is pre-historic. The origins begin when men would begin to form a group to increase the probability of a catch in hunting and Fishing especially in hostile environment. Later, these developments would aid the formation of clans who would identify themselves as one group and completely different from the rest. In fact, Sociologists have traced that pre-historic clans had their own gods different from that of the others. Usually, the God was symbolized in the form of a Totem (traced from Australian Aborigines) leading to the development of the cult of Totemism.
The society when settled as an Agricultural group had a population abundant enough to develop as a Tribe. The Agricultural settlements forced the Society to wage wars as the only means of survival was the Agricultural Land. The war therefore was always on and for Agricultural Land and Cattle. The development of multiple tribes led to Assimilation with further political developments aiding social changes. A larger population demanded a just society wherein the strong and weak could identify in and out of the society and at the same time might be provided with an opportunity to live a meaningful life thereby contributing to the rest of the Tribal population. This was the age of the development of the political states. In fact, it was politics and Politics alone which was to define society in the coming times.
The modern day society however is more of an industrial complex society with its roots existing in the Agricultural societies. Evidently, the Economy today shapes the society which used to be the function of Polity earlier.
The religion, as Karl Marx once said, is the Opium for Man. Marx suggests that the priestly class have used Religion as a reason to justify the sufferings of the sufferers. Often the Religious teachings include that a higher power would reward for the sufferings on earth.
The development of religion may be traced to the earliest evidences of Naturism and Animism. The earliest men were hunters and Food gatherers. There was always an uncertainty of weather and Animal behaviour. The intellectuals among the re-historic men would suggest worshipping these ‘powers’ which ‘control the Human destiny’. Thus, nature worship would begin. The fear of Animals would again lead to development of Animism (as may be traced from the sociological evidences of Andaman Tribes).
However, the quest for the philosophy and Life and ‘God’ or the higher power could not be satisfied. The reason, it is provided, is the inability of the Human intellect to answer question amidst development of economy and Polity which regain ground as and when the myths of older religions are broken. This called for the development of newer religions. Incidentally, all the religions developed as a regional character of a regional society emphasizing the fact that the religions developed to satisfy the curiosity of men in dilemmas locally and again to suit the needs of men locally (as evident from the development of Hinduism, Christianity, Islam in India, Europe and Arab respectively). These local religions started gaining ground as traders would cross borders and would talk about how they have satisfied their curiosity about life and Philosophy. The thinkers would jot down the philosophy of the time and which would later become ‘holy’ and ‘infallible’.
Communalism would develop when same religion that developed in a society takes a rigid shape. The rigidness was first provided by the Priestly class, earlier to keep their presence and hold on the society and masses and later to secure their ‘earnings’.
The hostility was provided by the developments of economy and Polity wherein masses could be controlled in the name of religion for power. Further hostility came when men assumed themselves as the representatives of a particular religion without prior approval of the masses in question (as evident from the adventures of MA Jinnah).
What surprises above all is the fact that how a few men would go on to control masses and would inflict wounds and scars to multiple generations coming in. Here I describe the foolishness of men. First of all, the ‘freezing’ of religions and their teachings in the Vedas, Korans, Bibles and other religious texts hindered the harmonious growth of the society. Next, this provided for a rigid and distinct society wherein assimilation stood no chance which means mean are now not open to any new ideas to satisfy their curiosity with regards to ‘God’, the ‘Supernatural’ etc. Again, the developments led to development of multiple superstitious beliefs and Practices in different societies primarily meant to appease the ‘God’. A further jolt was provided by the Priestly class who would continue to brainwash men and would dare anything to keep a hold among men.
Religion is a sensitive issue because we have made it a sensitive issue. Our quest for finding answers to satisfy our philosophical needs may perhaps never be satisfied. Religion was meant to keep the society in order and in Harmony by providing for a backing of ‘God’ who would punish a man for violating the norms. These rules however have taken a very rigid shape and are in fact hindering the growth of men. I just wait for the time when men begin to question the very ‘infallibles’.
Chirag Goel's Blog 