NEW YORK, April 19 (IPS) – “The war in Ukraine is a matter for Europeans…and Christians… It does not require the involvement of a colorful array of religions or people. “. These words were uttered and affirmed by a number of European Protestant men, working in interreligious circles in Europe. The ‘colorful’ people include non-European, predominantly Christian – and possibly predominantly male.
Add this view with another from a seasoned Catholic lay leader, diplomat and academic, resounding representatives working in various Vatican offices, who assert that if If there is any religious involvement around Ukraine or Russia, “it is the Pope who should do this… and this is the priority of European governments”.
For these people, the fact that the war in Ukraine (and economic sanctions against Russia) has raised the prices of oil, gas, and wheat (and thus basic staples like bread) to all the other inhabitants of our world, simply irrelevant.
An important fact shows that Europe is suffering – and losing face in doing so, one might add. The fact that there are religious minorities in Ukraine who are also suffering, does not attract much attention. The supremacy of the Catholic Pope, who leads but is 16% of the world’s religious population, is also evident in the speeches of many respected male leaders in Europe.
If European governments see the added value of religion’s involvement in state affairs, it is clear that the Pope will be worthy of this role, out of thousands – if not more. more – of other faith leaders in (the rest of) the world.
What is remarkable, however, is that the war in Ukraine, along with Russia’s (and perhaps later China’s) role in geopolitics, and the changing political, financial and economic consequences across the country. The world has already been damaged by the volatility of the Covid shutdown and the drop in tourism (which is a primary source of income for hundreds of millions of people), which is a key element of many conversations – inside and out. outside Europe.
One such view, expressed by some seasoned diplomats in the United States, is that “religion and religious organizations have nothing to do with this war nor play much of a role in it. This is a politician’s folly.” Someone must have forgotten to send a memo with the words of a Patriarch of the largest Church in Russia, with more than 120 million followers. all around the worldjustify war – and use homophone discourse to do so.
Or maybe we deleted another memo where millions of Russians voted for this one “crazy” politician (as well as millions of others who voted for other crazy politicians elsewhere in the world). world).
However, when we reflect on the pervasive ignorance of the intersections of politics and religion worldwide, and the arrogance of some European political and religious actors, and when some of us listen to religious leaders from other parts of the world, it would be wise to ponder a few questions: are we sure that all religions have found their The patriarch of the Russian language, and its subject matter, rather unpleasant? And, are we sure that’s the one person that’s causing all this carnage and hatred (and profits for the weapons manufacturers, mercenaries, and all the people who make money from war)?
There are many forms of arrogance of ignorance, which have come together to bring our world to the point where it seems almost every corner of it has perished. For some, it is the ravages of many forms of extremism: from waging war against a sovereign nation and killing its people, to horrific gang violence, to desecrating sacred sites and attacking pilgrims and devotees as they pray, even in times when both are sacred. attacked and the attackers.
For others, it is the demise of abused democracy and the systematic and profound violation of countless human rights. For others, the wicked are living with many forms of hate speech and hateful actions, including anti-Semitism and Islamophobia. Holocaust deniers are emerging from layers of rotting furniture all over the world.
The semantics of agoraphobia is contested in some Western government circles, even as veiled women are openly abused on some streets and denied access to jobs in other countries. demands respect for religious freedom, and where even brutal Sikh men continue to face abuse because they are mistaken for Muslims and/or because of the way they dress Theirs is seen as damaging to secular sensibilities.
For others, the worst part is having to deal with shootings by lone gunmen of innocent people in schools, subways or nightclubs or concerts. All of this comes amid a public health pandemic that has claimed the lives of millions – and we’re still counting (where reliable data can be) – and while climate change is contributing to the largest number of refugees and forced displacements ever recorded in collective human history.
However, climate change is still being denied. And for misogyny, it’s the new normal in private and public spaces, everywhere in the world – in Europe too.
But it’s not all bleak. The same European country that has denounced the one million Syrian refugees it allows (and then quietly transferred thousands of them to other countries), has declared an unlimited number of Syrian refugees. Ukrainians need entry, and sometimes make sure that some newer Ukrainians who are refugees get access to their homes before other refugees (who have been waiting longer but now have to keep waiting). their wait). Another European country that has let some refugees die of cold at its border instead of allowing them in, is now providing all sorts of assistance to the Ukrainians.
The United States, which a few months ago lost considerable credibility as a result of a messy exit after 20 years of fighting the Taliban in Afghanistan (which left the country largely controlled by the Taliban), is today causing justified indignation, and cried that “the West is back”. The European Union has also seen the mistake of its reliance on cheap Russian gas and oil, and is now in a hurry to get rid of such dependence.
The war in Ukraine (though clearly not the horrors unfolding in Myanmar, Yemen, Mali, Niger, Cameroon and Ethiopia – to speak of but a few) are really impacting our world. ta. Like Covid-19, war will inevitably continue to affect political, financial and sociocultural frameworks for decades. But here’s another question: are we sure that the pervasive and now outright display of discriminatory arrogance of minority nationalism and its appendages, will change?
This April 2022, see another form of consolidation. Bahá’ís celebrate Ri? For Hindus and many others, this month marks the Hindu New Year and Spring Festival celebrations. For Sikhs, this April celebrates the birth of the religion as a collective faith.
The Jews celebrate Pesach, or Passover, to commemorate the exodus of the Jewish people from slavery by the Egyptian Pharaoh. Christians (Western and Eastern) – celebrate the resurrection of Christ this Easter. All while Muslims observe thirty days of fasting known as Ramadan. There are many celebratory and/or celebratory faith traditions. So it’s certainly the best time to pray – or for the tender anti-religious sensitivities let’s say ‘to reflect’ on: the twin of humility and mercy.
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