Faith, facts and future
Faith leaders have played a crucial role in society, in anchoring the set of beliefs and values, when the world seemed to change too much and too quickly.
The recent death of the Hindu saint, Sri Kapil Dev Das and nine others due to Covid-19 infection after attending the Kumbh Mela in Haridwar, was indeed sad. Death of saints deprives the world of deep religious knowledge, immense spiritual prowess and charismatic leadership.
Faith and science have however had a long history of sitting uneasily together. Ever since Christians in Europe were called upon to choose between the Book of Genesis (faith) or Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution (science) regarding how we humans evolved though the relationship has had its share of ups and downs.
With Covid raging this year and on advice of scientists, the Pope cancelled the traditional Easter celebrations and gatherings in the Vatican this year; this not only helped followers to practice a muted ritual but also absolved them of any feeling of guilt for flouting religious tradition.
Faith, tradition, rituals and customs form a part of every culture and provide character and meaning, to otherwise mechanical lives. They provide that much needed sense of belonging and purpose making followers bond together as a group to share similar beliefs and values.
Regardless of our following of religion or politics, it is becoming increasingly difficult to escape from the damage that the small SARS-Co-2 virus is causing to our lives, nation, economy and future.
And we are once again at crossroads being called upon to choose a faith that requires us to believe first, or first see the evidence that science is throwing at us and firm up our beliefs based on them.
What we choose to believe needs honesty too. Even astrologers require exact data (date, time and place of birth) to make accurate predictions. How then can public health experts or scientists provide forecasts based on inaccurate data of numbers infected, disease and deaths?
In the last month, each one of us would have heard of a seriously ailing relative or friend unable to get a hospital bed or oxygen. Some would have died, and we would have heard their relatives recounting harrowing experiences in crematorium or burial grounds. Haven’t we all cringed at the pictures of our hometowns appearing on international media showing long lines of lit pyres.
Two international science journals, Lancet and Nature, in their issues this month, have highlighted the importance of accurate data (reporting) to understand the magnitude and nature of the problem as a prerequisite in planning and strategizing our Covid response.
Manipulating data to cushion us and give us a sense of comfort, could be a disservice at this crucial stage as honesty is indeed the need of the hour.
It is time we lived up to our reputation of being the pharmacy of the world and ramped up our own vaccination program to protect our citizens. If Americans did not hesitate in saying ‘America First’ should we not expect our leaders to say (and also do!) India First?