It is truism to state that we are living in a time of war and conflict, with hot war theatres in Ukraine-Russia and the Middle East as well as a potential war zone in Asia with persisting US-China rivalry and tensions. Not to mention potential civil war between the forces of nativist white resurgent religiosity and progressive pluralist secularism. Secularism does not mean anti-religion but inclusivity of multiple discourses, religious or not. There is space for different views and beliefs but there must be mutual respect and non-violent dialogue or contestation, not violent insurgency or control by any one party.
For conspiracy theorists in the nativist religious camp, under the totalistic ideology of white nationalist evangelicalism, these external wars are seen as manifestations of hidden invisible spiritual warfare between demonic forces and godly ones. No prize for guessing who is automatically classed under the “godly” forces — religious believers of the nationalist evangelical kind.
The real danger of such religiously-motivated totalistic rhetoric is that we blindly and wrongfully demonize those who think or believe differently from us. Not only that, we get so inwardly puffed up with self-righteousness that we become blind to our own faults and biases. Furthermore, when we project visible external warfare into the invisible spiritual realm, which is none other than the realm of our imagined reality, we create another theatre of war within our very own psyches. Individually and collectively, we end up warring against ourselves. This is neurotic madness.
Splitting some aspects of our psyche from others, divided within the self and rejecting vehemently what are deemed undesirable or unpleasant within us, we create an inner war zone where peace has all but disappeared. We become angry, belligerent, and violent people, pierced with self-inflicted wounds and imprisoned in fiery chains of hellish suffering. This makes us more likely to externalize our neuroses and inflict pain upon those around us.
The rhetoric of “spiritual warfare” is thus dysfunctional at best but more likely than not dangerously harmful to mental health and social well-being. It is not an idea that should be promoted. Religious discourse on such themes must be very carefully constructed to prevent the disastrous consequences of psychological damage and social ruptures. But better than that, jettison such discourse altogether!
What we urgently need is inner healing and reconciliation, not spiritual warfare. This is best done by mindfulness and clear seeing saturated by generous dashes of loving-kindness. These healing qualities are best cultivated by deep intentionality, paying attention, and unlearning psychobabble by resting in silent clarity. Let’s create a peace zone within and cultures of peace without. Such unity in our diverse world is only possible through dimensionless unification within — this is Yoga.
How to start? Let’s stop the war zones — externally and internally. It is utter foolishness to make one’s heart and mind a theatre of war and a senseless breeding ground of violence.
Image credit: Rupert Spira.
