Rajan Dewar
University of Michigan, USA
Title: Social secularity, social Security, religious freedom and evolution of societies – Do governmental regulations help or harm?
Biography
Biography: Rajan Dewar
Abstract
Globalization and immigration over the last century have created a cosmopolitan living and working environment, especially in Western societies. Religious and cultural pursuits of individuals pose a challenge in such multicultural populations.
As an example, care providing by doctors to patients of different ethnicity and religiosity poses unique challenges. The beliefs of doctors may not exactly coincide with that of the patient or patient’s families. In a recent publication, we highlighted the End of Life decision making process of Hindu patients who were admitted to a Boston Hospital. The complexities of End of Life decision making was further compounded by the differing religious beliefs of doctors and patients. In these circumstances, governmental regulations may not be as applicable in the care of individuals.
Outside of the health care setting, physicians are sometimes involved in helping individuals and families pursue their religious beliefs. Sometimes these pursuits may not truly align with the law of the land. In these instances, the physicians involved are often of the same traditions and religious pursuit of the patients – deeply believing in the religious rights of the patients and feel obliged to help the subjects.
The state of MI in USA, recently outlawed Female Genital Mutilation, responding rapidly to arrest of a female physician. While outlawed by the country, the practice had wide acceptance among the religious community. Thus, is the government curbing religious freedom, by arresting the doctor and enacting more stringent regulations.
It is often difficult to decide if evolution of societies are best done by education and self-governing rules (individual autonomy) or through strict state legislations. Criminalization of religious practices, unfortunately evokes bitter experiences and responses from communities. Historically, these practices have led to feelings of persecution and mass exodus of populations. These examples include the Judaic exodus from Egypt and Execution of Mennonites. Religious history shows that the Pilgrims who were among the first colonial settlers in the newly discovered America, pursued their dreams to follow their religious beliefs and were originally persecuted from their religious traditions, some through laws of the land at that time.
Conclusion & Significance: Despite the lessons history teach civilian societies, governments still form legislations curbing individual freedom of pursuits of religion. Taking examples from Indian cultural traditions, practices, and religious beliefs, the lecture will summarize that evolution of societies are best done through individual education and not through criminalization of religious practices.