Confessions of a Doomscroller

I'm sure many of you will find this personal development relatable; a growing anxious attachment to your cell phone, only exacerbated by the last two years of the global pandemic. The confinement to the walls of our homes, limited outdoor mobility, minimal exposure to friends and family, and panic fanned into flames by a monolithic opinion on matters of public policy have caused us to retreat deeper into the distracting folds of social media. 

Jonathan Haidt, social psychologist and best-selling co-author of The Coddling of the American Mind refers to the Biblical story in Genesis of the Tower of Babel where God confuses the language of people groups, so they couldn't understand each other. In our modern context, our inability to communicate with each other despite the game-changing optimism heralded by social media has underlying causes far deeper than the tribalism which had existed even prior to recent years, and has only made us better authoritarians. 

Always something of a news junkie, I succumbed to the urgent need to stay aware of each minutiae of the unfolding pandemic at all times. One crisis dovetailed messily into another - a recklessly protracted return to a semblance of normalcy was de rigueur in most countries, while self-sabotaging their economies and the mental health of its most vulnerable populations, through a reliance solely on the blunt tools of lockdowns and a sole therapeutic intervention. To that, add the newfangled transformation of scientists into economists, spiritual advisors, and even foreign policy experts, creating a surging fear of missing out on the latest informational tidbit. 

My mind never rested - even while attempting to switch off for the night, I listened to podcasts from experts, absorbing and processing information - ever alert to formulate, change or confirm my opinion. 

I'm increasingly beginning to doubt my ability to influence monumental shifts in world events through my powers of persuasion. I need to scroll less. And rewire my tired and fraught brain with a new approach. Perhaps, you will find it useful, if you like me, want to deescalate from the wars waged in your world. 

(1) Expanding my mental palette: From consuming a veritable smorgasbord of political opinions and Twitter expertise, I've curbed my appetite for the 24/7 news cycle. Turning instead to a more wholesome diet comprising business, history, economics, science, and cultural theology. The latter is significant - entreating myself to go to the Bible as a starting point for various conflicting issues tearing societies apart has been valuable. And not least due to the conviction that the Scriptures have instruction, direction, and wisdom to be unearthed in each of the situations human societies are finding themselves embroiled in.  

(2) Engaging in deep work: Cal Newport in his Deep Work: Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World says, "Once your brain has become accustomed to on-demand distraction, it’s hard to shake the addiction even when you want to concentrate. To put this more concretely: if every moment of potential boredom in your life—say, having to wait five minutes in line or sit alone in a restaurant until a friend arrives—is relieved with a quick glance at your smartphone, then your brain has likely been rewired to a point where, it’s not ready for deep work—even if you regularly schedule time to practice this concentration.” 

I am trying to carve out time sprints where I work undistracted without reaching for the phone or checking e-mails, with a singular focus on the task at hand. Whenever I've adopted the mindset of a productivity-fiend, not only have I been able to accomplish a greater number of tasks, but also stretched my ability to learn and hone a new skill. 

(3) Calling to mind that God is sovereign: Watching the world seemingly ready to blaze within a tinder box, I can often forget that God is the ruler of all kingdoms and events on earth. It is He who causes nations to rise and fall, orchestrates or permits events, and appoints the days of man. Justice can seem agonizingly slow, peace, a figment of a philosopher's imagination, and joy, a distant and fleeting memory. 

However, for the believer, there is the calm assurance that there are no coincidences in their lives, no freak accidents, no instances of divine negligence. If I didn't believe that even unjust, evil, or maleficent actors can only go as far as God allows them, are entirely subservient to the purposes of God, and whose wickedness can be weaved into a glorious pattern in the life of His children, life would be searingly burdensome at best, and justifiably spent on hedonism at worst. Oh, but thankfully, we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

Hurt and Affliction: When there is no end in sight.

By now, you've heard the Will Smith slap loud and clear in your living room and replayed to stirring emotional effect. 

It might be odd to sympathize with the aggressor here, when he is so clearly in the wrong. A misguided stream of support in the aftermath lauded him for defending his wife's honour. A man so relinquished of self-control is weak and defeated, hidden beneath the picture - perfect veneer. 

I say this as a Will Smith fan - I can rap along to the fresh prince of Bel-Air (just say the word), need no background to watch one of his movies (plot and storyline not mandatory) - and until revelations of his wrecked personal life, thought of him as a loving husband and father, stellar as a person, and exemplary as a professional. A secular testament to the virtues of plain hard work, grounded values, rooted upbringing, and integrity - rising up through access to 'common grace'. 

Yet, my heart went out to this man. A desperately broken, wounded, and lonely man. Betrayed, tormented, not knowing which way to turn. No consolation in his accolades, no relief in entertainment, no rest in his thoughts. 

To a greater or lesser extent, we all know this pain, or will know it soon. I did. 

The remedy offered by the world can range from a therapy-laced exploration of the dark recesses of the mind, or a 'revenge is a dish best served cold' battlecry, or a shrinking from people, profession, and pursuit. 

We are either held back by the pain of hurtful deeds said and done to us, or are driven in a quest to prove those wrong; our hearts a frothing of rage and tremors. 

The blessing of a still, calm heart, without the whirling turbulence of thoughts characteristic of the aching heart, cannot be overstated. 

If you thought this bleak narrative was building up to a solution, I have none. Except to begin with recognizing that because modern culture elevates how we feel as of greater value above everything and everyone else, it can be difficult to surface from those immersive waters. 

With that recognition, what do you do next? This is hard and non-intuitive - but might we stop chasing happiness as the ultimate goal? That means acknowledging that life may not go your way, your goals may not be met, your timelines never achieved, and your feelings never adequately protected.

What if ambition looked like a life of quiet pursuit of spiritual disciplines, inward resilience through the means of sustenance established by God, and a determination to not strive without consulting God in the smallest affairs of life?

I'm not a great example, but afflictions have kept me humble. As much as I want the winter to end and walk into sunshine, my need keeps me clinging to God. 

If not God, who. If not to Him, where. 

Staying your ground in the midst of fear of death.

 

Is God’s love reckless, and does it matter?

It is easy for us to think of music as innocuous, and to emphasize melody over meaning. Most popular songs that end up being chart-busters do not achieve that status due to their lyrical profundity. They’re not offering unique insight into the world, or human nature, but simply have a catchy beat. Many are quite formulaic, and we often associate a ‘sound’ with a particular artist. As long as it matches our mood, or lifts our spirits, or even distracts us from the chaos of our thoughts, its purpose is served. 

 

It’s not surprising that that same thinking is carried forward into the selection of church music. A lot of what’s called, Contemporary Christian Music (CCM) also endeavors to make us feel good. In and of itself, this is not problematic, for who wants to listen to music that gets us down, or plumbs the depths of melancholy, or is not appealing to our ears. That’s sometimes the critique from modern worship leaders – that those who appeal to high standards in Christian worship music, simply care about a fuddy-duddy style, familiar and comfortable to an older generation. That reverence toward God has nothing to do with the choice of music, as long as the ‘heart is in the right place’. 

 

Apart from being simplistic, this view is also terribly ignorant of the value that God Himself places on musical worship. In the Old Testament, we see the great care that king David took in the order, style, and decorum of the musicians who were to serve God in the Temple. When the reformer king Josiah celebrated the Passover, he had musicians follow the prescriptions for worship, alongside priests in the service of the Lord’s Temple. 

 

This is not to say that there is no room for variety in worship. In India, where I come from, there are beautiful ghazals and kirtans composed by converted believers, now singing for Christ. These draw listeners in, and help them see that Jesus is not an alien Westerner, but the Creator God of all mankind. That He's the God who died, rose again, and offers redemption to these rural villagers trapped in superstition, and ritual worship of the powers of darkness. 

 

Songs are a deep and entrenching way of memorializing God’s universal truths for generations. When Christians gather for corporate worship, they are singing for an audience of One. Songs rich with Scripture, composed from Biblical passages, declaring God’s attributes and divine nature, serve to fertilize the hearts and minds of those assembled in His Name. They are more attuned to hearing God’s Word, having taken their eyes off themselves, contemplating instead on God. 

 

Now of course, the stirring up of emotions is not only acceptable, but to be expected. There is something marvellous about 300-year old songs, passed down from generations, connecting the modern believer to that universal Church, since ages past. A catchy beat, rhythm, melody, and exuberance are all well and good, as long as they add to, and not detract from the message of the song. 

 

Consequently, biblical standards of worship would easily eliminate the megachurch Christianese songs churned out year after year, by the Bethel/ Hillsong/ Elevation industry. You might wonder, some of their songs appear acceptable, so why throw the baby out with the bathwater. The fact is, even the music produced by false churches and teachers, are not necessarily explicitly heretical. Smart as the enemy is, and true to his modus operandi, the bad theology is packaged aesthetically, with emotive mood-lighting, while half-truths are sung mixed with errors. These songs are then crystallized within immature minds, reinforce the impact of false teaching, and export the rot to nations far and wide. 

 

To be clear - the choice is not between reverence and intimacy. It’s not either/or, it certainly is both. Each time someone encountered the majesty of God in the Old Testament, the only response was to fall down in awe. That did not change in the New Testament – John had the same response to the vision in Revelation. This was the Jesus he knew - against whom he leaned, walked, and shared meals with. 

 

It matters that the songs we accept into corporate worship be truthful, precise, and firmly based on Scripture. It is a solemn responsibility, and one that pastors (and by extension, those in worship ministry) who are entrusted with guarding the flock against false teaching, are not to take lightly. 

 

I do listen to the occasional megachurch song – not all are dyed in the same extreme wool. I apply discretion, and while there are several songs that could be good companions for a long drive, they could be absolutely inappropriate for corporate worship. I won’t get started on the mushy effeminate romance, or the irreverent boyfriend tunes, but, emphatically, God’s love is NOT RECKLESS, the all-sufficient One DOES NOT NEED US, and the Triune God, did not NOT WANT HEAVEN WITHOUT US. 

 

 

 

Should a believer be actively involved in present day politics?

Implied in this question, is the belief that politics is a completely anomalous category untethered to any other vocation or profession. It comes from an erroneous and sometimes a self-righteous position, that considers politics as defiling, and thus unfit for those who are serious about their Christian faith and the Gospel. However, this is not a stand that withstands intelligent scrutiny, nor is it compatible with Scripture. The Gospel has implications for all areas of life, including the political sphere. 

It is important that Christians care about their worldview being presented in all walks of life. That does not mean that we impose our faith or morality on those who believe differently, or have no belief at all, but that participation in politics be viewed as an opportunity - an opportunity to influence, stand up for, and persuade people toward good, as we are motivated by Scriptures to do. 

 

Speak out on behalf of the voiceless,
    and for the rights of all who are vulnerable.
Speak out in order to judge with righteousness
    and to defend the needy and the poor. Proverbs 31:8-10

Most concerns about Christian involvement in politics stem from the underlying assumption that it is impossible to be incorruptible in that sphere. That compromises, turning a blind eye, or bending convictions are inevitable. Certainly, as would apply to any other place of work, tact and wisdom in living out our Christian values are imperative. Daniel, was one of the highest-ranking administrators employed in the service of a pagan king. Perhaps, he could have declined a promotion, or opted out of that role altogether, since he was surrounded by ungodly influences. It might have been a pretty lonely position to be in, where almost no one else shared his values. Yet, the Bible testifies to Daniel’s use of discernment, and diplomacy in his responses to unbelievers, and ultimately God using Him for His purposes and to reveal His glory. 

A very important distinction needs to be made at this point – between a Christian and the church. The church absolutely must not be involved in politics. Whenever religion has become politicized, it has become systemically rotten, and its effects felt for centuries. Think about religion becoming institutionalized after Constantine’s supposed conversion to Christianity. The Roman Empire began launching its territorial conquests in consultation with the Pope. Fidelity to Scripture, and the spread of the true Gospel of Christ, became casualties to the power struggles within the church. 

Government derives its authority from God to promote good and restrain evil. In ‘How Christianity Changed the World’, Alvin Schmidt documents Christian influence in government. Examples include outlawing infanticide, child abandonment and gladiatorial games in ancient Rome, ending the practice of human sacrifice among European cultures, banning pedophilia and polygamy, and prohibiting the burning of widows in India. In the United States, two-thirds of abolitionists were Christian pastors. In the 1960s, Martin Luther King Jr., a Christian pastor, helped lead the civil rights movement against racial segregation and discrimination.

William Wilberforce was a British MP, who after coming to know Christ, saw that his position in Parliament could be used for God’s glory. He was uniquely gifted for a life in public service. He railed against the evils of the African slave trade, and played a key role in abolishing this wicked practice in England. He found great encouragement through his friend, John Newton, a former captain of a slave ship, who after his rebirth wrote the classic hymn, Amazing Grace. He would tell Wilberforce that God had raised him up ‘for such a time as this’ and that ‘God has brought you into public life and has a purpose for you’. 

Christians should not have a defensive mindset and retreat from the public square. Christian withdrawal opens a moral vacuum, making our leaders susceptible to evil influences. Politics affects government, shapes society and influences culture. This is not to say, that the Gospel can spread only when there’s a conducive political environment; it can stagnate during times of political stability, and it can spread like wildfire even amongst hostile governments – the underground churches in China, Indonesia, North India, and the Middle East are testament to this fact. 

Christian witness in the public square advances the cause of communicating timeless values about moral and ethical issues. As salt plays a preserving function, Christians using their influence for good, slows down the inevitable decay of society, until the time the restraint of the Holy Spirit is taken away from this world. 

The ‘All Religions are One’ fallacy.

You hear it often - “All religions teach human beings to be good, and share the same moral values, so why fight in the name of religion, because all religions are ultimately the same.” Same wine, different bottles, or same variation of the theme. But is that true? Although well-intentioned, the argument is specious and does more harm than good.

Those who make the above argument usually mean well; they think they have seen or heard  of too many wars in the name of religion, and the only way to get human beings to get along (if we cannot get rid of religion all together) is to first have everyone agree that all religions are essentially the same substance in different packages. But a closer look at world religions will instantly cause any scales to fall away - different religions make different claims, and thus have different implications. Let’s examine the most common slogan of the “all religions are one” argument - All paths lead to the same God. 

Hinduism requires adherents to perform good deeds, so that karma allows them to be reincarnated into higher beings, and ultimately attain moksha or salvation. Islam demands a strict observance of rules, laws, and treatises to please Allah, who will determine the eventual fate of a Muslim. Buddhism requires followers to achieve nirvana in the footsteps of Gautam Buddha who was called the ‘enlightened one’, but there’s no concept of a personal God. In radical contrast, Christianity claims that works cannot earn our way into salvation, and that to be saved, one must believe in Christ for the forgiveness of sins.

Secondly, religions place such different demands on people and have such different understandings of the afterlife, that it’s impossible to reconcile their contrasting teachings. What does “if your enemy is hungry, feed him” have anything in common with injunctions to slay unbelievers or seek revenge on enemies? Isn’t “all your righteous deeds are like filthy rags (before a holy God)” in stark contrast to earning your way into heaven? Isn’t “your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit” entirely different from treating the body as mere evil matter? 

This is not to disparage religions that differ from Christianity; however, I do intend to make the point that unity can be achieved despite deep differences among religions, and that we don’t have to stoop to make false equalities to co-exist in society. It should be insulting to the intelligence of a rational man, to be told that the only way to survive in a pluralistic society is to water down differences in beliefs, never engage in searching criticisms of religions, and never consider religion as a topic worthy of discussion in the public sphere. 

All human beings have timeless questions seared in their minds - who am I, what am I doing here, and where am I going? It is every man’s God-given right to satisfy his longing to find answers to these questions, which would invariably mean an investigation into the claims of different religions, and being forced to ultimately make a choice. We should be able and willing to fundamentally disagree with each other, and yet be tolerant of each others’ beliefs, and what’s more, be willing to extend kindness, hospitality, and compassion as fellow human beings and eternal souls. 

Especially if you believe your fellow human is an eternal being, tolerance is not an option, it’s the only way, because in the words of C.S. Lewis, “You have never talked to a mere mortal”. For a Christian, it is high honor to engage, disagree, yet hold the other in esteem, with humility. 

Feelings are overrated.

It’s the first Sunday of 2019. 

New years are supposed to make you feel resolute, optimistic, and hopeful that the best is yet to come, but they can also make you feel drained, battle-weary, and pessimistic about the future. I forced myself to choose realism today - since I swung between both ends, before the day ended. As I’m writing this, I’m telling myself that all I will do, is take one day at a time. On most days, what I find helpful is simply getting up, and showing up, instead of waiting to feel cheerful. I schedule enough things into my day to make me feel productive, and learn enough new things in a week, to feel vital. I don’t underestimate the value of doing the mechanical, until your mind catches up. Feelings are highly overrated, anyway. 

We hear a lot of pep talks that present airbrushed versions of people, glossing over dysfunction, as if life is made up of selfies, vacations, summer plans, and parties. How come we don’t hear talks about how it could be a year of suffering, of heartbreak or loss? Of what you could do to strengthen yourself in preparation for a storm? Why do we prefer open and fatuous laughter, over hidden but real pain? 

I find David’s sighing so relatable, “Why are you downcast, oh my soul? Why so disturbed within me?” He’s having to talk to himself, to remind himself, and to pick himself up. There’s more than a sliver of hope though; it’s a penetrating beam - “Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise Him, my Savior and my God”. 

So, that’s my anchor for this year - not a blinding optimism about sunshine-filled days, not a vacant sense of impending doom - but a recurring mental note to self: 

That I don’t have to pull myself up by the bootstraps, 

That I can work hard, without fretful striving,

That I can plan for the future, without issuing deadlines, 

That I can forgive freely, without worrying about justice, 

And that I can pray effectively, without expecting thunder. 

So, why indeed, be downcast, oh my soul?

Reflections on the passing of my childhood hero, Billy Graham

Billy Graham died on February 21st, 2018, months short of his 100th birthday. Russell Moore, President of the Southern Baptist Convention, called him the most influential evangelist since Apostle Paul. He preached the gospel to over 215 million people across 190 countries. The Billy Graham Evangelistic Association claims that “throughout his life, Billy Graham preached the gospel of Jesus Christ to some 215 million people who attended one of his more than 400 crusades, simulcasts and evangelistic rallies in more than 185 countries and territories. He reached millions more through TV, video, film, the internet and 34 books.”

I remember my dad saying when I was a kid that only 2 people in the world could have their mail delivered to them without their addresses - the President of the United States and Billy Graham. Clearly, no one person has ever had the kind of globe-spanning reach that Billy Graham did. I’ve listened to several Billy Graham sermons on the TV, growing up, and the most compelling part of his crusade was his invitation to people to receive Christ, and his team singing ‘Just as I am without a plea’, as thousands flocked to the front of the stage.

He also came to India and conducted crusades in Bombay, Madras, Delhi and Nagaland. He preached his message to the Nagas who used to be head-hunters, but had turned to Christ when Christian missionaries brought them the gospel of forgiveness and repentance. In a different city, he recounts weeping as he witnessed a cremation where a young man pierced his father’s skull to ‘release his spirit’. 

What makes Billy Graham especially remarkable was the undiluted purity of his message. He did not muddle it with fluff or affectation. Even in his very last crusade in 2005 held in New York he proclaimed “I have one message: that Jesus Christ came, he died on a cross, he rose again, and he asked us to repent of our sins and receive him by faith as Lord and Savior, and if we do, we have forgiveness of all of our sins.” An urgency to drive people toward Christ and away from judgment, delivered with clarity and compassion. His book, Peace with God, which I read in my teens, still remains, in my opinion, one of the best crystallizations of the Gospel, and apart from the Bible, the best gift to someone trying to understand God and His purpose. 

One of my most poignant memories of Graham is when he comforted the nation after the 9/11 attacks  on the World Trade Centre and the Pentagon. He was a spiritual counselor to Presidents since Dwight Eisenhower, right up to the current POTUS, Donald Trump. He steered clear of partisan politics and instead focused on giving Presidents spiritual advice from the Bible. His body was brought to the United States Capitol for the public to pay respects, making him only the 4th civilian in US history to be accorded such an honor. On his funeral today, in his home state of North Carolina, the gospel was preached under a tent to commemorate his revival meetings - just as in life, even in death, the name of his Lord and Savior was glorified. 

Only at his death, did I grasp the import of his ministry. He was a staunch opponent of segregation. He insisted at his rallies that the ropes separating whites and blacks be removed. This is at a time when denouncing racism was not popular, and even before the US Supreme Court banned racial discrimination. He refused to speak in South Africa to segregated audiences, and went there only after integration occurred. In a meeting in Johannesburg in 1973, Graham said, “Christ belongs to all people. He belongs to the whole world.…I reject any creed based on hate…Christianity is not a white man’s religion, and don’t let anybody ever tell you that it’s white or black.”

Billy Graham was a close friend of Dr Martin Luther King’s and bailed him from jail. Although people forget today, MLK Jr was Reverend Martin Luther King Jr. and central to his peaceful agitation was that racism was a sin in God’s sight for human beings created in the image of God. 

It’s also heartening to read that all of Graham’s 5 children and several grand children are firmly rooted in the ministry today. There were personal failures and struggles with faith that several of them experienced, but God was faithful in answering the tearful prayers of their parents, Ruth and Billy Graham and honoring the godly example they set for their children. It’s a testament to the power and influence that righteous parents wield over the lives of their children. 

Lastly, no tribute to Billy Graham is complete without an ode to his humility. Unlike the title-hoarding common today, he did not like being referred to as ‘Doctor’ since it was an honorary degree, and he hadn’t earned it at an institute. The best witnesses of a man’s character are his spouse and children, and his testify that the Billy Graham who thundered from a pulpit, was the same person they saw at home, a gentle and loving father - wholeheartedly devoted to Christ, passionately loving to his wife, a role model to his children, and unflinching until his last breath to the cause much greater than him. An era came to a close with his death. He's said to have been planning his funeral in advance, so that the Gospel would be heard by many - fittingly a leading newspaper put it as ‘Billy Graham Holds One Last Crusade – His Funeral’. 

India’s deathly dance with intolerance

I read an op-ed on Quint (an Indian publication) this morning, titled ‘Why India should not forget the murder of Graham Staines'. Staines was an Australian missionary who was burnt to death by a mob in Manoharpur, Orissa, along with his 2 sons, 7-year old Phillips and 10-year old Timothy. The mob was led by Dara Singh, with links to the Bajrang Dal, a fringe political outfit known for inciting communal violence. Their crime was leaving the comforts of their native land, and making India their home, among the most disenfranchised in society. The Staines family had opened a leprosy home among adivasis, literally washing the sores of those rejected by their own communities. The event sent shock waves throughout the country, and awakened Christians to the fragility of the much-touted fabric of co-existence. 

India has been for the longest time, proud of being a secular democracy, and most leaders of repute have at least paid strong lip service to the values of tolerance and the right to practice and propagate religion, without threats or interference from the government. For the first time, in a long time, things are changing with rapid intensity. 

I was born and raised in Mumbai, and as a first in my memory, saw a policeman posted outside my church on Christmas. There has been a ferocious increase in the crimes against minorities, including Muslims, since then. Muslims, who have had a far more tenuous history with co-existence in India, have been beaten to a pulp, or brutally killed for the mere offense of consuming or storing beef. On occasion, the meat did not even turn out to be beef. 

Of late, crosses are being torn out, churches vandalized, and pastors beaten. What used to happen in the cover of dark, now happens brazenly in daylight. The nefarious elements of society have come crawling out of the woodwork, emboldened by the blatant and unapologetic Hindutva agenda of the BJP government that’s in power. The Prime Minister is deafeningly silent on violence against Christians and does not use the power of his office to dissuade the same group of people who are also his vocal and staunch supporters. 

I wish I could say my countrymen are outraged and are demanding answers from their elected leaders. Apart from the minority commission, and a few opinion pieces, there are no booming voices. I listened with shock as a colleague dismissed reports of persecution against Christians, as being overblown and not a big deal in reality. People have a right to their own opinions, they even have a right to their own prejudices, but not to their own facts. When we can’t even operate from a baseline of truth, reasoned engagement is no longer possible. 

A recent report described the plight of a group of people thrown in jail in Madhya Pradesh who only crime was to go out caroling on Christmas night. According to Open Doors’ World Watchlist, released in January 2018, India now ranks 11th in the world among countries where Christians face extreme persecution, faring only better than Iran. Those sharing the ignominy? Such luminaries as North Korea, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iraq and Yemen. It is a tragic blot on the country’s reputation, a travesty of our legacy, and yet nobody from the political class is bemoaning the sordid state of affairs. In 4 short years, persecution has become par for the course. 

As Indians, we must realize that a government that stands for and protects the rights of minorities, will also be in the best interest of the majority. Nations elect leaders who are a reflection of their values. We didn’t rail against the government when they encroached on press freedom, individual liberties, on the right to peaceful protests, or even the basic right to eat what we please. 

So now, our nation has ended up getting the leaders we deserve. 

#Quint #Persecution #India #Christians #Minoritycommission #OpenDoorsWorldWatchlist

Your favorite TV show could reveal a lot about you

I have never been a fan of television. I’ve preferred books, always. The TV shows I’ve enjoyed usually have an information-rich quality to them. 

Recently, in the Netflix age, I began binge-watching ‘Bones’. It’s a series with a brilliant forensic anthropologist as its lead. She’s the foremost expert in the world in her field, and she knows it. She is teamed up with an empathetic FBI agent, and together they solve perplexing crimes. Rallied to the cause, is a group of super nerds, equipped with state-of-the art technology in the Jeffersonian, a prestigious Washington D.C. medico-legal laboratory. There’s a nerdy botanist/chemist/entomologist, a talented artist cum computer savant, an impressive coroner, and a freakishly smart group of interns. 

Each episode pays spectacular attention to detail, each frame is rich with specifics, and the 40 minutes are held in a taut, fast-paced narrative. You come out of each episode appreciative of the realism that is conveyed, even when the events seem bizarre and often feature chilling murders, and grotesque criminals. 

Through all this, there is a back story to each of the lead characters. It plays out naturally, like the white noise from an air conditioner, without too many jarring peaks or troughs. It does depict tragedy, heartache, devastation, pain and loss, true to portraying real life, but it does not overpower the scientific temper of the show, nor its tight focus on the interplay between the skills of the characters. 

#Bones ran for 12 seasons, a rare feat for a series. When I finished the last episode, it was as if I lost a friend. 

In comparison, Grey’s Anatomy similarly, had a really long run. I began watching it a few years ago, in anticipation of the medical theme of the show. I liked all things Biology and felt drawn to the terminology, the techniques, the discussions. But a few seasons in, the medicine took a backseat to the personal drama of the characters. In a few short seasons, characters were routinely dying, being killed, thrown out of airplanes, involved in mass shootings, without any signs of catching a break. In other words, it became too Shonda Rhimesy. I let go. 

Obviously, I’m not suggesting one’s choice of a TV show can be used to draw up a psychological profile. But it got me thinking as to why I enjoyed one show and discarded the other, which was a far bigger commercial hit, with more characters becoming pop culture references. 

Maybe it says something about me. A preference for logic, analysis, realism, and an impatience with melodrama, pulp, and incredulity. Maybe my conclusions are flawed. 

                                                                                              #popculture #psychology

Unsocial media: The stranglehold of the modern feedback loop

I was blown away by the recent comments made by Chamath Palihapitiya, a former Facebook executive, expressing guilt over his contribution to the impact of social media on society. It’s rare for an insider, particularly a wealthy beneficiary of the product he helped turn into a giant, to reflect on how it’s changed human dynamics for the worse. 

Prior to him, other notable names have come out and ‘revealed’ what many of us instinctively understood - the dopamine rush we experience from receiving feedback when we share moments of our lives online. Humans thrive on the approbation of their fellow beings. It has always been that way, except now, we seek more and more stimuli not only from friends and family, but from the world at large. Social media understands our psychology and exploits it. 

This came home to me, when I came across an explanation for how Twitter has us hooked. When I log into Twitter, the first thing I notice, is the notification icon, which shows how many people have liked or retweeted my content. There was always a slight lag in the popping up of the number of notifications. I made nothing of it. Turns out, the lag is completely intentional and not a glitch that needs a fix. Twitter keeps you tentacled and eagerly expectant as you wait for notifications to show up, not unlike addiction to substances. 

No one is immune from the effects of using social media, since we are wired to desire physiological rewards like the dopamine release. Even realizing the harm that excessive exposure brings, does not do us much good, since we do not want to risk being isolated from a world where more and more transactions, commercial or social are conducted online. 

I wanted to set a day apart this week to reflect and mediate, but grew restless and began reaching automatically for my phone. It’s simply the default response now to an idle minute - mindlessly checking content on the phone. 

I believe I’m a measured and controlled user of social media - I resist the urge to post more than the occasional picture, and thus feel relatively insulated from the desire to check the number of thumbs and hearts and smiles and comments. Detachment should have come easier to me, yet, I found myself reaching for the phone.

I posit that our online habits have a real effect on our real-world behavior. I’ve seen parents create social media accounts for their babies, with glowing pride, recklessly chaining their children to their own false sense of worth. Far too many are obsessed with presenting a rose-tinted view of their lives, triggered by wistfully gazing at others’ filtered images, commingling reality with delusion.  

It’s easy for anyone with a smartphone to catapult to 15 minutes of fame, so we all feel like we deserve a shot. The anonymity of the internet allows us to give free rein to our worst instincts, its reach makes pundits out of couch dwellers, its filters allow us to brush out scars and defects.

Broken homes, shattered dreams, pained hearts, and spurned hopes do not make for good uploads. So, every once in a while, just disconnect. Get off the grid. Stop building your identity through your online persona. Don’t be bowled over by the sepia posts of your friends and co-workers. Strive to be firmly grounded and deeply rooted to reality.  

Enjoy the benefits of social media with a loose hand. When you do, it cannot get a grip on you. 

Don’t let’s confuse hashtags with happiness.