SLC-S29 | W3-“Thinking and Ideas! | Seeing Problems Differently!”

ghiasahmad (63)in Steem4Nigeria • 2 days ago (edited)

^{Assalamualaikum Everyone, I am Ghias Ahmad from #pakistan.}

There are many problems that exist in our society. Many people pay heed to them, and many ignore them. Inboth cases, society feels changes. When problems are ignored, they raise unexpected issues, and when they are solved, it saves the whole community and country from serious problems. In this blog, I had the chance to highlight a serious issue in my society that had remained hidden over the years. I am thankful to @ninapenda for organising this contest.

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✅Identify one everyday problem in your community or country and explain some steps in solving it.

One of the most common problems that I notice in my community and country, Pakistan, is the rising level of people's superstition. This leads people towards extremism and builds a high potential of lack of patience among them.

It is said "awareness is everything", but when a person with superstitious and blind believes accepts every fear of society. Such people are used by politicians for political and religious agendas.

Social Harms of Superstition

Distance from scientific evidence: Most people who are superstitious keep themselves away from science to the extent that they even deny scientific facts.

Religious extremism: Each group with different superstitions and wrong beliefs creates its own religion. In the same way, different groups become a reason for differences among themselves.

Financial exploitation: Due to superstitions, people treat their diseases by certain religious or superstitious professionals, which leads to their financial exploitation.

Medical harm: Since there is a strong scientific reason behind every disease, and people deny science and follow superstitions, they end up harming their health by visiting their superstitious leaders for treatment.

Intolerance and uncontrolled emotions: When their false beliefs are pointed out, religious people become intolerant (as happened many times in the society of Pakistan). Their emotions are used for several political and religious agendas.

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^{A religious temple, it is the place where superstitious activities are performed in my city.}

Some Steps of Solutions

Teaching scientific and critical thinking: We should teach our children that there is a scientific reason behind every action so that every action can be examined scientifically.
Correct explanation of religious education: Since almost all superstitions started due to the lack of knowledge of scholars, scholars must make it clear that they should convey knowledge to the people with their real purpose.
Role of media: People's favorite dramas, shows, serials, and films should be shown exploiting superstition because people often like to follow their favorite characters.

Summary:

Superstitions exist all over the world, but its most terrible form is religious extremism and personal differences that people of the same religion belonging to different groups engage in, which endangers peace and order.

✅Why do you think this problem still exists despite many people noticing it?

This is the right question to ask whether people note this problem, but why don't they do anything for solution? For this, my POV is below.

1️⃣ Normalization since childhood: Superstitions are not due to modernism; they are older than science. People have been practicing since their childhood, and they do not make any effort for chaos.

2️⃣ The Fear Psychology: The leaders of superior people who spread it among people, also spread a fear of hell or evil or bad luck if superstitious activities are not practiced or denied.

3️⃣ High Social Risk: People are busy in their daily lives. They think that they should involve themselves in boycotting superstitions as this does not harm them, while there is a great risk for protest and rising voices against.

4️⃣ Misplaced with religion and culture: The superstitious practices have been replaced by religion and culture, and therefore, people don't raise their voice as they respect their religion and culture too.

5️⃣ Bystander effect: This is a psychological effect, and it explains the psychology of the crowd that "someone with more knowledge and confidence will raise their voice first", as a result, nobody speaks.

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A good part is, many people have started to raise their voice on social media, and a strong centralization on this matter is expected in the coming years.

✅In your opinion, what is the most misunderstood part of this problem?

The most misunderstood part is "people believe in superstitions because they are uneducated, irrational, or ignorant", but when you visit the shrines, you will find:

✔ ️Highly educated people checking their horoscopes for luck.

✔ ️Businessmen looking for their lucky days.

✔ ️Degree holders for their jobs.

✔ ️Uneducated people for their false beliefs.

What’s really going on?

Acutally, superstitions are where the uncertainty hurts. When life feels uncomfortable, our brain looks for help. People suggest visiting certain places, and if the problems are solved by chance, the visitors make a strong belief, and that is why people can be seen at shrines.

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✅If you could change one mindset related to this issue, what would it be?

I'd change a core mindset among the people that:
Questioning a belief is not disrespecting religion or culture.

Essentially, this mindset will erase the problem if implemented correctly. The situations are like that:

Asking a question = Attacking the religious/cultural concepts.

What mindset should replace it?

“Questioning an idea is how we protect ourselves from being wrong, or how is that better than others?”

Benefits:

✅Not rebellion
✅Not arrogance
✅Not Pointing

We already do this in daily life:

We compare prices before buying
We read reviews before trusting a product
We get second medical opinions

And I think this is one of the best ways to solve or overcome the problem. If any fast or direct step is taken, the situation will become out of control, and society may face communal terror. This is one of the peaceful solutions.