Nation and Religion Are Two Fundamental Ills of Mankind

By Sumit Paul, New Age Islam 15 May 2025 While I agree with Mr Asad Mirza's views expressed in his well-written article, Nationalism Not Clubbed with Religion,' there's no gainsaying the fact that today, nationalism itself has become a religion. First of all, nationalism is not to be confused with patriotism. While patriotism is a sense of pride and love for one's country, nationalism takes this sentiment to a more extreme level, often incorporating a sense of superiority and a desire for dominance over others. Nationalism can often lead to harmful actions and ideologies such as discrimination, xenophobia, and even war. By recognizing the difference between nationalism and patriotism, we can strive to cultivate a healthy sense of pride in our country without falling into the trap of harmful and divisive nationalist ideologies. Nationalism is power-worship. When individuals prioritize their allegiance to a nation above all else, they risk becoming blindly devoted to the government and the leaders in power, regardless of their actions or policies. This blind devotion can lead to the erosion of critical thinking and a willingness to overlook injustices committed in the name of nationalism. So, the importance of maintaining a balance between love for one's country and a commitment to universal principles of justice and equality is imperative. Nationalism is the habit of identifying oneself with a single nation or other unit, placing it beyond good and evil and recognizing no other duty than that of advancing its interests. By identifying so strongly with a single nation, individuals can become blinded to the complexities and nuances of global issues, viewing their nation as inherently superior to others. This narrow-mindedness can lead to a disregard for moral and ethical considerations in pursuit of national interests, ultimately creating a divisive and potentially harmful mind-set that undermines cooperation and understanding between nations. Nationalism is the worst enemy of peace. By placing excessive emphasis on a sense of pride and loyalty to one's own nation, individuals can become blinded to the perspectives and needs of others. This sense of superiority and exclusivity fuels conflict, division, and hostility between different nations, often leading to violence and war. In a world already plagued by numerous challenges and conflicts, nationalism only serves to exacerbate these problems and prevent the possibility of true peace and harmony. It is imperative that we recognize and resist the damaging effects of nationalism if we truly desire a peaceful and cooperative world. Remember, nationalism is a kind of collective egoism that demands the dehumanization of 'the other'. This dehumanization of 'the other' is a key feature of nationalism, as it involves viewing those outside of one's own group as inferior or less worthy of respect. By promoting this division between 'us' and 'them', nationalism can fuel hostility, discrimination, and conflict. This is a stark reminder of the destructive potential of nationalism when it is taken to an extreme, emphasizing the importance of recognizing and respecting the humanity of all individuals, regardless of their nationality. Nationalism, when taken to the extreme, can lead to irrational and harmful beliefs and actions that serve to divide societies rather than unite them. When individuals and societies become obsessed with their own national identity at the expense of others, it can result in prejudice, discrimination, and even violence. This highlights the dangerous consequences of allowing nationalism to become a dominant force in society, suggesting that it can infect entire populations and lead to a collective mental illness that promotes harmful ideologies and behaviours. When individuals prioritize their own nation and its interests above all others, it often leads to division, conflict, and a lack of empathy towards those from different backgrounds. True internationalism, on the other hand, emphasizes the importance of cooperation, understanding, and respect among nations, promoting a sense of unity and interconnectedness that transcends borders. By recognizing and overcoming the divisive nature of nationalism, we can work towards building a more inclusive and harmonious world for all. Nationalism is indeed the enemy of true internationalism. We mustn't forget that nationalism is a form of tribalism that elevates group loyalty above morality. It (nationalism) is a form of tribalism that can lead individuals to prioritize loyalty to their group above moral principles. This mind-set often results in justifying harmful actions towards individuals outside of the group, as well as the suppression of dissenting opinions within the group. By placing such a high value on national identity, individuals may feel justified in overlooking or excusing immoral behaviour in the name of patriotism. Nationalism often leads to exclusion, discrimination, and conflict, as individuals become more concerned with protecting their own group than with promoting unity and understanding between different cultures and nations. By placing an emphasis on national identity over common humanity, nationalism can foster division and animosity, leading to betrayal and harm towards those outside of one's own nation. Ultimately, true progress and peace can only be achieved through a sense of unity and cooperation that transcends artificial boundaries created by nationalism. Nationalism is a form of groupthink that leads to conformity and intolerance. It (nationalism) can be a dangerous ideology that promotes conformity and intolerance within a group. When individuals prioritize their national identity above all else, they may feel pressured to conform to certain beliefs and behaviours that align with their country's ideals. This can lead to a lack of tolerance for diversity and differing perspectives, as individuals within the group may view anything that challenges their national identity as a threat. Ultimately, nationalism can foster a narrow-mindedness that hinders progress and unity among people from different backgrounds. Nationalism is a form of spiritual poverty that leads to moral bankruptcy. Placing excessive value on one's national identity can lead to a lack of spiritual and moral development. By prioritizing one's allegiance to their nation above all else, individuals may neglect their own internal growth and personal morals. This mind-set can also foster division, resentment, and prejudice towards those who do not share the same national identity. Finally, like religion, nationalism is the opiate of the masses. Just like a drug, nationalism can have a powerful and addictive influence on people. It implies that just as opium dulls the senses and causes people to become numb to reality, nationalism has the ability to blind individuals to the complexities of the world and lead them to fanatical and narrow-minded thinking. That's the reason, Albert Einstein aptly said that nationalism is the measles of mankind. Instead of thinking globally, we start thinking so locally when the nation becomes our alpha and omega; be-all and end-all. Religion and nationalism are the fundamental ills of humanity. My religion and my country being the best are two pathological beliefs that have a debilitating effect on global peace. Remember, all these mundane identities weren't earned by you. You got them accidentally. Nation, religion, caste, class, family, so-called racial supremacy and all that jazz are mere accidents of birth. If you were born in Pakistan instead of India, today, you'd have been singing paeans to Pakistan! Rise above nation. Be global and think universally. But it'll take aeons for the lesser mortals. ---- A regular columnist for New Age Islam, Sumit Paul is a researcher in comparative religions, with special reference to Islam. He has contributed articles to the world's premier publications in several languages including Persian. URL: https://www.newageislam.com/spiritual-meditations/nation-religion-fundamental-ills-mankind/d/135539 New Age Islam, Islam Online, Islamic Website, African Muslim News, Arab World News, South Asia News, Indian Muslim News, World Muslim News, Women in Islam, Islamic Feminism, Arab Women, Women In Arab, Islamophobia in America, Muslim Women in West, Islam Women and Feminism