Communism = Religion?

Today did a bit of research on the world’s independent and not really common religions – Zoroastrianism and Baha’ism.

Well, Zoroastr turned out to be something like what we were told in school – everything started with Zoroaster, who believed in one God, and used fire in rituals. We still have the remainders of that religion in our Kazakh culture – we burn some special dried grass over heads of kids if we think that evil eye has disturbed them.

But Baha’ism was quite a new thing for me. I have never heard about this religion until recently, when I got to know that the person I thought was Muslim is Baha’i. The religion has started with Shi’a Islam but then was introduced to world as a non-Muslim religion. It practices the 12 principles, some of which are Unity of God, Unity of mankind, Unity of religion, Equality of genders. Sounds good huh. And then I read further – universal compulsory education, universal language. And it somehow resembled communism or socialism to me. Something like what we had in USSR. Everyone to be educated, everyone to speak one language and everyone to believe in only one set of rules and to be treated equally, regardless of gender, race and descendants.

And it sounds so awkward in the same time – communism does not allow any religion to be in place. But in the same time, if you think carefully, you realise that actually communism by itself can be a religion. I believe there always will be that superior person at the top of the country, which practices communism. Without strong leader people do not seem to act in order and to obey the rules. They have to have that punishing power to keep them equal.

I believe that all of us have equal rights, but not equal opportunities. And some people can’t have those rights at all, as it might harm others (e.g. criminals or psychos who threaten lifes of others). And I don’t think that people have to speak one and only language. It is just wrong. Because language has that authentic cultural flavour in it and if person does not speak the language of his race then he’s simply losing his roots, his own past. And that’s the beauty of the mankind – everyone having their own cultures to share, to learn, to be thrilled by.

But of course, education point is very understandable to me. Education is the way for the person to excell in future. It gives you the tools to operate your life, the understanding of the world beyond your doorstep, to learn the world critically. Some people do drop out from schools and unis, but I’m sure they’ve regretted about that, though they would never admit.

Not the only day

Tomorrow is St. Valentine’s Day. And maybe today it was St. Andrew’s Day? I got no idea. But I wonder how many more St’s days there in the year! And I’m sure each and every day is.

So what’s so special about this one? The story says this was the day that the saint has died. He was helping those in love to get married regardless of the family permission. And everyone thinks it’s the manifestation of love? Hmmm.

I can’t say that I don’t like this holiday, and it has been good for me for the past 2 years, but there is something weird and artificial about it. People suddenly get obsessed with pink colors, teddy bears and flowers. If you have loved one, you have to go out somewhere and have a Romantic Dinner. There’s more of show-off in this holiday, than real feelings, from my point of view. To see who got more flowers on the day, who has more admirers, who went for the most romantic dinner. Nah, I am not in the club.

But on the other hand, it is a reminder to celebrate love! Though we have to celebrate every day and moment of it.

Yesterday went out with my boss and his wife. And she said the most true thing “Every day is Valentine’s Day”.

Celebrate your life with your loved ones!