By Rev. Paul Graves
Let’s begin with a self-written epigram: “A prism separates light and creates beauty. An ism separates people from their kindness and creates division.” Not all isms intend to create toxic division. Still, it happens often.
Other isms separate people for control reasons: racism, ageism, communism, Christian nationalism, fascism, liberalism, conservatism, capitalism, totalitarianism, etc. Please add your own isms.
But I want to explore an ism new to my vocabulary: Indifferentism. In the 19th century, the word was coined to describe a belief that no one religion, philosophy, or belief system is superior to another; and that all religions are equally valid or equally unimportant.
Dr. B.R. Ambedkar changed all that in 1936. He was most famously known as the principal architect and “Father” of the Indian Constitution, and as a champion for the rights of marginalized communities. In his essay “Annihilation of Caste,” Dr. Ambedkar lashed out at the caste system in India. He “warns against apathy, coldness, and a lack of empathy in society.” In succinct terms, this is what he describes as Indifferentism. So do I.
I was drawn to this word – and its emphasis on not caring – after I wrote last month about the word “different” being a synonym of “holy”. Our frequent religious use of “holy” can too easily become a mindless routine.
But what makes our lives, or God for that matter, “holy”? I think being different lifts “holy” to a new level of personal awareness.
Likewise, Indifferentism reflects our tendencies toward apathy, not caring, unconcern, out-of-sight, out-of-mind thinking, and emotional detachment. It’s so different from our desired self-perceptions as caring and engaged.
In fact, I think a good case could be made that Indifferentism is the basic ism that gives rise to most all other toxic isms!
The dangers inherent in apathy infest every historical cultural movement and every religious tradition – especially toward people “not like us”. When we fall into the endless traps of indifference, it’s too easy to justify our not caring about others. And even about ourselves.
How about two biblical examples of Indifferentism? Consider the Good Samaritan parable in Luke 10: 25-37. Who is my neighbor? Not the Levite or priest, who paid no attention to the roadside victim. The Samaritan had compassion for the man. Jesus chose to elevate the Samaritan to “good guy”. That surprise can still catch us off guard.
Or how about the “lukewarm” churches of Laodicea in Revelation 3: 15-16? Christ reportedly spits them out of his mouth (metaphorically speaking) because of their collective spiritual apathy. I know of many churches today that should take that warning seriously. However, they may be indifferent to being lukewarm.
Politically, there seems to be no end to the cruelty and tragedy in our current climate, from elected national leaders to local leaders, even to private citizens. Their cruelty of thought and behavior does not speak of indifference, but of multiple kinds of fear.
But when legislators are indifferent to what happens to immigrants arrested without cause, or children going hungry, how can we respond? What is our choice? Indifferentism? Let’s be different enough, holy enough, to really care! Let’s reverse the cliché “I don’t give a damn” into the rally cry “Give a damn!”
Here are a few thoughts on how to fight Indifferentism in our lives – and thus make a difference in other persons’ lives:
Stay Alert (the world needs more alerts): Pay attention to the world around you and listen to marginalized voices. Practice basic human kindness and stand up against unfair treatment. Speak for the Voiceless and Marginalized: Support fairness and equal rights for everyone in society.
Fight your indifferentism! Be different/holy!
The Rev. Paul Graves is a retired elder member of the Pacific Northwest Conference of The United Methodist Church.
