empowerment, religion & gender?

Overall, there is one thing, which is very important for every human being – empowerment… its something, which makes us all equal and gives us our rights.  But, who violates human rights the most? Other human beings…  and its really strange to see it this terrible way.  But, why then is empowerment so hard to come by?  Why does it take so much effort to be fair to another human being?  Insecurity…  need for power, it stops us unconsciously from willing to empower others.  We try to control so many things, so many resources.  And block empowerment in million different ways.  Of course, there are some people, who consciously try to be givers as much as possible.  

And religion is one way of blocking this empowerment.  Tie up a person in to some mythology and give them the belief that prayer is the biggest solution to overcome obstacles..  and you handcuff & tie a blindfold on their brain.  Their rationality gets submerged, and they will concentrate on praying to their fullest ability possible. 

Religion is the opium of the masses… quoted someone.  This bhakti, or devotion is in a way such an addiction.  Its like sleep, or some kind of distraction.  

 If you practice and practice, then you can learn to pray and get into some kind of trance.  It’s a nice state of mind, where you feel peaceful and empowered.  But, its just like the state of intoxication, after consuming alcohol.  The drunk person, feels great, invincible, confident..  but temporarily only.  Of course, prayer might not have physically damaging impact as alcohol has.  It can also give you a relaxed feeling.  

(one way to realize, how repetitive religious practice is what conditions a human being to firmly believe in one religion can through a question - how many believers do you know, who have embraced a religion, after accidentally coming  across, a holy book?  like in a book store, some person goes and sees a holy religious book and after reading it, accepted as his/her religion from then on?  - that doesnt happen..  it happens through years of conditioning, when we are children). (check out "doug stanhope" on religion - he is a standup comedian and you can find his video's on youtube).

But, imagine, all over the world, there are more religious people than non religious.  Most people have prayed most of their life, or for some part of their life.  But has the violence and hatred come down?  At that state, for that temporary period, they feel holier than thou..  and that’s it. 

And who prays the most?  Women or men? 

And why is that?

The people with least amount of empowerment are easy prey for prayer.  As the saying goes, a drowning man will clutch a straw, a person, who feels lost, least empowered, will clutch prayer beads with most ferocity.  And just like an alcoholic, they will deny their addiction.  Defend why they use it.  Bring god into it.  And if the person who’s trying to show them this addiction, being rational and logical, would give it up as a useless exercise.  Just like, most people would, after arguing with any addict. 

What’s the worst symbol of slavery?  Whatever you are supposed to wear.  The whole society force you to wear those symbols of slavery.  Your own kind / or your fellow slaves will also force you to keep those symbols on your body.  Of course, without realizing its symbols of slavery.  

Which discriminated groups am I talking about here?  In India, the lower castes had to keep many such things, such as a broom, to indicate they are of a lower caste.  But, that has changed.  Casteism lost its control over what each caste person should wear, to a large extent in India.  

But, what about women?  Especially women in India?  They are tied down to what they should wear.  Bangles and other such ornaments are another symbol…  you are supposed to look pretty and feminine.  Of course, immediate reaction would be, of denial.  I do it, because I love it.. . its my own preference..  

I often see those bangles as chains.  Of course, there is the golden chain around the neck..  sometimes more than one chain.  Of course, its made of gold, so its tolerable.  I guess maybe they’ve never heard, for a bird, a golden cage is still a cage.  Well, there will be a time in future, when just as one cannot distinguish the caste of a person, on the basis of their clothing / dress style in India now, similarly men and women will be indistinguishable as men.  Or a genderless society, as facebook now has as an option, while describing your gender ;)  Probably, then, there won't be any difference between which gender prays more?