Political Influencer in Indian Democracy
Source Title: Economic and Political Weekly Journal, Quartile: Q2,
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Dhruv Rathee exemplifies the rise of YouTube as a platform for political commentary and social media activism in India. Blending factual rigour with conversational style he mobilises audiences against authoritarian drift under Modi. His influence highlights the transformative role of digital platforms while exposing tensions between YouTube influencers and traditional journalism.
Examining the Intervention of Religion in Indian Politics Through Hindutva Under Modi Regime
Source Title: Religions, Quartile: Q1, DOI Link
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This review article analyses the wide-ranging influence of Hindutva in Indian politics over the decade of Narendra Modi’s tenure as Prime Minister of India. The study analyses the survival, reproduction, and development of Hindutvain conflict with modernisation processes in India despite the country’s secular constitutional democracy. This is achieved by examining the developments in the Indian political landscape and policy administration through the prism of the symbiotic relationship between the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), signalling the fusion of political power and Hindu religious principles. By contributing to the literature on religion and politics, through a comprehensive examination of political rhetoric, policy shifts, and societal attitudes, this review article examines the role of Hindutva in shaping the trajectory of governance and politics in India during Narendra Modi’s leadership.
Futuristic Cities as Marvels of Social Exclusion in India: A Case Study of Amravati
Source Title: Polycriisis and Economic Development in the Global South, DOI Link
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Over the past few decades, the rhetoric of smart and futuristic cities has defined the agenda of urbanisation in India. The underpinnings of these projects are heroic assumptions of modernity(ies) to achieve new goals and aspirations often assuming forms of urban utopia and taking a disruptive approach to urban planning. Our research, which focuses on the capital project of Amaravati in Andhra Pradesh, shows how the idea of Amaravati in its built and imagined form makes sense to various stakeholders. The research was conducted using qualitative field-based research methods in four villages (Neerukonda, Kuragallu, Ionolu and Nowluru) in the Amaravati capital region. Based on recent interventions in the studies of postcolonial urbanism we propose three key arguments. First, Amaravati in its built and imagined form confirms and negotiates the global discourse on world class city. The second, idea of Amaravati is conceived and progressed by presenting a futuristic vision rooted in the historical patterns of Telugu aspirations for a modern technocratic state. Third, Amaravati embodies the spirit of speculative urbanism, and the project is propelled by the grammar of speed. Lastly, the chapter shows how the idea of world-class in the Global South is imagined and formed by a complex network of inter-referencing and worlding practices.
Faith and Healing: Exploring Alternative Medicine
Source Title: Science and Philosophy in Indian Knowledge System,
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Fideism is a school of thought that gives importance to faith as against reason in matters related to religion. Fideism is defined as “the view that religious belief systems are not subject to rational evaluation” (Peterson, 2003). But matters related to religion do not confine only to the transcendental aspects of religion, it also impacts and influences the socio-cultural and ethical aspects (Durkheim, 1912). In this paper, the researcher discusses one such socio-cultural aspect of religious faith, that is, religious healing. Faith-based healing is often considered one form of alternative medicine (Andrew Village, 2005). In this paper, she explores this faith-based healing and contends that not all forms of faith-based healing can be appropriated. She tries to give a theoretical justification as to which forms of faith-based healing can be adopted and which need not be. The research is analytical and critical in nature based on materials that include books and articles written on fideism and different religious Texts.
Can Capability Approach Pave the Way for Religion? A Study in the Context of Rorty’s Private/Public Sphere’s Debate
Source Title: Journal of Indian Council of Philosophical Research, Quartile: Q3, DOI Link
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Rorty has been criticized for his pragmatic rationality by different thinkers like Stout, Steven carter. Here in this article our main focus is Novoa's criticism of Rorty's solution to the challenges of evidentialism. Novoa feels that religion needs not be conversation stopper as long as it does not compromise on capabilities (Novoa, 2017). This is what he calls pragmatic rationality. He takes pragmatic rationality based on capabilities. So in this article we argue against Novoa saying that capabilities are not clearly defined and hence the criteria set forth by Novoa have to be revised. The criteria set forth by him are too general, for instance world relationships, etc. The reasons for revising the criteria are too general, no unanimity in what are capabilities and even the specified capabilities are not precise.
Are not the new atheists dogmatic
Source Title: Ravenshaw Journal of Philosophy,
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Richard Dawkins (2006), Dennett (2006), Sam Harris (2004), Hitchens (2007) are some of the recent defenders of atheism. Their main argument in criticizing religion is that religion does not allow reason. They opine that religion is rigid, irrational and inflexible. The new atheists talk about religion as a whole that may include theistic beliefs and the social and cultural aspects of religious practices. Contrary to the opinion they hold, we claim that reason plays an important role in theism. If theism is dogmatic, then, there would not have been any scope for reasoning out the theistic ideas. But there were many attempts made to give scope for understanding God through reason. We bolster our position from three arguments. The first argument is from the religious scriptures. The second argument is from the advent and advance of natural theology. The third argument is from some prominent recent religious heads positions on accommodating scientific truths.
Religious Evil? A Response to Hitchens’ View on Hinduism
Source Title: Journal of East- West Thoughts,
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The new atheists have been quite critical about religion. Their criticisms do not just confine to religious doctrines, and unavailability of reason in religion, they also extend their criticisms against all aspects of religion. The criticisms include doctrinal and speculative components about religion (Dawkins 2006, Dennett 2006) and also the ill-effects of social and cultural practices that emerge out of religion. In this article, we focus on the New Atheists criticism of Hinduism. The new atheist remarks that Hinduism as a religion has specific social and cultural practices that go against the value of modern values of gender equality and human rights (Hitchens 2007). Notably, Hitchens claims that Hinduism as a religion has practices like Suttee (Sati). We contend in this article that Hitchens' criticisms against Hindu practices like Suttee (Sati) confine to a very few sets of people, and it may not be the mainstream understanding of Hinduism We bolster our position from the following arguments. 1. This practice was never sanctioned in the Hindu Scriptures. 2. It is more a social evil than a religious one; hence, religion cannot be blamed for this practice. 3. This social practice was in less number, but the number has been increased for vested interests. 4. Moreover, thinkers and social reformers were trying from their side to reduce and reject this evil practice, and 5. This practice alone cannot be taken as a claim that religion is bad.
Wittgensteinian Response to New Atheism
Source Title: Wittgensteinian realms of Religious Beliefs, Values and Metaphysics,
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Several new atheists claim that they can give positive reasons for denying the existence of God. (Everitt, 2004). One of the famously known arguments on this issue is the teapot argument. Put forward by Bertrand Russell originally; this argument recently was taken up by new atheists like Richard Dawkins. Dawkins says, 'you have to be agnostic about the teapot, but that doesn’t mean you treat the likelihood of its existence as being on all fours with its non-existence’ (Dawkins, 2002, 2006). This argument proposes to claim the 'non-existence' of God based on the analogy of 'non-existence' of teapot (Garvey, 2010). In this article, we contend that analogical argument of teapot and God is misconceived. We strengthen our argument by taking cue from Wittgenstein's view on God and religion.
Love, Desire and Void- Reading The Tale of Nomadic Soul
Source Title: Book Section,
Can Fideism escape from ethical challenges?
Source Title: Ethical Issues: Debate and Discussions, DOI Link
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Fideism is a school of thought that tends to hold no place for reason in religious issues. What matters most is faith. Many evidentialists have questioned this faith. In the first part of the article, I shall discuss how different theologians and fideists understand religion and religious beliefs. Furthermore, the second section deals with some criticisms related to religion and religious believers face, I shall head towards the conclusion by claiming that apart from natural theology or other philosophical challenges, fideism might face ethical challenges.
Self-Knowledge and Personal Identity
Source Title: Epistemology: Western Philosophy,
