In an era that touts scepticism and rationality, it's easy to think that moving away from traditional belief systems like religion leads to a more secular, reasonable perspective. However, casting off religious beliefs doesn't always leave an intellectual blank canvas. More frequently, it results in a rush to fill that void with new forms of faith, and Woke, the vicious offspring of political correctness, has notably emerged as one such replacement.
Human nature, like nature itself, abhors a vacuum. When you remove one belief system, the vacuum left behind isn't vacant for long. And in our modern era, social justice ideologies or what's broadly termed as "Wokeness" frequently steps in to fill this space.
Saying goodbye to Sunday services doesn't mean you won't find a congregation. The church of Wokeness is open 24/7, on every social media platform. Here, Original Sin is replaced by inherent privilege, and evangelism occurs through vocal activism and cancel culture. The objective might appear noble – equality, justice – but the dogmatic approach can be strikingly similar to what you might find in traditional religious circles.
The Internet age, despite its promise of global connectedness, has spawned ideological echo chambers where the tenets of Wokeness are preached, refined, and enforced. While you may have left behind the fear of eternal damnation, a new type of excommunication awaits those who dare question the new doctrine.
Just because a belief system is modern doesn’t make it rational. New-age doctrines also need to stand the test of sceptical inquiry. The zealousness accompanying Wokeness, in its worst forms, can rival the religious fervour of old. The belief that you're fighting for universal justice can sometimes blind you to the complexities and nuances of individual justice.
Regardless of how altruistic the intent, any ideology can be perverted into dogma if it remains unquestioned. Critical thinking, open debate, and the freedom to disagree are cornerstones of a healthy intellectual community. We need a balancing perspective to any form of ideological extremism, be it traditional religion or modern Wokeness.
The act of moving away from traditional belief systems like religion doesn't necessarily leave you in a no-man's-land of intellectual scepticism. Quite the contrary, you might find yourself in the fervent crowds of the newly woke. The challenge, then, isn't just to move away from old dogmas but to approach new ones with the same critical scrutiny.
In a landscape that's quick to replace old idols with new ones, continuous scepticism could be our most valuable asset. After all, the true mark of a free thinker isn't the absence of belief, but the willingness to question every belief – including the trendy new ones.