"Nationalism" as terrorism

John 18: 33-38

V.33b “…Are you the King of the Jews?...”

The discourses on Nationalism can become powerful weapons at the hands of the power wielding elites of the country to silence the dissenting voices. Throughout his earthly ministry in Palestine Jesus was too vocal against all forms of unjust oppressions of the people, especially by the ruling class. The loud resonance of his voice, which assured the people of the Roman Palestine of the intimate indwelling of God in their struggles for liberation, was in fact a threat to the self aggrandizing agendas of the political and religious establishments at Jerusalem. They were searching for an opportunity to trap Jesus and stamp him as an anti-nationalist. The major accusation raised against Jesus by the Jerusalem power block was that he claimed to be the king of the Jews. This claim was projected as a challenge to the political authority of the Caesar. The nationalism discourses initiated and maintained in Palestine was very complex as it drew energy from both the Jewish expectation of Messiah and also the collaboration of religious leaders with the Roman Empire to consolidate their power over the Palestinian Jews. Jesus’ counter discourses of power of God to be manifested in the experiences of the kingdom of God were exposing the contradictions in the edifices of power of both the Romans and the elites of the Jewish society. Nationalism discourses here becomes weapons at the hands of the power wielding class to convict an innocent and daring man who was the voice of God, announcing nearness of God’s Kingdom for the poor and the immanence of God’s Judgement on the wicked elites.

Many of those men and women who keep a clear conscience to safeguard the human rights in the country feel that expressing dissent in today’s Indian socio-political context has become a perilous act as the dissenters can be easily stamped as anti-nationalists and terrorists. Here nationalism becomes an overarching ideology that demands the unwavering devotion of the citizens and coerces the imaginative freedom of individuals and groups.

Thought for the Day

What do we do when we see the line demarcating nationalism and terrorism fades out and ideologies are imposed neglecting political aspirations of people with difference?

Prayer

God of Power and Might, we seek strength from you to resist the impositions of terrorizing nationalist discourses. Help us to seek the welfare of all people of our country, who represent varied political and social ambitions. Amen