Poverty via the Lens of World Religion
Religion shapes culture
It fosters both unification and division within the human tapestry, serving as the catalyst of transformative shifts, while also functioning as the shackles of confinement. It advocates for both freedom of thought, in addition to the boundaries of which to think. The constraints imposed by religion exert a profound influence on our worldview, compelling us to confront its inherent limitations.
It remains widely acknowledged that religion has been used as a political device since its creation. As an institution, religion is a product of human creation, distinctly different from the actuality of a higher power, which exists as a separate and nuanced domain.
Is Poverty the means to holiness?
The belief held in both Eastern and Western religions is that poverty, in some way, brings one closer to a state of sanctity, divinity, or reaching nirvana. For instance, in Buddhism, nirvana is attained through the relinquishment of greed, aversion, and ignorance. Buddhist monks partake in a "Round of Alms," where they humbly receive food donations from the community. Such a practice is esteemed because these monks, guided by faith, reject ego and pride, abstaining from possessing material property and sustenance.
The Bible conveys a similar notion through the teachings of Jesus, who states that to achieve perfection, one must sell their possessions and give to the poor in order to achieve heavenly treasure. In a verse to follow, Jesus delivers, "It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of God" (Matthew 19:24).
The Parallels
This presents an intriguing parallel in concept with Eastern religions, however strikingly contrast to the modern-day cultural reception of such acts. In the Western world, homelessness and panhandling are often stigmatized, with individuals in poverty being unjustly labeled as lazy and entitled, rather than being perceived with dignity as they are in the East. Despite the shared premise in teachings, how did Western society become so averse to poverty? How did a nation founded on Biblical principles deviate so far from the essence of the scriptural teachings? Furthermore, how do certain influential preachers obtain enormous wealth while embracing these very Biblical truths of holiness?
One could argue that certain aspects of Protestant Christianity in the Western world discarded teachings that discouraged the seeking of Earthly abundance. This could of course be due to the conflicting motives of leadership. Why adhere to constraining rules when the allure of substantial wealth is present? Rather than embracing the principles laid out in religious texts, it is easier to only educate on the pleasing aspects. Will this lead a nation striving for religious freedom to unquestioningly believe in the goodwill of their leaders, solely due to the perceived threat of a greater evil?
What does the future prevail?
As technology advances and our basic standard of living improves, one must ponder: what does it truly mean to be "poor" or "rich"? While poverty undoubtedly still exists, some of which is preventable while some is not, it prompts the question of whether attaining a state of true holiness or reaching nirvana would create the need to relinquish worldly comforts. Is discarding all possessions and living akin to the birds the only way to accomplish true holiness?