QUESTION: I am fed up with the hypocritical behaviour of our leaders both in politics and in religion. Many of us also favour it. Can we think of an authentic life when there are masks in and around us? – Felix Machado

ANSWER: Saji Mathew Kanayankal CST

Hypocrisy is a very common phenomenon today. Though we cannot make a close analysis of its origin, growth and density in society, it can be assumed that when people forget their original vision and move towards some ill-contrived ideas and moral codes, they may fall into the pit of hypocrisy. George Orwell’s political allegory, ‘Animal Farm’ is an excellent paradigm that narrates the movement towards hypocrisy. He sarcastically shows that politics is not about, and should not be reduced to, a choice between sincerity and fakery. After the defeat of Mr Jones, two pigs, Napoleon and Snowball who led the successful revolution of animals, became the leaders of the new farm and they changed its name as well. The pigs painted on the side of the barn the seven commandments of animalism, the most important among them was “all animals are equal.” Though everything was ‘good’ in the initial days, Napoleon has been privately raising puppies. Slowly we see the creeping of competition, groupism and betrayal in the new farm. Napoleon and Snowball became the representatives of two distant groups. With the support of the puppies, Snowball has been kicked off the farm, and Napoleon became the sole leader. Napoleon and his allies began ‘anti-animalism behaviour’, such as doing business with men and drinking whiskey. The dictates of the present team were unquestionable and the motto that “all animals are equal” is changed into the reality of “all animals are equal but some animals are more equal than others.” The story is more applicable in contemporary society where politics, as well as religion, become mere tools in the hands of “wanton boys who kills the flies for their sport.”
Self-Deception to Social Dysfunction
“Hypocrisy is nothing but the detritus of the sacrifice of trust, logic and principles.” The Oxford English Dictionary defines hypocrisy as “the assuming of a false appearance of virtue or goodness, with dissimulation of real character or inclinations, especially in respect of religious life or beliefs; hence in a general sense, dissimulation, pretence, and a sham.” A hypocrite is a dissembler, a pretender, whose actions and attitude do not match with the principles he preaches or pretends to believe. It is merely a self-deception. A hypocrite, continues the dictionary, “is someone who acts differently than his or her stated believes.” At the same time, hypocrisy cannot be linked exclusively with religion or religious beliefs. We do have its experience in the political scenario today. In the post-truth era, dysfunction, paid news and various kinds of fake news fill the social atmosphere with filth, enmity and hatred. In such an atmosphere the right discernment is almost an impossible venture. It is true that through hypocrisy one may gain some temporal or political gain, but ultimately, it leads to social dysfunction and discord.
In some sense, we all are hypocrites, for we do not live according to our expectations or moral standards. From this perspective, one can argue that hypocrisy is a form of adaptation, a kind of survival tool, where one tries to adjust to the changing scenario of contemporary reality. For example, in present India, where hypocrisy and political populism become political tools for a social modus-operandi how can one survive? Through the new narrations and ‘dreams of modern India’ as well as through the powerful propagandistic tackles we, as a country, forget, ignore and forsake the political values, secular credentials, and the sanctity of democracy proposed and promoted by the freedom fighters. Many Indian politicians who espoused secular ideals some years back and criticised the right-wing fanaticism, seemed to be ignorant about it today and joined in hand with the present political regime. The opposition parties have been unable to find a proper response mainly because of their egoism and self-centeredness. The blind support of the media, the prudential silence of the judiciary, and the polarisation within the democratically elected institutions are some vivid examples of hypocrisy. The Church, though it is the mystical body of Christ, as a pilgrim community on earth and as an organisation in its structure, is not free from hypocrisy.
Hypocrisy within the Church
For many, religion is a good business and anything can be sold out in the name of God. Many of us are fed up with the stories of ‘new Avatars’ or self-assumed Godmen. When religion is digressed from its classical precepts, thrust, vision, mission and goals and focuses on the external and material institutionalised benefits, it moves in the path of hypocrisy. The Church, which is also part of society is not free from such kinds of pollution and contamination. Many hypocritical elements like self-deception, nepotism, favouritism, simony, spiritual worldliness, tepidness, intolerance, triumphalism, arrogance, self-gratification, etc., can be seen within the Church as well. The observation of Jacob Peenikaparambil (Indian Currents, 06 August 2018), is interesting; “Retreat centres and prayer houses have multiplied; new devotions are introduced; and pilgrimages are promoted as religious tourism by the Church personnel. At the same time, the practice of the Christian values like justice, respect for human dignity and human rights, sensitivity, raising voice against injustice and exploitation, etc. have taken a back seat.”
In his article, ‘Six Ways the Church Becomes Hypocritical’, Sam Rainer speaks of six important ways of spreading hypocrisy in the Church as an organisation. First, when a Church becomes fixated on external preferences and not internal devotion, it moves to be hypocritical. Jesus proclaimed the Kingdom God and he insisted on the interior transformation of every individual and thus preached repentance or conversion as the primary sign of the Kingdom. Authentic conversion will not be satisfied with external practises, rather it invites a personal transformation to live an authentic faith. When the Church forgets its fundamental principle and gives undue importance to external practices it moves into a ‘big hypocritical terror.
Second, when the Church neglects people and falls in love with commitment, it becomes hypo critic. Commitment is good and it is important for the growth and development of the institution as well as for society. However, if one neglects fellow human beings and give undue importance to the system than the human person, it forgets the fundamental values. Throughout his ministry, Jesus challenged and criticised the Pharisees for loving what they were doing more than why they were doing it.
Another way of hypocrisy is the mimicking of religious practices. People make religion as fun, a type of game, where the relationship with God is reduced to a mere play or funny game with songs, dances, howling, whispers and so on. External expressions are good and necessary for the actualisation of religious experience. But when one forgets the interiority and is satisfied with the external expressions, religion becomes a tool for self-satisfaction. The prayers become mere mimics. People will be happy to praise Jesus and glorify him in prayer meetings and adorations and after the ‘service,’ if they do not practise the message of the gospel through their life or if they do not give importance to the value of the Kingdom of God, the prayers become mere utterances. Religious practises and prayer services are considered a ‘veil’, ‘a religious facade’, to present to those around them. If people who call themselves Christians spread hatred and intolerance instead of love, mutual respect and acceptance, they are hypocrites. The fourth way of hypocrisy is the execution of ‘artificial religious rules’, which may have some good intentions but when it confuses the gospel message, its followers fall into the pit of hypocrisy.
Fifth is the murder of true worship. When the Church focuses on the ritualistic presentation of worship and forgets the soul of the human person in its involvement, worship becomes a mere external act. Rainer compares it with the two worships in the Old Testament. While Abel presented ‘an acceptable offering because it reflected the true heart of worship’, the ‘religious presentation of Cain’ was not acceptable to God. As Isaiah tells, for the Lord, offering without heart is futile and the incense they offer is an abomination. The Lord will not be happy with solemn assemblies with iniquity. He hates the solemn feasts in the name of him and those sacrifices and celebrations become a ‘burden for him’ (Ish 1:12-15). Jesus also denounces hypocritical practices, prayers, fasting, judgmentalism, and piety, and he was highly critical when they used religion to leverage power (Mt 23: 1-36).
Finally, religion becomes a burden to the people. When the authorities turn into the proponents of the false ‘gospel of legalism’ and forget its real value, religion becomes a burden than a consolation. In this sense, the leaders of the Church become highly hierarchical and self-centred and they assume that they are specially chosen or elected. It is from this conviction that they usually consider themselves ‘privileged and burdened’ with a special mission on behalf of the entire community. When every plausible legal structure supports its strength and provision, autocracy and authoritarianism do not accept the voice of the descent. Their self-confident arrogance, small-mindedness, and futility may make the life of believers miserable.
Seeing all these we should not assume that everything in the Church is hypocritical or false. We have many examples of selflessness, courage, moral action and reform and many other positive influences of the members of the Church on the world. Though the number is significantly invisible, authentic believers can function as a catalyst in a disrupted world. Sincere believers act with the virtue of fortitude, based on the gospel values, transformed by the resurrected Christ and inspired by the Holy Spirit, without fear, coercion and anxiety, there is hope. The tragedy of the animals on the farm was their ignorance and stupidity. They had lacked the capacity to process the events. Some of them proved themselves to be the ‘true followers’ with little ability to think or question themselves. Even after the treachery Napoleon, they worked for him assuming that they are working for the benefit of the farm. Christianity stands on the person of Jesus, and he was not a hypocrite. He lived consistently with what he taught, and even in the face of death, he challenged unethical practices and oppressive systems. The prophetic mission of each Christian is not different from Jesus. The choice is before us, either to lead an authentic life, follow the gospel values or be indifferent and silent in front of hypocrisy or cop up with it.