As I flipped the pages of the Forbes 30 Under 30 article of the December 2017 issue, you know as one does regularly to give oneself some perspective, I came across some “visionaries” of music, flowers, tissue culture and smart apps.
I’m not saying that it is a dream of mine to get on this list, but I would like to think of myself as a formidable contender one day.
But then reality strikes me as I realize that my chosen field of Religious Studies is one that is considered to be far from a money-making scheme or that I’m on the grind to churn out cash. Public perception is that I have a better chance at churning a church or a cult or maybe even a new religion by the time I graduate (Scientology has rich followers doesn’t it, scandals aside).
Let me set things clear though first, just because I am a Religious Studies Major does not mean I have absolved myself off all earthly things for the good and pure of the world. What pure and good when it is the material that drives the world?
Money, the literal form of the material is what drives religion as well. The whole concept of the Prosperity Gospel that drives people to stadiums for churches in their Porsches and Lamborghinis to the driving force behind the current White House, money, wealth and power are at the heart of religion and religious disputes.
The notorious ISIS did not just bomb thousands of people in a grand gesture of karmic justice, but in an effort to right the wrongs, started with righting the capitalistic system first. By paying their employees thousands of Syrian pounds, they leveled the playing field.
But coming back to the 30 under 30 list, after going through pages and lists of names who are the “visionaries” of 2018, I now think I would have a chance if I started an exclusive religion for women or a cutesy religion that sells Hello Kitty as its God, maybe then I would be a contender. It is about followers/clients and the offering/revenue I make out of it after all and the impact made thus.
If not for selling Hello Kitty as God, I would think that I can make money by suing the people around me for the microaggression I go through on account of being the only Indian in my field (at my University) and bring about awareness and help erase ignorance and stereotype thus. What do you think?