How Apathy Toward Others Fuels Division
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(OPINION) Let’s begin with a self-written epigram: “A prism separates light and creates beauty. An -ism separates people from their kindness and creates division.” Not all -isms intend to create toxic division. Still, it happens often.
Other -isms separate people for control reasons: racism, ageism, communism, Christian nationalism, fascism, liberalism, conservatism, capitalism, totalitarianism, etc. Please add your own -isms.
But I want to explore an -ism new to my vocabulary: indifferentism. In the 19th century, the word was coined to describe a belief that no one religion, philosophy or belief system is superior to another; and that all religions are equally valid or equally unimportant.
Warning against apathy
Dr. B.R. Ambedkar changed all that in 1936. He was most famously known as the principal architect and “Father” of the Indian Constitution, and as a champion for the rights of marginalized communities. In his essay “Annihilation of Caste,” Dr. Ambedkar lashed out at the caste system in India. He “warns against apathy, coldness and a lack of empathy in society.”
Succinctly, this is what he describes as indifferentism. So do I.
I was drawn to this word — and its emphasis on not caring — after I wrote last month about the word “different” being a synonym of “holy.” Our frequent religious use of “holy” can too easily become mindless routine.
But what makes our lives, or God for that matter, “holy”? I think being different lifts “holy” to a new level of personal awareness.
Likewise, indifferentism reflects our tendencies toward apathy, not-caring, unconcern, out-of-sight-out-of-mind thinking and emotional detachment. It’s so different from our desired self-perceptions as caring and engaged.
In fact, I think a good case could be made that indifferentism is the basic -ism that gives rise to most all other toxic -isms!
The dangers inherent in apathy infest every historical cultural movement and every religious tradition — especially toward people “not like us.” When we fall into the endless traps of indifference, it’s too easy to justify our not caring about others. And even about ourselves.
Scriptures about indifferentism
How about two biblical examples of indifferentism.
Consider the Good Samaritan parable in Luke 10:25-37. Who is my neighbor? Not the Levite or priest, who paid no attention to the roadside victim. The Samaritan had compassion for the man. Jesus chose to elevate the Samaritan to “good guy.” That surprise can still catch us off guard.
Or how about the “lukewarm” churches of Laodicea in Revelation 3:15-16? Christ reportedly spits them out of his mouth (metaphorically speaking) because of their collective spiritual apathy. I know of many churches today that should take that warning seriously. Though they may be indifferent to being lukewarm.
Politically, there seems no end to the cruelty and tragedy in our current climate from elected national leaders to local leaders, even to private citizens. Their cruelty of thought and behavior do not speak of indifference, but of multiple kinds of fear.
But when legislators are indifferent to what happens to immigrants arrested without cause, or children going hungry, how can we respond? What is our choice? Indifferentism? Let’s be different enough, holy enough, to really care! Let’s reverse the cliché “I don’t give a damn” into the rally cry “Give a damn!”
Ideas that can fight indifferentism
Here are a few thoughts on how to fight indifferentism is our lives — and thus make a difference in other persons’ lives:
Stay Alert (the world needs more -lerts): Pay attention to the world around you and listen to marginalized voices.
Practice basic human kindness and stand up against unfair treatment.
Speak for the voiceless and marginalized: Support fairness and equal rights for everyone in society.
Fight your indifferentism! Be different/holy!
This piece was originally published in FaVS News.
Paul Graves has completed 30 years as a faith/values writer and he has plans to keep writing! After almost 37 years in Sandpoint, ID, Paul and his wife moved to Hillsboro, OR in March 2025, to be close to their son and family. They live in a retirement community, where Paul’s professional back as a retired United Methodist pastor and also a retired geriatric social worker, have been welcomed and are grist for the writing-mill on matters of spirituality, politics and aging.