Paradigm Shift

Quite interestingly, I came across a serious debate on paradigm shift that continues still hot in a prominent Malayalam laity blog. One of my friends, an accomplished writer, was reviewing the paradigm shifts that the present Catholic Church in India is going through. I think that he meant a big shift that has come upon the Church as grazing sheepfolds have emerged into questioning lions. What that came to my mind is that similar shifts are frequently taking place in the current world of affairs. The word paradigm simply means model, archetype etc. and paradigm shift precisely refers to a substantial group change that developed through modified individual interests and attitudes on an intellectual or scientific basis. It was when he wrote on that, many, including me began seriously thinking about this ghostly monster. The phrase is mostly used in connection with scientific innovations that lead to great social changes. In that sense, the transition from iron to bronze was a paradigm shift in human advancement. Our new communication strategies could be another example. Paradigm shifts always set a new distinct level in social standards.

At one time, if there was a conscious attempt to keep science away from religion, now religion is redefined to ‘the end of all sciences’, while science is considered as a systematic enterprise that builds and organizes knowledge in the form of testable explanations. There is science in changing trends, there is science in our varying attitudes; there is science in almost everything we come across. If I endorse these facts, I will be compelled to state that what we call emerging trends are someway paradigm shifts. Harmonized individual attitudes result in great shifts. These shifts, however, appear unnoticed and might generate unexpected shocks in conservative minds. It also may redefine existing values. That is why I dared to call paradigm shifts, a ghostly monster that could create havoc all over.

According to my observation, each one of us is always partaking in shaping a new paradigm shift. Take the example of India: a few people successfully attempted corruption, another few focused on hoarding more than the minimum required and another few established racial discrimination to unbearable standards and now poverty, corruption and racial prejudices have become part and parcel of Indian style of living. Both politicians and religionists are afraid of similar paradigm shifts. The only way out is themselves willingly causing a paradigm shift of their choice through exemplary deeds that oozes out of their own true selves. Anyway, unless cautiously handled, religions might be sidelined in the future, due to the advancing ghostly monster mastering every platform humans occupy. 

Joseph Mattappally