History is rife with incidences of atrocities committed against minorities with biological attributes that do not conform to mainstream norms under the pretext of upholding religious piety.
Take left-handedness, for example. A trait found in approximately 10% of the global population, attitudes towards left-handers have ranged from suspicion to outright persecution, resulting in death.
The negative bias towards left-handers can be found dating far back, to ancient Mesopotamian to Greco-Roman civilisations. During the Inquisition period in Europe, from the 12th to the mid-15th centuries, left-handed women were put to death for witchcraft. Their predisposition towards left-handedness was ostensibly proof of being linked to the devil.
Not surprisingly, these attitudes continued to prevail well into the 21st Century. Guitar legend, Jimi Hendrix was frequently scolded by his father for playing with his left hand. His father who would tell him “…only devils and whatnot would play like that!” Hendrix learnt to play the guitar with his right hand, only to switch back to his left, when his father was not around.
Science would eventually vindicate left-handedness, by showing that genes that control asymmetries in the body, also determine hand preferences. Research suggests that up to forty genes may be responsible for this trait. In a study conducted by researchers from Oxford University, the mutation of a gene, PCKS6, was found to correlate strongly with left-handedness.
Despite this, researchers at Emory University, Atlanta estimate that two-thirds of the left handed population worldwide, continue to be stigmatised on religious and socio-cultural grounds.
People with disabilities that can be linked to chromosomal mutations, have also suffered abuses over the centuries in the name of religion. During the Middle Ages in Europe, people with mental disabilities were regarded as being “possessed by the devil” and were routinely whipped, tortured and burnt to death. The pattern of horrific abuse spilled into the 21st Century.
The Nazis, perfected their skills in abhorrent medical experiments and euthanasia on persons with disabilities, before unleashing their mass extermination programmes on Jews. Their justification was that euthanasia provided a mechanism to preserve the human species in their “original (God created)” form.
Likewise, the LGBT community, which constitutes less than 10% of the global population, have been persecuted through the ages for their sexual preferences, notwithstanding that these traits are not necessarily lifestyle choices, but are biological in origin.
For example, researchers at UCLA (based at the Centre for Gender Based Biology) have discovered “epigenetic marks” in nine areas of the human genome that are strongly linked to male homosexuality.
Unfortunately, despite mounting scientific evidence that point towards genetic factors as a probable causative agent in determining gender orientation, flawed theological arguments continue to be used to harass and oppress minorities, worldwide. Such individuals continue to be derided as “spawns of the devil” or sinister, evil beings who need to be guided to the “right” path.
By allowing fear, ignorance and ossified religious norms to endure, minorities face unnecessary discrimination in their daily lives. Let us take a kinder path, by accepting minorities for what they are, instead of being apologists for their continued oppression. For that is, quite simply, devilish.
Sheela R is an FMT reader.
With a firm belief in freedom of expression and without prejudice, FMT tries its best to share reliable content from third parties. Such articles are strictly the writer’s personal opinion. FMT does not necessarily endorse the views or opinions given by any third party content provider.