Inertia

The Force of Ramadan

The study of Physics is fascinating. Unfortunately, because of our traditional, one-dimensional approach to education, we view this scientific discipline without considering its implications for the Social Sciences and human life.

Simply stated, the Law of Inertia posits that an object in motion continues in a straight line at uniform speed unless it is acted upon by an external force. Alternatively, the same law would apply to an object at rest. In the world of physical phenomena, the resting object continues to rest until it is forced to move, slow down or stop.

Societal Motion

The above observations are intuitive. They can, however, be applied in other situations as well. For example, during the Colonial period in America, women were considered participants in a cult of domesticity — they were expected to remain at home and care for the family. This movement continued uninterrupted until theWomen’s Suffrage Movement gained momentum.

Eventually the force of the Suffrage Movement overpowered the cult of domesticity and society changed. Gradually women gained legitimacy as full participants in American democracy.

Similarly a parallel could be drawn between the freedom from oppression of women and the legislative end of the oppression of enslaved people in the United States. Apartheid in South Africa and its ultimate termination is another example as well as the exploitation of natural resources by European powers during the period of Colonialism.

In today’s democratic vs. authoritarian sensitive world, perpetual movement is also evidenced. Whether one considers the Left vs. Right conflict in U.S. politics, the Israeli vs. Palestinian struggle or Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the inertia of one movement continues until it is acted upon by a force of equal magnitude and opposite in direction.

With careful analysis, one should clearly see that the common factor in all of these conflicts is human interaction. The movement in all cases was the result of human initiative.

Regardless of the motivating factors, the results were predictable. Man sets his mind to achieve some goal and moves in a direction to achieve it until something intervenes. These initiatives could be for the advancement of human civilization or to achieve some personal goal. In either case, inertia grows and the effort continues until it is pushed or pulled off course by an external force.

Spiritual Motion

Inertia exists in Creation and the principle can be abstracted to societal and political situations. If in societal and political instances, the force behind these examples of inertia is motived by individuals, then it would seem to me that inertia toward human excellence and social justice could be directed through the spiritually inspired guidance and development of individuals. Individual self-control can lead to a social justice inertia and this is the lesson that people of faith learn from Fasting.

Ramadan is the month of fasting for Muslims. For these worshipers as well as those of other Abrahamic Faiths, the primary lesson to be learned is to deny oneself of physical food during a specified period and focus one’s attention on spiritual growth. This is done to establish a stronger connection between the individual and The Creator.

Denying oneself’s physical appetites requires great personal discipline. Although hungry and thirsty, the fasting person understands that this sacrifice develops self discipline and helps one learn to control physical desires in favor of the development of spiritual insights.

Imagine a society in which all of its members are more conscious of addressing their spiritual development rather than developing perpetual movement toward a social or political position which could potentially oppress others. This would truly be inertia towards social justice for all.

Reference: https://www.britannica.com/science/law-of-inertia