One well-known Pakistani-British author and political activist is Tariq Ali. In his many works on politics, history, and religion, he frequently offers sharp criticisms of established institutions and the effects they have on society. In one of his observations, he mentions that there are good people in many religious groups who actually work to help the less fortunate.
These individuals resemble lone gardeners sowing seeds of compassion and kindness in bleak, desolate environments. They put forth endless effort to cultivate these seeds into thriving plants that offer the underprivileged shade and nourishment. However, the established structures within organized religion, which occasionally put institutional objectives or doctrine ahead of social justice, frequently clash with their efforts.
Ali's observation draws attention to a conflict between sincere deeds of kindness motivated by individual faith and the frequently strict rules enforced by religious institutions. These organizations may be founded on the ideals of service and charity, but they can also stand in the way of the kind of grassroots change that some of their members want to see. The organized entities may be more focused on upholding strict doctrine or order than they are on resolving urgent social issues, which leads to conflict.
This finding calls for a closer examination of the ways in which religious organizations engage with their local communities and deal with concerns like equality, justice, and poverty. It also makes one consider the nature of faith itself, including whether it is genuinely manifested through institutionalized systems or through private deeds of kindness and support for the weak.