Dinkoism
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Dinkan, the supermouse God in dinkoism |
Dinkoism (മ: ഡിങ്കോയിസം) (/ˈdɪnkɔɪzəm/), or the Dinkoist Religion, is a religion and a social movement that emerged and evolved on social networks[1] organized by independent welfare groups in the Indian state of Kerala. Although adherents describe Dinkoism as a genuine religion, it is described in the media as a parody religion. According to a report in India Today, the mock religion[1] was established in 2008 in the state of Kerala by a group of rationalists, with the intention of ridiculing "the absurdity of blind religious faith."[2] There are plans for the community to "actively involve themselves in politics."[3] A report in the New Indian Express suggested that Dinkoism is gaining members through Facebook.[1]
The religion purports to worship the great Dinkan, a comic book creation.[4] Dinkoists celebrate the fictional mouse character as their "God" for the supposed purpose of exposing the fallacies and practices of traditional religions.[5] Dinkan is a comic superhero mouse which appeared in 1983 in a no-longer active childrens' magazine Balamangalam.[6]
While the concept of Dinkoism has been spreading through social media, the movement has organized events in which real people turned up at protests. For example, when the film Professor Dinkan appeared, Dinkoists held a "mock protest" outside the front of the home of an actor's restaurant as a way of taking a "gentle pot-shot" at the idea of religion in general.[7] In April 2016, 25,000 Dinkoists gathered for a convention called a "Dinkamatha Maha Sammelanam" to "present their rights as a minority community," according to one report.[3] Dinkoists have received threatening messages as well as opposition from believers of other religions.[1]
The idea behind Dinkoism is to expose the absurdity of most religious beliefs through exaggeration. Dinkoism has all the trappings of the organised religions it parodies – a holy book, devotional songs, priests, faith healers, and symbols. It caricatures the vocabulary, rituals, and iconography used by established religions. It even has a militant arm called Mooshikasena to counterattacks from other religions. Dinkoists are especially outspoken against godmen, and practices like faith healing, polygamy, child marriage, patriarchy, and oppression of women. Dinkoists sarcastically get offended by any reference questioning the divinity of Dinkan or their 'Holy Book' Balamangalam.
The first major convention on Dinkoism was held in the northern Kerala city of Kozhikode. While the organizers were expecting a moderate croud in the hundreds, they were surprised when thousands of followers turned up, and many had to be turned away. Dinkoism has followers worldwide such as in the American city of Chicago, as well as official Dinkoist chapters established in Germany, Mexico, and the Middle-East.
References
- 1 2 3 4 Express News Service (21 March 2016). "'Dinkoists' Gather Under a Troll Tree". New Indian Express. Retrieved April 14, 2016.
...threatening calls and opposition from staunch religious followers... the social media religion, ‘Dinkoists’ here on Sunday. ... no official registration ... attention entirely through Facebook....
- ↑ KC Archana (April 5, 2016). "What is Dinkoism? Why are many Keralites worshipping a superhero mouse? Dinkoism is a mock religion which started in Kerala and it ridicules the absurdity of blind religious faith. Here's an animated video which explains concept in just 60 seconds.". India Today. Retrieved April 14, 2016.
...Dinkoism, a mock religion established by a group of rationalists in Kerela in 2008, aims to ridicule the absurdity of blind religious faith. ... The Dinkoists worship a fictional mouse called Dinkan, ...
- 1 2 "Dinkoists gear up for ‘Maha Sammelanam’: 25,000 followers of comic superhero to meet on Sunday in Kozhikode.". Deccan Chronicle. March 19, 2016. Retrieved April 14, 2016.
...Around 25,000 Dinkoists, the followers of comic superhero Dinkan, will hold a convention, ‘Dinkamatha Maha Sammelanam,’ ... actively involve themselves in politics, ahead of the Assembly polls....
- ↑ "They gather in the name of great ‘Dinkan’: Dinkoists throng Kozhikode to show strength of new ‘religion’.". Deccan Chronicle. March 21, 2016. Retrieved April 14, 2016.
......
- ↑ "The mouse messiah bringing salvation to India's atheists". BBC News. 11 April 2016. Retrieved 11 April 2016.
- ↑ TNN (March 21, 2016). "Fans of Mallu comic superhero seek 'minority' tag". Times of India. Retrieved April 14, 2016.
...The Dinkoists are a group of people that challenge superstition and religious orthodoxy ... popular in social media ... Dinkan is a comic superhero mouse, who first appeared in 1983 in a now-defunct Malayalam children's magazine `Balamangalam'....
- ↑ "Time to look into Dinkan’s ire: A mock protest against a Dileep film takes a potshot at religious groups". The Hindu. February 7, 2016. Retrieved April 14, 2016.
...So, it was refreshing to see a group under the banner of the fake religion called ‘Dinkoism’ holding a mock protest in front of actor Dileep’s restaurant in Kochi this past week, over his new film ‘Professor Dinkan.’ The idea of such a religion was floated online sometime ago as a way to take gentle pot-shots at various religious groups that takes offence at the drop of a hat....