‘Like a thief in the night,I will come’,Jesus said. We would never know how right those words are except we cast our minds back as to how the missionaries came with a bible,to teach,steal and destroy. We were naïve and those of us that were not easily swayed by gifts of the white man,the guns easily persuaded. Since 1490 when king Nzinga of kongo now modern day Angola invited the first missionaries to sub- sahara africa till date what has religion brought us?
As christianity forged its way through the atlantic ocean to Africa due to the American and Europeans invention of big ships, the Arabs found a way of riding camels through deserts with Islam on their helm. Its funny how their Geographical location and their means of transportation has almost equally divided Africa into the predominantly muslim north and christian south. Isn’t it weird that this same Africans are now killing in the name of a religion that the missionaries and muslim scholars told them would bring peace and joy?
Coming to modern day Nigeria, a country invented by the british who never really understood the complexity in combining different cultures under one nation,the tale isn’t the same but very similar . For like a thief in the night, the sovereignty of the nation is being questioned especially by Religion. We used to believe religious terrorism was a foreign thing,AL-Qaeda versus the United states,Israel versus Hamas,Somalia versus al-Shabaab al-Mujahideen etc. But in the night came a thief…Boko Haram. All of a sudden,Religion started killing our family,our friends.
It is known world wide that religion has killed more people than drugs have,but in west africa where tribe and place of origin had always commanded more loyalty than religion,Nigeria broke the boundaries. Some will say why blame religion in general?,why not blame the muslims for killing the christians,others will say let us divide Nigeria,we cannot live with the hausas. I think we are missing the main point,muslims are not dying,christians are not dying,it is Nigeria that is dying. Everytime a bomb or gun kills a soul in Nigeria,either for religion or using religion as an excuse,a part of you and I die.
When will we realise that Christianity or Islam in itself cannot kill but when you turn it into a religion that sees itself different from others then it becomes like Karl Max said ‘Opium of the people’ that can be used either constructively to preach peace among its people or as we have experienced in Nigeria,to terrorise the defenceless and kill women and children. When will we take a leaf from the yorubas who see themselves as yoruba first before asking about religion hence the countless inter-religious marriages among them? When will islamic terrorists see that Saudi-arabia, the cradle of islam have one of the closest relationships with the united states and the Holier than thou christians see what Israel,the birth-place of Jesus is doing to their fellow black brothers? When will we realise that killing in the name of religion is one of the most foolish things to do?
When religion said it will bring us peace and happiness,it not only lied to us,it also stole our identity and enslaved our way of reasoning. Or isn’t it in Nigeria where you have christian higher institutions unaffordable for the tithers children that made the church grow? Will you close your eyes to the pastor with 3/4 private jets with no free hospital clinic for the needy? or a orphanage home? Like you I noticed how the high and mighty general overseers of multinational churches kept mute while their sheep were on the street protesting against the injustice the men they blessed as Nigerian rulers chose to instill pain in the populace? I can hear someone say,hey mister! Watch how you talk about a man of God! But I will tell you ‘watch how you steal in the name of God from God’s children’.Please pastor,don’t slap another lady again,she isn’t as strong as you,slap a man your own size. You ‘Mr imam’,that believes a woman’s face should be hidden from other men while you go around seeing other women to add to your collection of wives,hold your religion,thanks but no thanks.
For unlike you,I still believe the gods that our ancestors worshipped were not idols,but a proper representative that was in tune with our culture. I still believe Jesus and Muhammed represent icons of peace and equality for man and woman,unlike you my religion is not as important as my faith in God,my faith in love and my believe in Nigeria.
Unlike you,religion lied to me but I didn’t believe.
Well said! Religious Fanaticism is killing Nigeria.!
There is nothing to add here…this is arguably the best article I’ve read in my lifetime…this gives me hope for our not yet great nation.thank you.
This ix the type of ppl dat will take nigeria to the promise land. This writer is jst the only person that knows nigeria problems. Tanks bros my God bless u.
We ar facing serious problem on religion in nigeria, it is well in jesus name!
Oh, u just touched me in a million ways. What a write up!!! Its awesome.
2Tim 4:3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;
2Tim 4:4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.
religion is killin into every aspect of our life.
I hope u will be able 2 differentiate btw islam/christian and religion.
God have mercy.
What an article. Thank you. U have said it all.
While, I take the liberty to say that this piece is quite scintilating, and perhaps partly true (religion was a potent tool of imperialsim). However, I wish to say that the religion that has undoing us is not the religion that we recieved. Africa has touched faith and reduced it to fanaticism- hot ideas, bereft of any essence whatsoever. To take your position is to say that we benefitted nothing from our contact with Europe. While I am not trying to be eurocentric, I dare to say what we have today, the various thieves in the night are our own making- an adulteration of the good that Europe left us.
Hmmmmmmm……..infact this is the likes of ppl we need to change our present religion predicament.Majority of our populace have their minds seriously induced by religion fanantism syndrome as a result misleading preaching recieved from hungry pastors and Imams who have turned their pastorship Imamship into ventures aimed at extorting money from their followers
we have been told, it might not make sense just believe it and have faith. if you have doubts, hold on tight to faith and the holy scriptures, they are the cure for everything. terrorists kill in the name of Islam, christians are so busy chasing prosperity, they don’t have time to think. How come its the most Godless nations that are the most prosperous? they dont fast and pray for prosperity like we do. they just have leaders who are dedicated to the development of the people. people power not God power. We will learn with time.
dnt wear red tomoro dats d latest
We re religiously ungodly in nigeria
You have well said.
i personal 2 says abt d nation nigeria,i think we ve just start abt earing such humous nd treting manner of killin nd waging war against ourself in dis nation,bcus we beliv in idowl dan God in dis country nigeria nd we worship d devilish startle dan JAH in d country nd our leaders 2 ,beliv in d darkness dan d lightside nd no one among dem can pray by dem self bcus dem selfish intrest,nd dos pastor nd imarm dey run after,lack spirit of God cus dey seeck their power 4rm darkness 2,my piple dont b cross 2me cus i need 2 says d truit,until we can recure back God,b4 d sturm fighting against us we carmdown,cus if i can remember abt som month ago there was a phrofecy 2 mr president 4rm (TAC) the apostolic church,says dat we yah d nation need 2 av three days firsting nd prayer against d tribulation of killing nd blood tasty coming ahead nigeria dis year did we do it how many senator first nd pray 4 d resetlement of d country nigeria, bcus dos leader sending dem 4 blood,in return of their promise 2 d witch nd witchis,cus dey didnt av power of God in dem,nd d vision says 2 me naw, dat if we can first nd pray 4 dat 3day naw evrytin we b cure says d LORD OF HOSTS nd better nigeria we com nd i will go against their leaders nd turn dem down .
A taught provoking write up,i totally support ur view on the practice of religion Islam and Christianity in Nigeria but lets not forget that what we are seeing today is certainly not a teaching of this great scriptures rather a Nigerian interpretation.The need to see the victims of these various killing as Nigerians rather than xtinas and Muslims cannot be over emphasized. Little wonder why we seems not to have a solution in sight bcos of our myopic view!
What a nice piece
You mean to tell me that the “gods” our fathers worshiped were more tolerant? Mtchwww, you know nothing of the atrocities they committed or you just didn’t want to talk about it. Do you know how these people who are neither muslims or christians but are extremist budhists are eliminating muslims in Burma? Budhism is an ancient religion that predates christianity and standardized Islam. You think those our fathers didn’t invade people of other faiths? Or they wouldn’t have people with gross misconducts within their ranks if they are much in numbers? Or have you forgotten about the people of oro cult in Lagos that always take people for rituals even in present day Lagos state? Imagine if the cult has 1million adherents. The thing you are supposed to talk about is that religion (xtianity or Islam) have not been practiced as prescribed and that is why there are many troubles. Even the ancient religions acknowledge the supreme being. I’m proud to be a muslim. If you like drop your faith because you read this article, it means you don’t understand what you believe in in the first place. Everyone has a right to his/her religion, demonizing Islam right from the time of the Prophet did not stop Islam then, and it hasn’t stopped it’s spread today. Islam is a deen (way of life) and every religion has it’s rogues.
Speechless!!! Good talk does not have an answer. God bless you.
I am proud of my christianity. I am also happy that Europeans brought christianity and education o our people. On the average I think it has improved our culture and society consideraby. I cannot compare our early missionaries most of whom I hear toiled under rain and sun to bring “civilzation” to thieves at night. No. What is going on now especially in nigeria is a misrepresentation of the original intentions of our forebears. It is caused by the sin of greed. I totally agree that some of the effects of erroneous followership of religion have been so devastating so far in some respects, but I do not subscribe to the wrong notion that religion is a bad thing. All we need do is keep praying and wishing for change, while doing the best we can to live better lives as religoius people for we cannot wish religion away that easily.
In no way could you say that Christianity had stolen our freedom!! Or if i will brand you as someone that knows nothing about the Bible!
TELL US OF WHERE IN THE BIBLE IS FOUND A CHAPTER OR VERSE THAT SUPPORT ANY OF YOUR ARGUMENTS IN THE ABOVE.
DON’T YOU READ THE TEN COMMANDMENTS OF MOSES AND THE ONLY TWO COMMANDMENTS OF JESUS WHICH IS SAYS “LOVE YOUR GOD AND LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOUR AS YOU LOVE YOURSELF”! (MARK 12:29-31)
Will you account for the lives of innocent TWINS SACRIFICES and other CHILDREN offered to your so called ANCESTRAL goes because the were considered as abomination by then times of ignorance and wickedness?
In no way could you say that Christianity had stolen our freedom!! Or if not, i will brand you as someone that knows nothing about the Bible!
TELL US OF WHERE IN THE BIBLE IS FOUND A CHAPTER OR VERSE THAT SUPPORT ANY OF YOUR ARGUMENTS IN THE ABOVE.
DON’T YOU READ THE TEN COMMANDMENTS OF MOSES AND THE ONLY TWO COMMANDMENTS OF JESUS WHICH IS SAYS “LOVE YOUR GOD AND LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOUR AS YOU LOVE YOURSELF”! (MARK 12:29-31)
Will you account for the lives of innocent TWINS SACRIFICES and other CHILDREN offered to your so called ANCESTRAL gods because the were considered as abomination by then times of ignorance and wickedness?