Man & Religion

MAN AND RELIGION: LET’S TALK ABOUT IT!


In certain contexts, even seemingly innocuous words are taken to be offensive which could make the surroundings to be insalubrious. Notwithstanding, we the analysts shall continue to think in the right direction towards the societal innovation.

From my humble view, irrespective of our ages, everyone belongs to or is affiliated to a certain institution. For instance, a new born-baby is a member of an institution widely known as “Family”. Likewise every other babies or kids. Most times, a kid could be a member of various institutions respective of his/her family background. In other words, an institution/institute is as old as man; if not older. But one fact we must comprehend is that some institution supersede others due to their nature or validity.

Few days ago, one of my childhood friends called from Abuja to inform me that he would soon join that institution that seems to be everlasting. He further told me that he had already picked his membership form and was ready to return the completed form in two weeks time. I understood where he was coming from because it was no longer news that marriage has been seen and regarded as an everlasting institution; or in other words, an institution that is bound to last for eternity. Having known that my friend is a Christian, Catholic precisely; after all other necessary questions, I asked him of which religion/denomination the lady in question belongs to. And he sincerely told me that the issue of religious faith has been a barrier ever since he started planning towards the marriage. At this juncture, I became confused, and biased too. In order to clear the air, he said that the lady is a member of the Jehovah Witness, likewise every other members of her family. According to him, her parents had earlier vowed that none of their daughters would get married to a man of another denomination. Though after all necessary persuasion from members of the extended family, they succumbed to his marriage proposal but insisted that their daughter who happens to be his fiancée must be wedded in their church. What an aberration!

Brethren, we are discussing man and religion. In a concise manner, religion is a belief in a god or gods and the activities connected with this belief.

There are so many branches/kinds of religions in existence, of which Christianity is one of them. According to my Christian Religious Studies (C.R.S) teacher during our days in Secondary School, every Christian believes in Christ or that Jesus Christ actually came to the world and died for our sins. Let’s ride on!

If truly that all the Christians believe in Christ irrespective of our denomination, then what is actually the dichotomy. Or in other words, what is the origin of all these bickering; is it the style of worship or the nature of the doctrines? This is a case study we all must endeavour to consider for the interest of humanity.

Come to think of it, even if the Muslims don’t believe in Christ, who says their faith does not lie in the same God that of the Christians lies? Despite my religious affiliation, I have personally taken time to digest the holy Quran. And I understood that the content is similar to that of the holy Bible. But the most tangible difference is that they misplaced Christ with Mohammed and that has to do with their understanding or acknowledgement. But the only fact remains that, they also believe that God exists just as the Christians do.

Even the Pagans believe that God exists. Have you ever taken time to be around them during their moment of incantation? In Igbo land, you would hear them say, “Obasi bi na elu”. This means, the God that lives in heaven.

More so, after all the tantrums and pandemonium, the philosophers finally agreed that truly God exists. Then ask yourself, who are the philosophers? A very complicated question indeed, though it has an answer.

At this point, I put it up to you that every religious institution believes that God exists. The fact is that some of them willingly or unwillingly chose to be rebels. Our predicament remains misinterpretation. We interpret God’s existence or supremacy in a way that it would suit our respective religious faiths or institutions which is extremely abnormal. We must go back to the drawing board and sincerely ask ourselves some certain sensitive questions such as, who’s God and how do mankind belongs to Him? Else, this crazed behavior would cost us an unbearable mayhem.

Honestly brethren, we are really abusing this worthwhile institution known as “Religion” which remains the nucleus of mankind’s existence instituted by God Himself. We must learn to do this thing right. Above all, we ought to understand that we’re one regardless of our religious affiliations. Think about it!



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FRED NWAOZOR

Social analyst & activist