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In
Search of Individual and World of Peace Pt. 1
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John Onyido
We live today in a world beset by myriad forms of violence that continue to threaten all efforts towards the realization of individual and world peace. These forms of violence are not limited to physical acts of violence like wars, ethnic and internecine conflicts, acts of terrorism and unprovoked acts of aggression, but extends to more subtle actions and attitudes which though not easily noticed and recognized for what they are, are indeed the root causes of outward violence. In the opinion of the present writer, for world peace to be achievable these insidious causes which most times are taken for granted or overlooked must be clearly identified and addressed directly, if the world is to move forward.
A few of these insidious causes of national and world conflicts include ideological differences, greed, control and manipulation, selfishness and acquisitiveness leading to unequal distribution of national and world resources, racism, ethnicity, tribalism, religious differences and intolerance. The thrust of this article is to address religious differences because of its sensitive nature and the usual attitude of most people to shy away from religious matters for obvious reasons, especially because people feel very strongly about them. Precisely because people feel very strongly about them is the very reason it should be addressed, for a lot of violence have been perpetrated in the name of God and Religion. A look around us today presents clear evidence of religious violence and injustice from Europe to the Middle East, from Asia and the Far East to Africa and the Diaspora.
Religious violence is indeed not a recent development but has been with us for centuries and has so far eluded all solutions toward its reasonable application, that it seems to be threatening the continuation of life on the planet. Since the Armageddon (the perceived end of the world) has so far not taken place as anticipated by some, perhaps it can be induced by the instrumentality which men hold dear to their hearts- in other words by religion. It was not an error that Karl Marx viewed religion as the opium of the masses, for that is how religion has been utilized by man from the very beginning.
Geddes MacGregor in his book The Christening of Karma paraphrases Bergson to the effect that “…religion may be either static or dynamic. Religion is a fundamental element in human consciousness and as such it is not at all obstructive to genuine intellectual inquiry. When however, it becomes static, having crystalized into institutional forms, it tends to take on an anti-intellectual outlook to protect itself from development and change. So conventional religion Bergson says, is a derivative perversion of a once- living reality. Dynamic religion is mystical rather than institutional and therefore individual rather than social. So such dynamic religion achieves much more directly the vision of God that is the aim of all authentic religion. Static, conventional religion, when it achieves this at all, does so under great difficulties, in face of many grave obstacles, and in the end, opaquely at best.”
It is apparent that religion appeals to humanity’s emotionality and hardly to reason. Infact all attempts to apply reason to religion have always been rebuffed. Just accept the teachings as they are without question. If the believers are allowed to think for themselves, sooner or later these self styled prophets and religious leaders may be left without any pernitent- an unsavory situation it would be for some who are benefiting from this mass mis-information that has been going on for so long.
At some point in the evolution of mankind the Catholic Church held sway with both religious and political power fused in the papacy. The gravity of this error soon became apparent with the unbelievable abuse of this privilege. All those who challenged the position or beliefs of the church as to the nature of God or the planetary system were declared heretics and imprisoned, guillotined or burnt at the stake. The so-called Salem Nights, the Conquistadors and the Spanish Inquisition represented an era of the forcible evangelization of the ‘forsaken masses’.
It may be interesting to note that the Holy Bible which is now so widely read by all and sundry was at some point the limited privilege of a chosen few until the time of Martin Luther, due to the misuse of religion as a tool for the subjugation of the masses. The present Head of the Catholic Church- God bless him, has spent the best part of his reign making amends and sorting out the injustices of the past and the shortcomings of his predecessors. We can all follow his example and move into a process of religious reconciliation at this crucial time.
Mohammed adopted the sword as the sign of his religion not because Islam is intrinsically violent, but because at the time he lived the Arabian peninsula was essentially pagan and the new religion which he sought to introduce was viciously threatened by “infidels”, including his life and the lives of his followers. He infact had no choice but to protect himself and Islam- an attitude, which was perhaps justifiable at the time. Times have since changed, Islam is no longer a threatened religion. But a couple of years later his followers had embarked on full-scale violent evangelisation stylishly tagged ‘the Jihad’ in the name of Allah- the beneficent, the merciful based on narrow and personal interpretations of the Holy Koran and have not let up since then.
But to these blood thirsty men the following verse applies: “ O believers show discernment when you go out to fight for the cause of Allah, and do not say to those who offer you peace: ‘you are not believers’, seeking the accidental goods of this world; for with Allah there are abundant gains. Such was your custom in days gone by, but now Allah has bestowed on you his grace. Therefore show discernment; for Allah is cognizant of what you do.” Sura 4 V.135.
The other important world religions have not had such dramatic and violent application on equivalent scale as Islam and Christianity, although a couple of accounts of clashes between Hindus/ Buddhists and Sikhs have been relayed through the media. Today, Judaism and Christianity are two strange bed fellows, Muslims and Christians/ Jews (both descendants of the patriarch Abraham through Haggai and Sarah) ‘do not see eye to eye’ for unjustifiable reasons which will be examined somewhat in this paper.
For some strange reason which can only be regarded as sheer near sightedness and unnecessary bigotry, each religious group views its teachings as the best and only way to salvation and they feel so strongly about this that they are prepared to kill if necessary. But again hear this: “O believers have faith in Allah and his Apostle, in the Book he has revealed to his Apostle (i.e. the Koran), and in the Book he formerly revealed (i.e. the Bible). He that denies Allah, his angels, His Scriptures, his apostles, and the Last Day has strayed far from the truth.” Sura 4. Where then lies the discord except that they are man- made?
The issue is not the mere fact that one feels that what he has is better than what others have (which in most cases is a wrong perception borne of ignorance) but attempting to force a belief down the throat of a non believer who does not care to have anything to do with the religion that is being presented for whatever reason. The process of forceful evangelization can be subtle i.e. through verbal condemnation, belittling, comparing and casting aspersions, victimization and discrimination. The process can also be direct, taking the form of confrontation, violence, wars and unprovoked conflicts.
Consider the following scenario: with a population of over 6 billion people, the world is made up of several races, ethnic groups and nationalities with diverse customary, traditional and cultural practices with each possessing a different name for God. To this can be added the numerous religious groups and affiliations against which the world population can be evenly spread. Some of the major religions include: Hinduism, Buddhism, Shintoism, Confucianism, Taoism, Christianity, Judaism, Islam, The Bahai Faith, Zorastrianism, not to mention the Occultists, Spiritualists, Traditional worshippers and free- thinkers. We even have those who do not believe in anything, like the Atheists. Within these major faiths are sub- divisions and affiliations too numerous to identify.
In Nigeria for instance, the Muslims and the Christians are the most prominent and have been at loggerheads longer than one can remember. Apart from the jihad that affected the Northern states some hundreds of years ago and the Maitatsine religious uprising of the 70’s and 80’s there perhaps has not been a major religious crisis of a very violent nature in the country. For the most part the differences have been very subtle and latent.
The sudden introduction of Sharia as a state religion in a number of Northern states a couple of months ago has introduced a violent dimension to the religious rift, throwing into confusion thousands of people who hitherto had cohabited for a long time, trading and doing business together, thus adding insult to the already injurious situation. The Federal Government’s lack- luster attitude to this development has not helped matters with the situation worsening and threatening the peaceful Co-existence of the nation. A lot of lives have been lost already due to Government’s indecision! It has taken an endless period for the Government to make a clear pronouncement declaring its adoption illegal and even then in a manner that is circumspect and half hearted.
The suicide bombings by terrorists around the world for seemingly political reasons have as the impelling force a misunderstanding, misapprehension and misapplication of religious tenets. Still behind these violent and inappropriate use of religion are certain unscrupulous elements who for selfish reasons are intent on ruining the world with their wealth and ill-gotten gains by employing unsuspecting religious bigots and converting them into fanatics. Such is the power of religion when wrongly applied. It is indeed amusing in a most sardonic fashion to hear these people attempt to justify their actions by simply stating that they are doing God’s will- by killing
innocent people?
The Christians on the other hand, adopt a subtle but equally damaging process of evangelization. They proceed in the first instance on the assumption that everybody is forsaken and are badly in need of salvation from inevitable damnation for sin. Accordingly, the only means to salvation lies in accepting Jesus Christ as one’s Lord and personal Savior and in actually using those words per se. In the first place the premise is faulty, because as soon as you assume that what another has is inferior or not good enough, immediately the evangelizer or the listener creates a wall in between and so prevents further effective communication, unless of cause you are preaching to one who accepts your views of Christianity. One person’s meat could very well be another person’s poison, as they say.
Secondly, the assumed method of salvation is too limiting to serve any useful purpose. It also proceeds on the presumption that the rest of humanity who are of a different flock are doomed for good and the Christians feel so holier and smug than the rest about the entire process. Our Lord had this to say:“ I am the good shepherd; and I know my sheep, and am known by my own and as the father knows me even so I know the father and I lay down my life for the sheep. And other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring and they will hear my voice and there will be one flock and one shepherd.” John 10.V14-17
If for instance Christians make up 25% of the entire world population (indeed it is possible they are far less) the other 75% are condemned already before they had the chance to do anything, because even if all peoples received the preaching of our lord and Savior Jesus Christ, it would probably take forever for the entire world to accept such limiting preaching ‘hook, line and sinker’. That would mean forsaking their previous beliefs which for all we know may have been working for them and which they may see no justification in changing. And so by necessary implication the good God may have merely created certain people just so they will ultimately end up in hell! What a God that some people have.
The method of conversion is such that it antagonizes people through immediate alienation and through making salvation virtually unattainable by a vast majority of people. The truth is that Christ came for both the Jews and the gentiles – the believers and the none believers alike and no matter what you call it, this fact cannot be altered no matter how hard we try to make the Christ the birth right of a few. The Christ will remain available to all and resides in all of us as us. The words in our scriptures have been twisted so many times for personal aggrandizement and selfish reasons that an unsuspecting seeker can be easily misdirected. But to such devious ones who have led people astray knowingly the following passage finds relevance,“ It is impossible that no offenses should come but woe to him through whom they do come. It would be better for him if a milestone were hung round his neck and he were thrown into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones.” Luke 17.V1-2.
Jesus himself said that by your works you are known and not by what you say, because words do not count for much. Anybody can memorize the words or read the scriptures and recite them with little effort and so we have so many self- styled prophets and preachers and Imams or Alfa’s defrauding people through sheer demagogy and dexterity with the spoken word and suave machismo. Nonetheless we still have a community overwhelmed by negativity and infamous conduct and all manner of atrocities because no true transformation has taken place within the preacher or the pernitent and regardless of the fact that there is a church and a Mosque in every corner and people preaching from dawn till dusk. Obviously something is amiss!
Both Mohammed and Jesus said if we must inherit the kingdom of heaven, if we must have life, we must do what they have asked us to do-we must emulate the lives of the saints and the prophets. Jesus and Mohammed taught love, forgiveness, charity, alms giving, communal living, detachment, sharing and kindness, sacrifice, prayer and non-discrimination. And Jesus gave his commandment when he said to his disciples just prior to leaving them that they must love one another as he had loved them for by such shall people know that you are indeed the disciples of Jesus. Accordingly, action and doing appear to be the true test of transformation. Prior to the time in which you conduct your life with integrity and character, with love and kindness towards all, it is better to be quiet and work on yourself first.
Why are we so intent on making these great souls/personages wrong by introducing our personal agenda to the grand scheme of things? But today they tell their pernitents that their ‘good works are like filthy rags in the sight of God…’ etc., but in the very good works lies the true test for the transformation of oneself and the restoration of peace within and around us. “ For a good tree does not bear bad fruit nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. For every tree is known by its own fruit. For men do not gather figs from thorns nor do they gather grapes from a bramble bush. A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of his heart his mouth speaks.” Luke 6.V 43-45.
Alternatively listen to this: “But those that have faith and do good works shall be admitted to gardens watered by running streams and there they shall abide forever. Such is the true promise of Allah.” Sura 4 V122.
Jesus says if you wish to pray to God go into your room and lock the doors and pray to your father in private. These days they compete for who makes the loudest noise with the most sophisticated mass communication system available. Nobody else has a right to some peace and quiet especially after a long day at work. That is when they will scream and shout till the next morning and when the poor individual is getting ready for work, they then go to bed – you know they are full time pastors, ministers, Imams or Alfa’s. How dare you question or challenge them. Who then are the Pharisees in this our day and age? Do we need to point fingers? Perhaps the day Nigerians start instituting court actions against such nuisance will the conduct abate. To such men the following words are offered: “you are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is highly esteemed among men is an abomination in the sight of God” Luke 16 V. 15
These acts of violence are shrouded in religion and cloaked with acceptability as being normal because they are done in God’s name. So many of such misinterpretations abound in all religions and are overlooked and then we wonder why there is so much rancor and misunderstanding in the world. Some Muslims believe that unless the entire country or the world is islamised there cannot be peace. According to them there is moral laxity within the society because the Sharia is not fully implemented. Well we have seen a little of what the full application of Sharia can be and everybody is saying ‘thanks but no thanks’ and some are even renouncing their religion. We cannot be moving forwards and backwards at the same time. It is either we have a secular state or multi-religious nation/states, as some people choose to call it, or we do not.
CONTINUED
AND CONCLUDED AT PART 2
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