Folly of men on religious matters

Religion is the the great balm of existence because it takes us outside our selves, connects us to something larger. As we contemplate the object of worship (God nature), our burden are lifted away. It is wonderful to feel raised up from the earth, to experience that kind of lightness. No matter how progressive the […]

Religion is the the great balm of existence because it takes us outside our selves, connects us to something larger. As we contemplate the object of worship (God nature), our burden are lifted away. It is wonderful to feel raised up from the earth, to experience that kind of lightness. No matter how progressive the times, many of us feel uncomfortable with our bodies, our animal drives. Self styled men of God and religious leaders never focus too much attention on the physical in order not to stir up self- consciousness and a residue of disgust in their followers.
People are always craving for something to believe in, today, these self-styled men of God in different guise have made themselves seem to resemble the things people want to worship. They are natural, aesthetic, noble and sublime as their target followers transfer their worship to them. Religion is the most seductive system that humankind has created. Death is our greatest fear and religion offers us the illusion that we are immortal, that something about us lives on. The idea that we are an infinitesimal part of a vast and indifferent universe is terrifying, religion humanizes the universe, makes us feel important and loved. We are not animals governed by uncontrollable drives, animals that die for no apparent reason, but creatures made in the image of a supreme being. We too can be sublime, rationale and good, anything that feeds a desire or a wished- for illusion is seductive, and nothing can match religion in this arena
Religion and spirituality are two things that are probably the most difficult to define in definite terms. It would be wrong to say that spirituality and religion do not go hand in hand because they do; the only difference is that while religion is an organized system that pays homage to a god, spirituality is something that does not always need deity to define the parameters of the person’s spiritual conduct. Throughout history there have been people who have played the roles of, both, spiritual and religious leaders for their societies. Some of them have done such exemplary work, with such dedication, that their work and in turn they themselves, were recognized the world over for their steadfast dedication and wisdom in guiding their flock.
“To one who has faith no explanation is necessary, to one without faith, no explanation is possible.” The fore running quote from St. Thomas Aquino reveals his time and the balance of faith over fact at the time. The Dictionary defines faith as; complete trust or confidence in someone or something, strong belief in the doctrines of religion based on spiritual conviction rather than proof. Against this backdrop, let me deconstruct the negative primordial instinct of people who choose to hurt other people by violence, discrimination and stereotype in the name of religion.
Religion is belief to be the private affair of everybody as it is hard wired in human mental, social, cultural and spiritual existence. The fact that human beings exist along different identities make tolerance an integral ingredient in peaceful co-existence.
Hence, the constitution serves as the moral authority from where this mechanism for mutual understanding, tolerance and peaceful co-existence is applied. When some people in the name of whatever identity choose to violet the tenets of the constitution, then it is believed that they have deliberately attempted to undermine the supremacy of it in favour of a divine or religious doctrine culminating in separate body of laws.
In their concerted mischief to undermine the constitution, they often appeal to religion and religiosity to justify any act of brigandage against others. To them, theocracy supersedes any other form of government; therefore, they must resist the tenets of an alien form of government. They have   blocked their minds and ears to the fact that the realm of religion has long been separated from the realm of state/government. They believe in the fusion of the two, even when enlightenment had revealed that faith and fact applies at two opposing spectrum of belief system.
In this time when the global forces of capitalism is fast metamorphosing into deadly monster, people who are vulnerable and hard hit hide behind the façade of religion, race, tribe, ethnic group, ideology and fraternity to find scape goat in other vulnerable groups of people. Countries of third world, under developed or developing must direct attention from those things that divide the working class and redirect it to a united front that can submerge those primordial sentiments. This common front will ultimately free the working class of all nations to lead and give directions to the common struggle to liberate and emancipate the masses and march into a new world of alternative (Socialism). This change of mental and social cultural attitude to diversity will form the bases for the true change from below. This ultimate change will be the precursor to a new world of Socialist alternatives hitherto proclaimed dead by capitalist apologists.

Comrade Ogbu A. Ameh writes from Aketekwu Kingdom.