THE FAILURE OF OUR RELIGIOUS INSTITUTIONS July 23, 2012
Posted by seunfakze in CHANGE.Tags: Christianity, Church, corruption, Islam, Mosques, Nigeria
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“Labour to keep alive in your breast that little spark of celestial fire called conscience.” – George Washington
A country of over 160 million people; Nigeria is made up of two religions chiefly: Christianity and Islam. Given the high moral values, the ethics, the principles, the character conducts exemplified in both; one may perfectly conclude that Nigeria will be an ideal example of good governance, of fairness, of justice, of high moral behavior, of low crime, etc. WRONG!
Take for instance councillors, Chairman, Governors, Ministers, heads of parastatals, MDAs, PAs, SSAs, Lawmakers, etc all belong to either of both religions (where they are not atheists!) How then do we have consistent indiscipline, flagrant abuse of power and ineffective leadership as consistent attributes to these leadership positions! Intolerance, Societal dysfunction, Crime escalation (some sponsored by these heads as thugs) and unprecedented corruption are amongst the shameful display we see all around in our society. What is wrong?
As one who reads the bible, practice and follow Christ Jesus; I know the ideals of the Christian faith is important for good governance, they set for public leaders an ideally moral background to act. This does not mean public leaders would adhere to these values as many individual interpretations ensure a deviation from these standards.
Also, the fact that systems/nations/individuals do not believe in or practice a form of religion doesn’t preclude them from operating with similar ideals and conducts, a nation like Japan is a good example. They subscribe to set of moral values that are principally found in the Holy books. With that in mind, one would expect states/societies with high religious endearments like Nigeria to have more standard and high values than others. This is not the case in Nigeria.
Both religions have similar core value attributes and sanctions against indiscipline, oppression, wickedness and corruption. What is wrong with the conscience implanted by our creator in steering our basic daily activities, either private or public?
Let’s not take it far. You and I make up the two religions. How often do we obey traffic rules? Do we dump refuse in the gutters during rainfall? How often do we litter the streets with sachet? How often do we discharge our civilian duties without supervision? How often do we do the right thing at work? Diligence? How good does our integrity smell?
All values are traceable from the admonitions and principles of most religions; which emphasizes doing good. But today, religious affiliations doesn’t guarantee moral uprightness as people choose their different paths regardless of their religious inclinations
If people take heed and practice what is instructed in the scriptures, we will have a better society led by citizens who understand the needs of the society and works towards achieving them, followers who contribute their quota through collective active citizenship (discipline and adherence to civic rules); and live more peacefully with one another. It is one thing to have the Bible/Quran or read it for instance, it’s another to practice it. A lack of moral values has afflicted our institutions. It’s why Nigeria is in trouble.
The church repeatedly turns its eyes against social injustice. I expect the religious leaders to be extremely outspoken at corruption, but they won’t. Why would they? Most of them have their source of income from the corrupt individuals and thus have their conscience seared. They won’t speak. Jesus, the Christian model was outspoken against corrupt people, against false leaders and wicked men. But HIS church today is failing largely in this regard.
As religious authorities, the silence of religious leaders on social injustice silently affirm their belief in injustice. This in turn emboldens their followers to perpetuate or keep or justify the acts or keep more in apathy. Religious pedigree (just like its ethnic sister) has become a blinding interference, overshadowing integrity, strong character and competence.
The failures of our institutions stem from weak characters and value systems; and also a default failure of Family upbringing, community values and schools/religious bodies weaknesses. A willingness to recognize our individual and collective shortcomings is a healthy step towards recovery and greatness.
I look with disappointing unbelief at how religious leaders consistently shy away from being vocal on bad governance. It’s appalling to see they pay lip service to the very sound doctrines espoused by the Holy books. It’s more fearsome to see that millions of followers are blindly lost, brainwashed and divided in the ensuing drama!
The Bible is replete with instances where God sends HIS prophets to caution and chastise the leaders of the time. God speaks without restraint on bad leadership. HE is interested in the affairs of HIS people, interested in the welfare of HIS people. What is wrong with God’s “prophets” today? Nigeria is failing more because of the failures of its religious leadership/institutions.
This young Man had said it right, that most of our religious leaders earn their living through most of the corrupt political leaders today.its a pity.
Reblogged this on kingsiju and commented:
Lets wake up! Let our conscience and renewed hearts turn against corruption. corruption in our churches, in the mosques, in schools and in our communities! Let our faith stir us unto righteousness and integrity!
THINGS WERE NOT LIKE THIS IN THE DAYS OF OLD POLITICIANS LIKE GREAT ZIK,AWOLOWO,ABUBAKAR ETC, THEY ASPIRED TO SERVE AND TO SOME EXTENT THEY TRY THEIR BEST. I THINK COMPLEXIES ARE THE MAJOR CAUSE OF CORRUPTION OR PERHAPS GOD HAD LEFT US TO OUR REPROBATE MINDS. GOD WILL DELIVER US ONE DAY LIKE HE DID TO ISRAELITES.
Leadership and corruption in Nigeria today are the problems to both the religious organizations, governments and other bodies. I agree with the writer and wish to further point out that most of our religious leaders have strayed far from their path and have become submerged in the politics of positions, titles, monetary and worldly benefits.
It seems the more the religious organisations multiply in Nigeria the more corrupt the nation gets. Societal values have greatly diminished, marriages are breaking down daily, children are on the streets seeking food, value for worldly and material things are at its peak.
To cut a long story short most of our religious leaders and people have abused religion and turned it on his head for their selfish benefits,It is now a way to make quick money and receive huge respect from others. Today many successful clerics can boast of private jets, massive mansions, fleet of exotic cars and so on. They can no longer speak God’s words to His people and busy themselves preaching wealth and prosperity to a people who have no means of livelihood or hope of it. They work and pray with government crooks to improverish their people – They have virtually become birds of the same feather.
Poverty and sense of hopelessness has led Nigerians to all type of vices including national security issues such as kidnapping, militancy and terrorism and yet most of our people are either Christians or Muslims. My conclusion is our religious leaders have failed us in our move to build a motherland of peace and plenty where no man is oppressed.
Thank You – my Brother Seun .GOD bless U more! while you are largely right(except for a few pardonable innocent mistakes), i would like to point out to a little of our dear Nation’s recent past – as recent as the 80s. That was when a good number of analysts diagnosed our problems as nothing more or less than purely military rule. But.. right in the stormy part of that segment of our perenial socio-political misfortunes, Nigeria had some highly courageous,intelligent, and GOD-full men ad women, full of wisdom an vision. one of them authored a book; titled: “The Manipulation of Religion in Nigeria”. I still have not gotten round to reading the book, yet. But of immense importance, is the realisation that: the book was written, firstly as reaction to the prevailing socio-political problem then. secondly, it was the era of military rule. Thirdly, somebody somewhere has been and always is, politically motivated – and considers ‘going to any length’; and found religion the most effective tool…to manipulate!
today,here we are – well after the military era, still battling with the same kind of problem… but in today’s case – at a far worse scale than ever before.
But the most calamitous of today’s case is that : in spite of democracy, in spite of the 21st Century sophistication, in spite of the unprecedentedly large scale security expenditures, that segment of the society that naturally is saddled with the responsibility for the enabling environment – for each and every institution to succeed, appears clearly to have woefully failed. so, if i were to write this piece Seun, I would see the ultimate failure from the angle of the manipulator.yes! the manipulator, who has the command over the machineries; including those that are capable of ensuring the success of all other institutions (religious included).Thank You
Reblogged this on abdulmuda.
Kudos brother! This is d basic fact I’v always pointed out. In as much as we try to condemn d acts of terrorism engulfing our nation,in a way I just think its a result of our hypocrisy. These days our pastors compete on forbes list,boast about how “blessed” dey are in a poor,corrupt,& rapidly decaying nation.Sad indeed!
What a realistic approach to issues bothering us in this country. Our religious leaders earned their fortunes from corrupt politicians to the detriment of the masses.