Is Religion: Christianity, Islam or Animism or the lack thereof the problem with Nigeria? We as Nigerians are just hiding under the facade of piety: the umbrella of religion, knowing fully well the susceptibility of human fallacy to the entrenched but newly adopted culture of blatant 'corruption with impunity'.

Let's be frank, the bane of our problems is more psychological and cultural (not Islam versus Christianity) than we are ready to accept. Fulani, Hausa, Igbo, minority, majority are all labels. Labels inherent in the psychosocial classification of civilization. My sadness is not at the total disarray and comedic display of intelligent people who have become so shortsighted, insensitive, cruel and oh, so cruel, in the face of poverty or/and the race to accumulate wealth NOW. The sadness (I am in the throes of sadness, having evolved through anger, et al, in order to be objective (?)) is hinged on the facts that this is a nation that knows better. Religion apart, religion aside, because religion is only a crutch.

Let's stop spouting the Koran, Bible and what not and let our conscience, which is both, endowed with good and evil dictate. Let's allow the good conscience (I know it's a struggle in the face of the seemingly entrenched injustices and blatant acrimony and what not at play.) have its turn. We are endowed with good and bad. We are all capable of applying our good sides, to achieve our selfish goals. Let's for a short while let our good side take the driver's seat for the benefit of others, if only for the benefit of self-importance.

Humility and selflessness and kindness are things of the past, right? So in a country blessed (???) with so many titled people: Alhajis, Drs., Chiefs, Imams, Engineers, Architects, every body with a title; we should let our good conscience take the center stage just to assuage our need for self-importance.

Let's stop using religion as an excuse. This may sound simplistic but read the excerpts below about some religions and the hypocrisy of man:

HYPOCRISY

Wherever people subscribe to a religion or any doctrine of moral excellence, there may arise the sin of hypocrisy. The hypocrite wishes to enjoy the approval of his peers and even the perquisites of a religious office by appearing outwardly moral or religious, while inwardly he is not. Or, where religion makes serious demands upon people's lives, such as Islam's call to jihad or Buddhism's strict precepts of monastic discipline, the hypocrite tries to circumvent these demands while appearing outwardly righteous. The hypocrite does not pay the price of commitment to the religious life and hence does not reap its spiritual benefits; he remains at a low state. Furthermore, when hypocrites rise to high position, they set a bad example for ordinary believers and bring religion itself into disrepute.

And of mankind are some who say, "We believe in God and the Last Day," when they believe not. They think to beguile God and those who believe, and they beguile none save themselves; but they perceive not. In their hearts is a disease, and God increases their disease. A painful doom is theirs because they lie. And when it is said to them, "Make not mischief on the earth," they say, "We are only peacemakers." Behold they are indeed the mischief-makers but they perceive not.

19. Islam. Qur'an 2.8-12

God's Messenger is reported as saying, "When one commits fornication he is not a believer, when one steals he is not a believer, when one drinks wine he is not a believer, when one takes plunder on account of which men raise their eyes at him he is not a believer, and when one of you defrauds he is not a believer; so beware, beware!"

12. Islam. Hadith of Bukhari and Muslim

Some go to bathe at holy places--
With hearts impure and faculties false.
As one part of impurity they wash, twice more freshly stick to them.
They washed themselves outside; inside they are full of deadly poison.
The pure in soul are pure even without ritual bathing;
the wicked will be wicked in all ritual performances.

Many are the gurus who are proficient to the utmost in Vedas and Shastras; but rare is the guru who has attained to the supreme Truth. Many are the gurus on earth who give what is other than the Self; but rare is the guru who brings to light the Atman. Many are the gurus who rob the disciple of his wealth; but rare is the guru who removes the disciple's afflictions. Many are they who are given to the discipline and conduct according to caste, stage, and family; but he who is devoid of all volition is a guru rare to find. He is the guru by whose very contact there flows the supreme bliss; the intelligent man shall choose such a one as the guru and no other.

Although we are taught the Copernican astronomy in our textbooks, it has not yet penetrated to our religion or our morals, and has not even succeeded in destroying belief in astrology. People still think that the Divine Plan has special reference to human beings, and that a special Providence not only looks after the good, but also punishes the wicked. I am sometimes shocked by the blasphemies of those who think themselves pious-for instance, the nuns who never take a bath without wearing a bathrobe all the time. When asked why, since no man can see them, they reply: 'Oh, but you forget the good God.' Apparently they conceive of the Deity as a Peeping Tom, whose omnipotence enables Him to see through bathroom walls, but who is foiled by bathrobes. This view strikes me as curious. (Bertrand Russell)

Christians hold that their faith does good, but other faiths do harm. At any rate, they hold this about the Communist faith. What I wish to maintain is that all faiths do harm. We may define 'faith' as a firm belief in something for which there is no evidence. When there is evidence, no one speaks of 'faith.' We do not speak of faith that two and two are four or that the earth is round. We only speak of faith when we wish to substitute emotion for evidence. (Bertrand Russell)

Beware of practicing your piety before men in order to be seen by them; for then you have no reward from your Father who is in heaven. Thus, when you give alms, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by men. Truly, I say to you, they have their reward. But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your alms may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

Well, let’s leave religion out of the equation

December 2001