#RandomThoughts: Religion & 21st Century Nigeria Have you ever been told to go back while driving because a particular god is being worshipped and the female folks cannot be allowed to view the worshippers? Have you ever been in places where you see clay plates containing head of a chicken, pap and palm oil at road intersections? Have you ever been told that because a particular group will be worshipping their deity at night, you must be indoor by 6pm or risk facing a bull-roarer that destroys and leaves no remnant? Have you ever heard of situations where a king or chief dies and 7 human heads must be buried with him? Well, I have. Not in the 18, 19 or 20th century, but in this 21st century. It is sad, but it is true. Now, as a Christian or Muslim, when you saw or experienced it, did you get angry? Disgusted? Well, its normal, but, understand that so many people feel a certain anger and disgust when they are woken up from their sweet sleep early in the morning by a noise from the mosque calling people to come and pray. Some people feel like that too when some Christians put speakers on buses and blast music away on the streets in the name of doing evangelism. See, there is no difference. The religion that puts sacrifice at street junctions, the one that causes public disturbance in the name of evangelism and publicity, singing Jesu n gbala, Jesu n wosan, and the one that blasts Alahu Akbar almost every hour in the name of calling people to prayer. They all constitute public nuisance. Nobody is against anybody practising religion, but once your religion starts infringing on my right, it becomes public disturbance. If I dont go to church; its deliberate; I dont expect you to start preaching from your church and I will be hearing in my room; it is madness. I have no intention of going to the mosque, why should you assault my ears every hour calling people to prayer? Shouldnt your people have known the times of prayer by now? I have no interest in pacifying Sango or appeasing Soponna, why then will I be treated to ghosly sights at road intersections everyday or have a curfew slammed on me because the bull-roarer that leaves no remnant wants to roar? Its time we let go of some customs and practices that keep pulling us back. Religion is private; practice it privately. Governments should ban the citing of religious houses within residential areas; let them have a secluded area where they can make enough noise without dusturbing public peace. People who are caught placing sacrifices at road blocks should be accosted and asked to carry their sacrifice back to their house. All in all, we should learn to be open-minded and pursue our beliefs in ways that dont infringe on the right of others who differ in beliefs. Good morning people! James Ogunjimi December 2014
Posted on: Sat, 20 Dec 2014 07:52:33 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015