How many of you still pray in church? Or rather, how many of you don’t just recite prayers in church-or wherever it is that you pray? Now days it has gotten to the extent that we recite prayer just because we are afraid of the repercussions. I mean, the concept of eternally burning or having molten sulphur pouring over your skin- if you are one of those who subscribe to the notion that sulphur is what will be used-is not a very reassuring option. In fact for most, it is this “oppression” that makes them question the existence of the deity that we refer to as God.
My bone of contention is with everyone and anyone that walks around claiming to be a devout religionist-if such a thing even exists-just because they go to church regularly and undergo a common ritual of praying every morning and evening. The question that seems to have plagued society and more so religionists is “what is religion? Is it similar to belief or are these two very different?” Anyone who follows religion but does not show it in their actions, according to the Holy Book used by Christians is no different from the person who doesn’t follow religion at all. Am sure you are all waiting for me to explain why I say that religion is dead.
Just like Nas’s song talks about how hip hop is dead, I’m going to give ways in which I believe religion is dead. Of course we have the obvious one where most people following religions are nothing more than hypocrites. It has devolved to such degrees that our children will not know the real reason to follow religion, or rather to believe in a Supreme Being. When they’ll ask you why they have to go to church every Sunday, all you’ll probably tell them is “so that they can go to heaven and not hell.” Children are no longer taught to love God and believe in Him because it’s the right thing to do. Instead they are pushed in that direction by sheer fear that is instilled in them by their parents, teachers and Sunday school teachers. A propos, I also have a bone to pick with these so called instructors, but that’s for another time. Ask any kid why he/she goes to church and the answers you’ll get are: “because mummy/daddy tells me to; so that I don’t go to hell; because God says so; because my friends go there.” Ask them why they pray and the answers will be even more diversified.
Then we move onto the reading of the Bible or whatever Holy book it is that you engage in. When was the last time any of you read the Bible because they wanted to find God? Or read so that they can gain some insight or understanding into what loving God really entails? Am sure most of you don’t even read the Bible. You just wait for someone else to do the reading for you and interpret it for you.” Isn’t this the reason we have priests, pastors or whatever name you would like to give them?” I can almost hear someone asking. Priests are just there for guidance only. We should be able to read the Bible for ourselves, find its meaning as we see it, then-and only then-do we seek guidance.
Finally we get to the actions that we commit. It is not proper for someone who considers themselves a believer to not care about others. Every religion, be it Christianity, Buddhism, Islam, or Jewish focuses mainly on one central aspect of life; that is goodwill to fellow human beings. This can be translated as doing unto others what you would like to be done unto you. That is why whenever I see or hear about churches wrangling amongst one another over such silly issues as leadership, I fear for humanity as a whole. If religion and belief become nothing more than just a label that people wear so as to be recognised, then we are doomed to a future where people no longer keep their word, people no longer care about what happens to their neighbour so long as they themselves are doing well and worst of all, people pray and go to various designated areas of worship but still indulge in morally questionable acts.
I am not saying that I am a saint or that I have an exceptionally good moral compass; but I’d rather not go to church than be a hypocrite. What’s the use of lying to yourself and others that you are a believer when all that you are doing is being a hypocrite? This is like a partner who claims to love the better half but still cheats on them. If you are going to make a commitment to your faith, do so whole heartedly.
So, is religion really dead? With it being commercialized, to the extent that you can now M-pesa your “offering” and where church leaders accumulate more wealth than our fattened politicians, and where dressing to church has become about fashion, I say it is well on its death bed. If only Jesus could come back to whip people into shape.
By Christine Aseka
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