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Poverty And The Gullibility Of Its Citizens by Danmeka
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Poverty and the Gullibility of its Citizens Gullibility is an affliction that is no respecter of class, religion,
gender, or race. Gullibility is a widespread product of people's failure
to properly apply reason, logic, and skepticism to a claim or idea.
Unfortunately, the worse a person is at doing this, the less likely they
are to realize it; indeed, they can be among those who think they do the
best. As a consequence, gullibility festers and encourages the development
of false, irrational, and even dangerous beliefs. Watching Dispatches
Special: Saving Africa's Witch Children on Channel 4 on the 12th November
just shows how the level of societal degradation have turned its citizens According to Platform, In the Niger Delta, between 1976 and 1998, over 2.5 million barrels of oil have been spilt into the Delta environment; and that is only spills officially recorded by the Department of Petroleum Resources. Leaking pipelines, running through villages, farms, creeks and rivers in the Niger Delta, are a major source of pollution, sickness and economic ruin for the people of the Niger Delta. Farmland polluted by oil is rarely rehabilitated, destroying livelihoods. Fish contaminated by oil cause sickness among the people and further economic ruin as fish stocks decline. But unfortunately the so-called Pastors are making a killing by extorting money from gullible people (The Gospel is free-I am sure some would disagree) saying they can cast such spell from these children. I’ve been thinking about a great impostor—one so clever that he deceived even the devil himself. This master of illusion has turned angels into demons, kings into animals, pastors into predators, and sheep into wolves. While the elusive deceiver is not a person, it overcomes that problem by borrowing personality from its victims. With no shame, it clothes itself in the thoughts, emotions, and wills of those whose trust it betrays. Such people come to mind e.g. Helen Ukapbio, very arrogant, argumentative and develop an exaggerated opinion of her own importance. This deceiver of deceivers is pride. They have hats for every occasion and masks for every emotion. They have different voice for every decision. Jesus was kind to people that other religious leaders avoided, and never deceived people. He ate and drank with people that other religious leaders wouldn’t be caught dead with. He touched lepers, talked respectfully with women, and loved noisy children.
This documentary shows how the Gospel mixed with inspiring idealism, rugged cultural beliefs in addition to the polluted environment and economic stagnation: what it means to be faithful to the highest principles while offering mercy and hope to the most broken people has no place in such society. Parents who are suppose to show love, care, and educate their children are doing the opposite. Our so-called Churches have become a culture of confusionism where leaders use spiritual language that implies they have a private line to God. The result is that the group learns to hear the teaching or prayerful decisions of leadership as if they were listening to God. Such confusion leads to trouble. When spiritual overseers are not held accountable to fair process and well-defined checks and balances, they can impose their will in ways that go beyond their rightful sphere of control, leaders can require submission in matters that are more personal than public, more cultural than biblical. In the noise and commotion of such abuse, phrases like “touch not the Lord’s anointed” or “obey them that have the rule over you” are used, or according to Helen Ukapbio “I have over 150 churches”, not to promote a healthy fear of the Lord but rather an unhealthy fear of men.and women. When Jesus pressed the logic of moral idealism, He did so in order to
lovingly humble self-righteous people (Matthew 5:20-48). When He offered
mercy instead of morality, He did so to show that He had come not to
condemn but to rescue (John 3:17; 12:47). Jesus’ example of leadership
is a corrective to such abuse of authority. In His kingdom, leaders think
and act like servants. They hear the questions and cries of those who are
hurting. They give others the consideration they want for themselves. In A big kudos to the Governor of Akwa Ibom for his effort but more could be done. These people need science, not superstition; critical thinking, not dogma; open mindedness, not blind faith; reason, not revelation; and industries jobs and technological advancement, not the Holy Spirit and miracles. Africa needs scepticism, not Pentecostalism. The children need care, not fear, hope not abuse, love not hate, food not hunger, home and not destitution and finally education for a better future. As for Gary Foxcroft and Sam Itauma, your efforts, doggness to show the
world about the evangelical religious fervour is combined with a belief in
sorcery and black magic is commendable. Everyone of us have a role to play
to eradicate this poison destroying these kids, as Gary said “Any
Christian would look at the situation that is going on here and just be
absolutely outraged that they were using the teachings of Jesus Christ to
exploit and abuse innocent children." This has to stop.
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