Some days back, I read about the brutal treatment of a section of the Muslims by some Nigerian soldiers, even around their boss. This piece is not to look into the issue like most writers did already. From the ubiquitous perspective, more deft writers have done justice to the issue, even better than I’ll ever do in my lifetime. Like all men, I do not know what tomorrow will bring, but I am certain of what it should bring. However, the latter certainty is morphing to uncertainties right before my very eyes. I believe that we can all see it, but we just deny it. Or perhaps, nobody cares-as long as it doesn’t seal off our kiosks at the hustling avenue. How many of such incident do we need to become the human we we are meant to be?
This piece may be offensive. Both virtual and live friends may be offended because I’ve caught many in this habit on several occasions. For those who can stomach the reality behind the shallow teachings of inimical religious teachings, it is good. For those who can’t, do yourself good by blocking me. I cannot change on this philosophy, because I have no choice on the voice of my conscience. The first comment that drew my attention was that of a Muslim who wrote that ‘Shiites are not true Muslims and that they deserved the killing’. Wait! It used to be a divide between Muslims and Christians, but now our houses are dividing against itself, and guess what? You and I, irrespective of where we stand, shall sink if nothing is done.
Before now, I used to think that the insanity of doctrinal differences is peculiar to Christians- Catholics against Redeem, Deeper life against Celestial etc. It is a shame, that for the sake of robust tithes and personal aggrandisement, our churches can go as far as striking such unhealthy balance. Years back, it was the impossibility of marriage between a Muslim and a Christian, today, it has grown worse- things cannot work between a member of Deeper life and and a member of Rhema. Religion is bigger than love and conviction! So, all of a sudden, Muslims are against Muslims too based on doctrinal differences. The blood of a Redeemer is only precious to another Redeemer and the life of a Shiite Muslim is worthless in the eyes of a non-Shiite Muslim. Do we still hold that God decreed this?
Poor leadership has been identified as the cause of our national troubles, but did you ever pay attention to your Pastors and Imams? They are leaders too. Do you apply common sense to what you hear from them at all? I mean that when an Imam tells you to vote for a Muslim at the expense of a competent Christian, do you ever pause to remind him that the affairs of Nigeria or your state is not a religious affair? A Church or Mosque by their supposed ‘original’ nature should be a place for the weak, the poor and people who are sincerely sober to seek peace with God and then men, now it is not. Your pastors come with security personnel and you can’t even have access to your chief Imam. I have no issue with that, but it is becoming terrible that their teachings are enslaving common sense and birthing madness. It is even alarming that the madness is more dominant in the youths.
To hell with religions! Damn religions that teach us our neighbours are doomed for hell because they are not in our line. Damn religions that tell us to ignore competence and choose based on religious affiliations. Damn religions that place the words of their books ahead of the good of humanity. Damn keepers of faith and religions that buy jets on the accumulation of the widow’s mite. Damn your church for building universities that its members cannot afford. Damn your Imam for telling you the greatest thing that will happen to any man is being a Muslim. No, it is not- the greatest is being a human who will never lose its humane part regardless of any diversity on the part of the other person.
If there is heaven, it is not the type that your pastors and Imams create in your subconscious mind- heaven is not meant for Christians, it meant for humans who do not turn deaf ears to the cry of the needy. Al-Janah is not an exclusive abode of pious Muslims, it is meant for people whose conscience were not sold out at the expense of truth. If there is hell, it is meant for the types of Christians who abhor Muslims and other Christians. It is meant for Pastors whose jets can be used for Ministry while church members languish in hunger. If there is hell, it is for Muslims who support the killing of Shiites. It is for Muslims who are nonchalant about the plight of non-Muslims. It is for a Muslim who is ‘proud to be a Muslim, rather than being a humane human’. Our first move to curb this menace will be to break loose of the shackles of outrageous religious principles. We should realize that marriage is for love and not religion. That we are here not to worship a Pastor or Imam all in the name of God. That humanity comes first before religion, and that injustice to a Muslim is injustice to everybody.
I have an idea of what the current set of keepers of faith and religions portray heaven to be- a place for regular tithe payers, a place for dogmatic Christians and Muslims who are fanatics, a place for the rich men who would ignore the leaking roof of their poor neighbours and donate millions to the Church. Yes, heaven to them is a place for looters who can share his loots with the Church or Mosque even when the masses live in penury. The whole idea of heaven has been reconfigured to mean a place meant for people who will still give out cars to a religious leader who has enough already. Heaven is for those who can memorise all the verses of the Bible or Quran, even when they can’t commit basic principles of kindness to heart. Heaven is meant for the ones who can spend hours in the Church or Mosque, but still go out to join in lynching a thief. That is your heaven! But I am certain, I won’t just make your heaven, because such heaven is as good as hell.
David Oluwasegun Ogundipe is a Nigerian poet, Social critic, Political Satirist and Lawyer.
docreativemind@gmail.com