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Why Criticism Of Religion Is Important In Contemporary Africa - Religion (8) - Nairaland

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Re: Why Criticism Of Religion Is Important In Contemporary Africa by freecocoa(f): 12:25pm On Jul 28, 2015
johnydon22:
He is still a kid in reason, i wonder why he just derailed the thread and steered it into catholic and non-catholic bashes when the Op was not even about catholicsm but Christianity and religion in general
I'm baffled o, this one is beyond brain washed.
Re: Why Criticism Of Religion Is Important In Contemporary Africa by adsonstone: 12:27pm On Jul 28, 2015
italo:


You list them...or they are so few you can't find any?

And list the deeds your deeper life has done for the world?

Nothing?
italo:

I want you to list them...
...and the deeds deeper life has done for
humanity...
Let's compare.

You seem not to understand simple english.

I dunno any evil of deeper life, if you know any, say them, I'll confirm and acknowledge them.
Simple.

Since you're aware that the roman catholic church does/has done evil...as your post revealed, please list these evils.

I will only list the good of deeper life I'm aware of if and when you post the evils of the roman catholic church.

Simples!
Re: Why Criticism Of Religion Is Important In Contemporary Africa by freecocoa(f): 12:27pm On Jul 28, 2015
italo:


Never said the bold. You're arguing against your imagination.

I said Atheists justify their molestation of kids.

Those three are good examples.

No Catholic can justify molestation, unjust mass killings and persecutions with the religion.

The religion teaches opposite.

Since when is atheism a religion biko nu? Did the people you mentioned, tell you they justify whatever in the name of atheism?

Why did you evade the topic of the killings done in the name of christ?

Just what are you going on about?
Re: Why Criticism Of Religion Is Important In Contemporary Africa by italo: 12:28pm On Jul 28, 2015
johnydon22:


And this just proved what i was saying... The soviet union state atheism was a political position...Political ideologies has nothing to do others. . . You are still stereotyping atheism with the political ideology of Stalin.

And you still arguing over that obvious fact

The man was an Atheist, his Govt was Atheistic, he/his govt killed millions to suppress religion and advance atheism in the country and beyond...and he/his govt justified the killings.

End of story.

1 Like

Re: Why Criticism Of Religion Is Important In Contemporary Africa by johnydon22(m): 12:36pm On Jul 28, 2015
italo:


Science in the modern sense of the word, mainly refers to the Scientific Method. And you have said that this started in the 17th century.
Seriously you need help... you lack adequate comprehension of simple english even from your source wikipedia.

SCIENCE was defined as a way of pursuing knowledge" just like seen below and ways of pursuing knowledge all dates back to ancient world which carefully formulated the disciplines we now know as scientific which is Physics, biology, alchemy, mathematics, astrology and many more

See Wikipedia on Science:

In modern usage "science" [size=20]most often[/size] refers to a way of pursuing knowledge, not only the knowledge itself.
Let me now show you that you don't understand simple english...

Somehow you always neglect the word enlarged... Method of pursuing knowledge which modern linguistic refers to as SCIENCE in modern tongue stretches back to ancient sumer and Egypt and even when the earliest hominide walked the earth.


In the 17th and 18th centuries scientists increasingly sought to formulate knowledge in terms of laws of nature. Over the course of the 19th century, the word "science" became increasingly associated with the scientific method itself, as a disciplined way to study the natural world, [b]including physics, chemistry, geology and biology. It is in the 19th century also that the term scientist began to be applied to those who sought knowledge and understanding of nature.
[i]And this shows the word "SCIENCE" was just a recent add to English linguistic, you practically confuse addition of the word science to the concept of science itself which was defined above " way of pursuing knowledge"

And the bolded science disciplines wikipedia mentioned here are all disciplines formulated in ancient world right through egypt which the ancient know as Natural Philosophy because the word science has not emerged. . . Natural philosophy as science was referred back then remains the same scientific studies you have now only the lingual representation differs of which you naively think lingual addition equate the formulation of the concept.

How can someone with brain claim scientific knowledge was formulated by the church yet knows fully well that the scientific disciplines we have physics, maths, bio etc all predates the emergence of the church with thousands of years...

THAT was practically invented by the Catholic Church...especially through a clergyman called Roger Bacon.

And this just shows the church invented a practically dead brain in you when you cannot distinguish the difference between linguist representation and the concept.

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Re: Why Criticism Of Religion Is Important In Contemporary Africa by italo: 12:38pm On Jul 28, 2015
freecocoa:
Since when is atheism a religion biko nu? Did the people you mentioned, tell you they justify whatever in the name of atheism?

Just what are you going on about?

State atheism in Albania was taken to an extreme during the totalitarian regime installed after World War II, when religions, identified as imports foreign to Albanian culture, were banned altogether.[28] The Agrarian Reform Law of August 1945 nationalized most property of religious institutions, including the estates of mosques, monasteries, orders, and dioceses. Many clergy and believers were tried and some were executed. All foreign Roman Catholic priests, monks, and nuns were expelled in 1946.[29]

Religious communities or branches that had their headquarters outside the country, such as the Jesuit and Franciscan orders, were henceforth ordered to terminate their activities in Albania. Religious institutions were forbidden to have anything to do with the education of the young, because that had been made the exclusive province of the state. All religious communities were prohibited from owning real estate and from operating philanthropic and welfare institutions and hospitals. Although there were tactical variations in Enver Hoxha's approach to each of the major denominations, his overarching objective was the eventual destruction of all organized religion in Albania. Between 1945 and 1953, the number of priests was reduced drastically and the number of Roman Catholic churches was decreased from 253 to 100, and all Catholics were stigmatized as fascists.[29]

The campaign against religion peaked in the 1960s. Beginning in 1967 the Albanian authorities began a campaign to eliminate religious life in Albania. Despite complaints, even by APL members, all churches, mosques, monasteries, and other religious institutions were either closed down or converted into warehouses, gymnasiums, or workshops by the end of 1967.[30] By May 1967, religious institutions had been forced to relinquish all 2,169 churches, mosques, cloisters, and shrines in Albania, many of which were converted into cultural centers for young people. As the literary monthly Nendori reported the event, the youth had thus "created the first atheist nation in the world."[29]

Clerics were publicly vilified and humiliated, their vestments taken and desecrated. More than 200 clerics of various faiths were imprisoned, others were forced to seek work in either industry or agriculture, and some were executed or starved to death. The cloister of the Franciscan order in Shkodër was set on fire, which resulted in the death of four elderly monks.[29]

Article 37 of the Albanian Constitution of 1976 stipulated, "The state recognizes no religion, and supports atheistic propaganda in order to implant a scientific materialistic world outlook in people.",[31] and the penal code of 1977 imposed prison sentences of three to ten years for "religious propaganda and the production, distribution, or storage of religious literature."[citation needed] A new decree that in effect targeted Albanians with Muslim and Christian names, stipulating that citizens whose names did not conform to "the political, ideological, or moral standards of the state" were to change them.[citation needed] It was also decreed that towns and villages with religious names must be renamed.[citation needed] Hoxha's brutal antireligious campaign succeeded in eradicating formal worship, but some Albanians continued to practice their faith clandestinely, risking severe punishment.[citation needed] Individuals caught with Bibles, Qurans, icons, or other religious objects faced long prison sentences. Religious weddings were prohibited.[citation needed]

Parents were afraid to pass on their faith, for fear that their children would tell others. Officials tried to entrap practicing Christians and Muslims during religious fasts, such as Lent and Ramadan, by distributing dairy products and other forbidden foods in school and at work, and then publicly denouncing those who refused the food. Those clergy who conducted secret services were incarcerated.[29] Catholic priest Shtjefen Kurti had been executed for secretly baptizing a child in Shkodër in 1972.[32]

The article was interpreted by Danes as violating The United Nations Charter (chapter 9, article 55) which declares that religious freedom is an inalienable human right. The first time that the question came before the United Nations' Commission on Human Rights at Geneva was as late as 7 March 1983. A delegation from Denmark got its protest over Albania's violation of religious liberty placed on the agenda of the thirty-ninth meeting of the commission, item 25, reading, "Implementation of the Declaration on the Elimination of all Forms of Intolerance and of Discrimination based on Religion or Belief.", and on 20 July 1984 a member of the Danish Parliament inserted an article into one of Denmark's major newspapers protesting the violation of religious freedom in Albania.

These massive attempts by communists to create an atheist nation, devastated both Islam and Orthodox Christianity and they suffered irreparable loss, while on the other hand Roman Catholicism rebounded and regained its previous share of the population at 10%.[33] Despite all of this, a majority of Albania's population is still affiliated with some form of religion. According to the 2011 census, 58.79% of Albanians adhere to Islam, making it the largest religion in the country. The majority of Albanian Muslims are secular Sunni with a significant Bektashi Shia minority. Christianity is practiced by 16.99% of the population, making it the 2nd largest religion in the country. The remaining population is either irreligious or belongs to other religious groups.[34] Before World War II, there was given a distribution of 70% Muslims, 20% Eastern Orthodox, and 10% Roman Catholics.[35] Today, Gallup Global Reports 2010 shows that religion plays a role in the lives of only 39% of Albanians, and ranks Albania the thirteenth least religious country in the world.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/State_atheism

Killing in the name of Atheism and justifying it.
Re: Why Criticism Of Religion Is Important In Contemporary Africa by johnydon22(m): 12:41pm On Jul 28, 2015
italo:


The man was an Atheist, his Govt was Atheistic, he/his govt killed millions to suppress religion and advance atheism in the country and beyond...and he/his govt justified the killings.

End of story.
As simple as it gets.

Stalin was an atheist (individual position) his government is atheistic (Political position) And stalins actions were very evil and barbaric and bad...any sane human being would know that.

All the actions of stalin all boils down to his individual political ideologies.... Nigeria ban of gay rights is not theistic but political....

Hitler was a catholic and he even believed his holocaust on the jews was a cause for God, but this doesn't make his actions a catholic action.. It was a political position. .

So again you gotta learn the difference between political actions, individual actions and collective actions of a group. . . Stop the fallacy of stereotyping.

1 Like

Re: Why Criticism Of Religion Is Important In Contemporary Africa by freecocoa(f): 12:46pm On Jul 28, 2015
Arguing with this Italo is a waste of time and mb.
Re: Why Criticism Of Religion Is Important In Contemporary Africa by johnydon22(m): 12:49pm On Jul 28, 2015
freecocoa:
Arguing with this Italo is a waste of time and mb.
You only get wikipedia copy and paste. . . Lol

1 Like

Re: Why Criticism Of Religion Is Important In Contemporary Africa by freecocoa(f): 12:54pm On Jul 28, 2015
johnydon22:
You only get wikipedia copy and paste. . . Lol
As in eh, someone that can't make use of his reasoning abilities without spamming the whole place with copy and paste from wiki expects to be taken seriously? And I thought I've seen it all, this dude is ready to die in ignorance for the catholic church.grin

2 Likes

Re: Why Criticism Of Religion Is Important In Contemporary Africa by senbonzakurakageyoshi(m): 12:58pm On Jul 28, 2015
italo:


1 strictly speaking: Christianity is Catholicism and Catholicism is Christianity. Full Stop.

2. I speak about Science in the modern sense of the word which mainly refers to the Scientific Model which was advanced by Roger Bacon. This is the Science practised in our world today, not the ancient science that didn't fully entail observation, experimentation, verification etc.

Does this your catholicism include all the other denominations or is it just restricted to the Roman Catholic Church?
Re: Why Criticism Of Religion Is Important In Contemporary Africa by johnydon22(m): 1:00pm On Jul 28, 2015
freecocoa:
As in eh, someone that can't make use of his reasoning abilities without spamming the whole place with copy and paste from wiki expects to be taken seriously? And I thought I've seen it all, this dude is ready to die in ignorance for the catholic church.grin
He was mentioning Albania and soviet atheistic states forgetting that it was a constitutional charter which makes it political...

That the government stood against open theistic activities was because it was anti-constitutional to them and any action that goes against the constitution is a crime against the state.

All he showed were just political positions of a state
Re: Why Criticism Of Religion Is Important In Contemporary Africa by freecocoa(f): 1:03pm On Jul 28, 2015
johnydon22:
He was mentioning Albania and soviet atheistic states forgetting that it was a constitutional charter which makes it political...

That the government stood against open theistic activities was because it was anti-constitutional to them and any action that goes against the constitution is a crime against the state.

All he showed were just political positions of a state
Reason why I didn't even bother with that post.
Re: Why Criticism Of Religion Is Important In Contemporary Africa by limamintruth: 1:04pm On Jul 28, 2015
chibecanglobal:
Leo Igwe

Criticizing religion is urgently needed in today’s world particularly in Africa because it is in this region that the negative effects of religious dogmatism and absolutism are so glaring. In fact it has become a moral and intellectual duty for all free and open minds to highlight and expose through writing, cartoons, drama, music and comedy shows the absurdities, misconceptions, falsehoods and illusions of religion. First of all, religion is a human phenomenon and nothing human is – and should be beyond criticism. Criticizing religion is important because it is a human right that has long been ignored and has long been denied. It is a power and entitlement the exercise of which is important for human happiness and human flourishing.

Unfortunately, one of the greatest tragedies in human history is that human beings created ideas – religious ideas – and then made it a crime, a forbidden act, for others to question them. Human beings have placed a heavy price on critical examination of religious and superstitious beliefs particularly Islam thereby perpetuating these ideas with all their limitations and shortcomings.

The situation in Africa is quiet disturbing because the continent has a triple religious heritage – traditional, Christian and Islamic and these layers of dogma and absolutism make critical examination of faith claims more challenging, and yes, more urgent and compelling.

The three faiths make conflicting and contradictory claims about this life and what happens after death, about what is right and wrong, what is true and what is false, what is allowed or forbidden, what is good or bad, what is fact or fiction, what is myth or reality. They peddle counter intuitive notions like virgin birth, the resurrection and ascension of Jesus, the divine revelation of the Koran, the ascent into heaven of Muhammad on a flaming horse, the existence of paradise and Hell fire, the existence of ancestors, spirits and gods that intervene in nature etc. Many Africans grow up confused, not knowing which religion is true and which is false, if any at all, which faith or philosophy is a suitable moral guide in this 21st century. Africans grow up with their minds enchanted, beclouded and not understanding clearly what to believe and what not to believe, not comprehending how to distinguish facts from fantasy.

Critical evaluation of religious teaching is important for the intellectual emancipation and enlightenment of Africans. Exposing the illogics and gaps in religious thinking – the contradictions in its conception of life and nature, needling the balloon of otherworldly faiths will free the minds and morals of Africans from the grip of superstition and fundamentalism. Due to lack of critical thinking, many Africans are embracing religious extremism and are being indoctrinated into thinking that killing others in the name of their god, prophet and religion is a demonstration of faith and a mark of religious virtue.

They do not know that God is an imaginary being and that the so called prophets are historical entities who are dead and gone or mythical figures who never existed in time and space.

Religious promises of paradise, divine judgment and reward in an afterlife are driving Africans to commit atrocities because many people across Africa think that religious promises are true. African Christians and muslims are really working and hoping to inherit paradise as promised in the Bible and the Koran. Sadly, they are mistaken and we need criticism of religion to foreground the erroneous propositions of faith systems and awaken Africans from their religious slumber. Criticism of religion will help disabuse the minds of Africans of religious illusions and delusions and dissuade them from religious credulousness and extremism. Religion is a potent force in human culture and society, and without criticism it will become a treacherous weapon, a lethal, vicious and potentially dangerous agent. We have witnessed how the destructive force of religious extremism is raging and ravaging different parts of Africa and the world today. We need criticism of religion to counter the narratives of religious extremism and exploitation. So to all Africans I say “Criticize every religion – all religions. Spare no faith, god, prophet or holy book no matter how exalted or revered. Expose their erroneous assumptions, absurd claims and misconceptions. Demand evidence for religious claims even at the risk of causing offence. African enlightenment will not be achieved without offending the sensibilities of those who have vested interest in the religious status quo, in African ‘endarkenment’. Question all religious dogmas because dogmatization is a cover, a way of preserving and perpetuating error and falsehood. Seek the truth. Ignite the flame of rational inquiry and rid this continent of dark and destructive forces of superstition and unreason.

www.eaglereporters.com/2015/07/25/why-criticism-of-religion-is-important-in-contemporary-africa/


Unfortunately I dont contribute on religion-bashing threads created by atheists.

I can only pray that God in His infinite mercy, reveal His word to these lost souls Himself. cool
Re: Why Criticism Of Religion Is Important In Contemporary Africa by adsonstone: 1:09pm On Jul 28, 2015
italo:


Science in the modern sense of the word, mainly refers to the Scientific Method. And you have said that this started in the 17th century.

See Wikipedia on Science:

In modern usage "science" most often refers to a way of pursuing knowledge, not only the knowledge itself. In the 17th and 18th centuries scientists increasingly sought to formulate knowledge in terms of laws of nature. Over the course of the 19th century, the word "science" became increasingly associated with the scientific method itself, as a disciplined way to study the natural world, including physics, chemistry, geology and biology. It is in the 19th century also that the term scientist began to be applied to those who sought knowledge and understanding of nature.

THAT was practically invented by the Catholic Church...especially through a clergyman called Roger Bacon.


Shameless and ignorant catholic liar!

I never said scientific method started in the 17th century...it is your assumption from your poor ignorant reasoning. I quoted wikipedia that says

wikipedia:
The Oxford English Dictionary defines the
scientific method as "a method or procedure that
has characterized natural science since the
17th century, consisting in systematic
observation, measurement, and experiment, and
the formulation, testing, and modification of
hypotheses."

Nowhere did myself or wikipedia say that 'scientific methods or science 'started' or was 'invented' in the 17th century by Bacon.

You were the one who said that...it further shows you to be an adult catholic liar!

italo:

Science in the modern sense of the word, mainly refers to the Scientific Method...THAT was practically invented by the Catholic Church...especially through a clergyman called Roger Bacon.

Wikipedia calls you a liar!

"Several scientific methods thus emerged from the medieval Muslim world by the early 11th century, all of which emphasized experimentation as well as
quantification to varying degrees."

- Wikipedia
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_scientific_method

1 Like

Re: Why Criticism Of Religion Is Important In Contemporary Africa by Nobody: 1:09pm On Jul 28, 2015
senbonzakurakageyoshi:
Away from the whole distraction with ITalo's catholicism and denominational christianity and back to the main topic at hand:

I would like to think the main problem with modern African religion and the modern African religious construct is actually something ancient: fear. We are too afraid to question what we've been told. And funnily enough, that fear wasn't invented with Christianity or Islam - it was a part of the religions our forefathers adhered to. The gods in our traditional religions were swift, vengeful and ruthless. The chief priests held the people in awe of the gods' powers and threatened followers with punishment if they displeased the gods. And, of course, it was only convenient for those who brought us the religions we adhere to today to key into that already existing formula to achieve the same results. We modern religious adherents inherited that fear from our old religions and adapted it into modern religion. God is always hovering over our shoulders with a whip to hand out punishments whenever we default - especially when we refuse to believe in him. Which makes it no surprise that, in the same way our forebears had to offer sacrifices to keep the gods pleased and keep their blessings coming, modern African adherents have to sow seeds and make constant offerings to make God happy and keep his blessings coming. All this in spite of the fact that we still hold the creed that God is a benevolent, all-loving God.

Modern African religions, in my purview, are not religions in its purest form. It is an amalgamation of tenets of our old traditional religions (especially the use of fear to subjugate and control) and old European/Middle Eastern dogma all wrapped up in a modernist package. And till we learn to throw off that cloak of fear, that idea that God wants to remain hidden in a shroud of mystery and, as a results, we shouldn't ask questions, we will continue to fall victim to the negative aspects of religious beliefs.

I love you kiss

Plenty likes.
Re: Why Criticism Of Religion Is Important In Contemporary Africa by johnydon22(m): 1:11pm On Jul 28, 2015
adsonstone:


Shameless and ignorant catholic liar!

I never said scientific method started in the 17th century...it is your assumption from your poor ignorant reasoning. I quoted wikipedia that says



Nowhere did myself or wikipedia say that 'scientific methods or science 'started' or was 'invented' in the 17th century by Bacon.

You were the one who said that...it further shows you to be an adult catholic liar!



Wikipedia calls you a liar!

"Several scientific methods thus emerged from the medieval Muslim world by the early 11th century, all of which emphasized experimentation as well as
quantification to varying degrees."

- Wikipedia
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_scientific_method

Have decided to leave the kid to his delusional self deceptive convictions. . . We have taught him enough, i suggest you guys steer this thread back to its original path and forget the catholic trolling derailment

1 Like

Re: Why Criticism Of Religion Is Important In Contemporary Africa by oluwaahmed: 1:15pm On Jul 28, 2015
U xtains r so funny. Dissin d catholic church meanwhile ur churches are no better or shd I say even worse. Catholics have better persona dan all dese churches & so-called miracle houses, whoma are even more brainwashed dan d catholics. I hav a lota Xtain friends but I can tell u dat catholics hav a deep undastandin of d scriptures more dan deir pentecostal counterparts. D catholic church dt u guys r Dissin wer d ones dat even released d Bible ur private jet & enterprenural pastors r usin 2 get rich. U're callin catholic church a cult because dey love & help each oda irrespective of deir social class. Ders a huge GAP or class differential in ur pentecostal churches more dan dt of catholic churches. D rev of catholic churches r nt afraid 2 point fingers & criticism corrupt politicians. Luk @ pple like Anthony cardinal okojie; rev fr kuka, deses pple wer neva scared of sayin d truth even in d military regime. Wen I look @ catholics worship and pray it's similar 2 dat of Islam. I am forced 2 belive truly Dats it's one God we servin but tru dft means. Also sayin catholics Dnt marry outside deir church is rily a lie. Only a fool will belive dat. Religion is not d problem of africa, it's d interpretatn. B4 d advent of Islam & xtainity we had our trditnal religions. Wer if one stole, or was a homosexual d god of dat particular village will strike tins. U find out dt tho africa was backward; societies wer saner. U can't jst kill 4 no reason. Even wen u run, ur ancestors are called upon by d gods 2 bring justice & punishment. Do u knw ow many wars d catholic had 2 fight 2 defend deir faith in order 4 u xtains 2 be openin churches in evry str & shanti? Pls all u catholic haters shd do ur research well b4 tukin. Even I a Muslim is more informed dan u. Keep on givin ur pastors all ur money while ur neighbor starves, y'all pentecostal r d most ignorant. Wer ur "papa" is supreme & no one can questn his judgement.

1 Like

Re: Why Criticism Of Religion Is Important In Contemporary Africa by adsonstone: 1:17pm On Jul 28, 2015
johnydon22:


Have decided to leave the kid to his delusional self deceptive convictions. . . We have taught him enough, i suggest you guys steer this thread back to its original path and forget the catholic trolling derailment

It really pains me when adults choose to behave like kids just to feed their ego.

Infact, some would rather hang themselves than accept a truth that's hitting them on the head.

1 Like

Re: Why Criticism Of Religion Is Important In Contemporary Africa by adsonstone: 1:21pm On Jul 28, 2015
oluwaahmed:
U xtains r so funny. Dissin d catholic church meanwhile ur churches are no better or shd I say even worse. Catholics have better persona dan all dese churches & so-called miracle houses, whoma are even more brainwashed dan d catholics. I hav a lota Xtain friends but I can tell u dat catholics hav a deep undastandin of d scriptures more dan deir pentecostal counterparts. D catholic church dt u guys r Dissin wer d ones dat even released d Bible ur private jet & enterprenural pastors r usin 2 get rich. U're callin catholic church a cult because dey love & help each oda irrespective of deir social class. Ders a huge GAP or class differential in ur pentecostal churches more dan dt of catholic churches. D rev of catholic churches r nt afraid 2 point fingers & criticism corrupt politicians. Luk @ pple like Anthony cardinal okojie; rev fr kuka, deses pple wer neva scared of sayin d truth even in d military regime. Wen I look @ catholics worship and pray it's similar 2 dat of Islam. I am forced 2 belive truly Dats it's one God we servin but tru dft means. Also sayin catholics Dnt marry outside deir church is rily a lie. Only a fool will belive dat. Religion is not d problem of africa, it's d interpretatn. B4 d advent of Islam & xtainity we had our trditnal religions. Wer if one stole, or was a homosexual d god of dat particular village will strike tins. U find out dt tho africa was backward; societies wer saner. U can't jst kill 4 no reason. Even wen u run, ur ancestors are called upon by d gods 2 bring justice & punishment. Do u knw ow many wars d catholic had 2 fight 2 defend deir faith in order 4 u xtains 2 be openin churches in evry str & shanti? Pls all u catholic haters shd do ur research well b4 tukin. Even I a Muslim is more informed dan u. Keep on givin ur pastors all ur money while ur neighbor starves, y'all pentecostal r d most ignorant. Wer ur "papa" is supreme & no one can questn his judgement.

Go and refine your written/spoken english and study your hadiths and Koran.

Thank you.
Re: Why Criticism Of Religion Is Important In Contemporary Africa by senbonzakurakageyoshi(m): 1:21pm On Jul 28, 2015
oluwaahmed:
U xtains r so funny. Dissin d catholic church meanwhile ur churches are no better or shd I say even worse. Catholics have better persona dan all dese churches & so-called miracle houses, whoma are even more brainwashed dan d catholics. I hav a lota Xtain friends but I can tell u dat catholics hav a deep undastandin of d scriptures more dan deir pentecostal counterparts. D catholic church dt u guys r Dissin wer d ones dat even released d Bible ur private jet & enterprenural pastors r usin 2 get rich. U're callin catholic church a cult because dey love & help each oda irrespective of deir social class. Ders a huge GAP or class differential in ur pentecostal churches more dan dt of catholic churches. D rev of catholic churches r nt afraid 2 point fingers & criticism corrupt politicians. Luk @ pple like Anthony cardinal okojie; rev fr kuka, deses pple wer neva scared of sayin d truth even in d military regime. Wen I look @ catholics worship and pray it's similar 2 dat of Islam. I am forced 2 belive truly Dats it's one God we servin but tru dft means. Also sayin catholics Dnt marry outside deir church is rily a lie. Only a fool will belive dat. Religion is not d problem of africa, it's d interpretatn. B4 d advent of Islam & xtainity we had our trditnal religions. Wer if one stole, or was a homosexual d god of dat particular village will strike tins. U find out dt tho africa was backward; societies wer saner. U can't jst kill 4 no reason. Even wen u run, ur ancestors are called upon by d gods 2 bring justice & punishment. Do u knw ow many wars d catholic had 2 fight 2 defend deir faith in order 4 u xtains 2 be openin churches in evry str & shanti? Pls all u catholic haters shd do ur research well b4 tukin. Even I a Muslim is more informed dan u. Keep on givin ur pastors all ur money while ur neighbor starves, y'all pentecostal r d most ignorant. Wer ur "papa" is supreme & no one can questn his judgement.

My dear, you have deviated so far from the topic at hand that I can't find your point.

1 Like

Re: Why Criticism Of Religion Is Important In Contemporary Africa by italo: 1:36pm On Jul 28, 2015
senbonzakurakageyoshi:


Does this your catholicism include all the other denominations or is it just restricted to the Roman Catholic Church?

Jesus founded only one Church in 33AD. There is nothing like "denominations."

Where do you get that from?
Re: Why Criticism Of Religion Is Important In Contemporary Africa by italo: 1:51pm On Jul 28, 2015
johnydon22:
You only get wikipedia copy and paste. . . Lol
It's absolutely okay to quote wiki when it's article is true...

...rather than spewing fallacies like you without any backup anywhere.
I have provide a form of backup or evidence for every single thing I have said...if there is any I haven't provided evidence of, point it out.
Re: Why Criticism Of Religion Is Important In Contemporary Africa by Harmony10: 1:54pm On Jul 28, 2015
First and Foremost I really commend you for this piece. I agree with the general idea of this write up. The fact that dogmatism (or religiousity) is destroying us - Humans (interesting there is no crisis in d animal or plant kingdoms except the ones caused by humans grin)

However, I would like to highlights few specifics which I feel is a common mistakes with those who try to criticize one Faith or the other (Note: Not religion this time. I am a christian but I don't believe in Christian Religion but christian Faith).

-People who criticize faith usually exonerate themselves. But if we think deeply we can conclude that we all belong to one faith or the other. Whether it Liberalism, Moralism, Atheism, Christianity, Islam, Judiasm etc, we all are guided by a set of beliefs which are responsible for our mind set, thought processes and actions - d reason people from d same faith most often agrees on the same ideals and behave same way. This is not necessarily dogmatism. They are only guided by the same principles. It is my opinion that some faith promotes religion, while some were created explicitly to create alternative faith or to attack a particular faith (note this is not directed at your write up).

Another error I find out is about the criticism of arbitrary belief. But the truth is that all Faith feeds on the belief of the people in it and most belief can not be proved with physical evidence. It something you agree to from within you. Most esp. because most belief is handed down to us and we just believe based on our conscience awareness. For stance, I believe that God is a Person and He is Real. I don't have to see him before I believe that He is real. He doesn't need a physical body before I reckon that He has a Personality. We do not see the air we breathe or other micro organisms yet they are all real. You belief that God is imaginary. Something like a Dragon and pigment of somebody's imagination. But I need to know (with physical evidence) how you come to that conclusion. How did you conclude that God is imaginary?

In all I agree with your stand that religion is bad. It thrive on dogmatism, selfishness, deception, hypocrisy, self-righteousness and mind enslavement.

These are not what christianity as a Faith built on Christ stands for. No doubt a lot of people (in d fashion of the pharisees in the Bible days) practice christian religion and not Faith of Christ. Christ fought against religiousity and the Pharisees in His days. Simply because the story is the same for all religious minded people - condemn people, live double standard, focus on rules other than the welfare of people, judgmental, hypocritical, turns things of God to means of gratifying selfish inclinations. Christ had big issues with all of these. His lifestyle and stories were about Love, being filled with abundant Life (as against deadness in Religion), being freed from spiritual enslavement (including a destruction of monopoly of God - thereby promoting freedom of the human mind).

To further buttress the fact that Christ like Faith already encourages us to embark on research to liberate our mind and also to prove everyone who comes to us in the name of God here are some scriptural reference:

- I John 4:1 Says do not believe all spirits but test...
- Matthew 7: 15 - 16: Jesus says Beware of False Prophets who come to you in sheep clothing but inwardly are raven wolves...by their fruits (chief of which is Love) you will know them. This is particularly important because people and things are not the way they seems or profess to be. We need to do our own check. Jesus gave the us a way to prove things. The first order condition (necessary condition) and the second other condition (the sufficient condition). For him it is not sufficient to have knowledge, eloquence, influence or other good things - the question who are you?

Acts 17:11 describes some christian in Berea as being more noble than their counterparts because they did personal research. The question of their personal faith was not left entirely on the hands of their supposed leaders.

Romans 12:2 Say don't conform to the world but be transformed by renewing your minds. This goes to show that in everyone of us is a Witness mechanism.

Christianity truly encourages

- Science (Cause and Effect Relationship e.g Sin (cause) lead to spiritual death (effect). What ever a man sow he will reap. It is pure madness to sow mango and want to reap oranges. Every behaviour has a consequence. What is more scientific than that.

- Christianity encourages Life and not Religion or Dogmatism. It encourages freedom from the Rules and Regulations (Religious enslavement) but not necessary individualism. I don't really think there is anything like that. We all fall into one circle/community or the other. No man can ever be truly individual. We take things from the circle we belong and also hand it down to others.

- Christianity focuses on spirituality. The continuous rebirth of the the human mind and the transformation of the person of individual by focusing on God within you. John 4:20-25; 2 Corinthians 3:3 and Romans 2:15



chibecanglobal:
Leo Igwe

Criticizing religion is urgently needed in today’s world particularly in Africa because it is in this region that the negative effects of religious dogmatism and absolutism are so glaring. In fact it has become a moral and intellectual duty for all free and open minds to highlight and expose through writing, cartoons, drama, music and comedy shows the absurdities, misconceptions, falsehoods and illusions of religion. First of all, religion is a human phenomenon and nothing human is – and should be beyond criticism. Criticizing religion is important because it is a human right that has long been ignored and has long been denied. It is a power and entitlement the exercise of which is important for human happiness and human flourishing.

Unfortunately, one of the greatest tragedies in human history is that human beings created ideas – religious ideas – and then made it a crime, a forbidden act, for others to question them. Human beings have placed a heavy price on critical examination of religious and superstitious beliefs particularly Islam thereby perpetuating these ideas with all their limitations and shortcomings.

The situation in Africa is quiet disturbing because the continent has a triple religious heritage – traditional, Christian and Islamic and these layers of dogma and absolutism make critical examination of faith claims more challenging, and yes, more urgent and compelling.

The three faiths make conflicting and contradictory claims about this life and what happens after death, about what is right and wrong, what is true and what is false, what is allowed or forbidden, what is good or bad, what is fact or fiction, what is myth or reality. They peddle counter intuitive notions like virgin birth, the resurrection and ascension of Jesus, the divine revelation of the Koran, the ascent into heaven of Muhammad on a flaming horse, the existence of paradise and Hell fire, the existence of ancestors, spirits and gods that intervene in nature etc. Many Africans grow up confused, not knowing which religion is true and which is false, if any at all, which faith or philosophy is a suitable moral guide in this 21st century. Africans grow up with their minds enchanted, beclouded and not understanding clearly what to believe and what not to believe, not comprehending how to distinguish facts from fantasy.

Critical evaluation of religious teaching is important for the intellectual emancipation and enlightenment of Africans. Exposing the illogics and gaps in religious thinking – the contradictions in its conception of life and nature, needling the balloon of otherworldly faiths will free the minds and morals of Africans from the grip of superstition and fundamentalism. Due to lack of critical thinking, many Africans are embracing religious extremism and are being indoctrinated into thinking that killing others in the name of their god, prophet and religion is a demonstration of faith and a mark of religious virtue.

They do not know that God is an imaginary being and that the so called prophets are historical entities who are dead and gone or mythical figures who never existed in time and space.

Religious promises of paradise, divine judgment and reward in an afterlife are driving Africans to commit atrocities because many people across Africa think that religious promises are true. African Christians and muslims are really working and hoping to inherit paradise as promised in the Bible and the Koran. Sadly, they are mistaken and we need criticism of religion to foreground the erroneous propositions of faith systems and awaken Africans from their religious slumber. Criticism of religion will help disabuse the minds of Africans of religious illusions and delusions and dissuade them from religious credulousness and extremism. Religion is a potent force in human culture and society, and without criticism it will become a treacherous weapon, a lethal, vicious and potentially dangerous agent. We have witnessed how the destructive force of religious extremism is raging and ravaging different parts of Africa and the world today. We need criticism of religion to counter the narratives of religious extremism and exploitation. So to all Africans I say “Criticize every religion – all religions. Spare no faith, god, prophet or holy book no matter how exalted or revered. Expose their erroneous assumptions, absurd claims and misconceptions. Demand evidence for religious claims even at the risk of causing offence. African enlightenment will not be achieved without offending the sensibilities of those who have vested interest in the religious status quo, in African ‘endarkenment’. Question all religious dogmas because dogmatization is a cover, a way of preserving and perpetuating error and falsehood. Seek the truth. Ignite the flame of rational inquiry and rid this continent of dark and destructive forces of superstition and unreason.

www.eaglereporters.com/2015/07/25/why-criticism-of-religion-is-important-in-contemporary-africa/
Re: Why Criticism Of Religion Is Important In Contemporary Africa by italo: 1:56pm On Jul 28, 2015
johnydon22:
As simple as it gets.

Stalin was an atheist (individual position) his government is atheistic (Political position) And stalins actions were very evil and barbaric and bad...any sane human being would know that.

All the actions of stalin all boils down to his individual political ideologies.... Nigeria ban of gay rights is not theistic but political....

Hitler was a catholic and he even believed his holocaust on the jews was a cause for God, but this doesn't make his actions a catholic action.. It was a political position. .

So again you gotta learn the difference between political actions, individual actions and collective actions of a group. . . Stop the fallacy of stereotyping.

Stalin/his govt killed millions to further the Atheistic agenda.

So whether the ideology is individual or political or whatever, it was an Atheistic ideology...just like that of Albania.

Hitler was not serving a Christian agenda, but an anti-Christian one. And by the way he was technically not a Catholic at the time because he was already excommunicated.
Re: Why Criticism Of Religion Is Important In Contemporary Africa by johnydon22(m): 2:06pm On Jul 28, 2015
italo:


Stalin killed millions to further the Atheistic agenda.

So whether the ideology is individual or political or whatever, it was an Atheistic ideology...just like that of Albania.
Lol boy the fact remains that both the Soviet and Albania state atheism were all constitutional charters.

The constitution outlawed religious activities and so what ever activity and implementations that followed were sorely a political and constitutional action..
Just like the Nigerian constitution outlawed gayism

That is politics cool
Re: Why Criticism Of Religion Is Important In Contemporary Africa by italo: 2:14pm On Jul 28, 2015
adsonstone:


Shameless and ignorant catholic liar!

I never said scientific method started in the 17th century...it is your assumption from your poor ignorant reasoning. I quoted wikipedia that says



Nowhere did myself or wikipedia say that 'scientific methods or science 'started' or was 'invented' in the 17th century by Bacon.

You were the one who said that...it further shows you to be an adult catholic liar!



Wikipedia calls you a liar!

"Several scientific methods thus emerged from the medieval Muslim world by the early 11th century, all of which emphasized experimentation as well as
quantification to varying degrees."

- Wikipedia
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_scientific_method

During the Middle Ages, the Church founded Europe's first universities, producing scholars like Robert Grosseteste, Albert the Great, Roger Bacon and Thomas Aquinas, who helped establish scientific method https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catholic_Church_and_science

Keep dancing around.
Re: Why Criticism Of Religion Is Important In Contemporary Africa by italo: 2:23pm On Jul 28, 2015
johnydon22:
Lol boy the fact remains that both the Soviet and Albania state atheism were all constitutional charters.

The constitution outlawed religious activities and so what ever activity and implementations that followed were sorely a political and constitutional action..
Just like the Nigerian constitution outlawed gayism

That is politics cool

Atheistic constitutions drafted by Atheists that killed millions in the name of Atheism.
Re: Why Criticism Of Religion Is Important In Contemporary Africa by johnydon22(m): 2:28pm On Jul 28, 2015
italo:


Atheistic constitutions drafted by Atheists that killed millions in the name of Atheism.
Nope just like gay law it is just a constitutional amendment by the government and implemented by the government... You can never separate the actions of a state out of government... cool
Re: Why Criticism Of Religion Is Important In Contemporary Africa by italo: 2:33pm On Jul 28, 2015
adsonstone:



You seem not to understand simple english.

I dunno any evil of deeper life, if you know any, say them, I'll confirm and acknowledge them.
Simple.

Since you're aware that the roman catholic church does/has done evil...as your post revealed, please list these evils.

I will only list the good of deeper life I'm aware of if and when you post the evils of the roman catholic church.

Simples!
Here are some of the evils of the Catholic Church:

The Roman Catholic Church is the largest non-government provider of health care services in the world.[1] It has around 18,000 clinics, 16,000 homes for the elderly and those with special needs, and 5,500 hospitals, with 65 per cent of them located in developing countries.[2] In 2010, the Church's Pontifical Council for Pastoral Assistance to Health Care Workers said that the Church manages 26% of the world's health care facilities.[3] The Church's involvement in health care has ancient origins.

Jesus Christ, whom the Church holds as its founder, instructed his followers to heal the sick. The early Christians were noted for tending the sick and infirm, and Christian emphasis on practical charity gave rise to the development of systematic nursing and hospitals. The influential Benedictine rule holds that "the care of the sick is to be placed above and before every other duty, as if indeed Christ were being directly served by waiting on them". But for centuries, Catholic health care was scientifically primitive. Different saints were invoked for every body part in the hope of miraculous cures. During the Middle Ages, monasteries and convents were the key medical centres of Europe and the Church developed an early version of a welfare state. Cathedral schools evolved into a well integrated network of medieval universities and Catholic scientists (many of them clergymen) made a number of important discoveries which aided the development of modern science and medicine.

Saint Albert the Great (1206-1280) was a pioneer of biological field research; Desiderius Erasmus (1466-1536) helped revive knowledge of ancient Greek medicine, Renaissance popes were often patrons of the study of anatomy, and Catholic artists such as Michelangelo advanced knowledge of the field through sketching cadavers. The Jesuit Athanasius Kircher (1602 – 1680) first proposed that living beings enter and exist in the blood (a precursor of germ theory). The Augustinian Gregor Mendel (1822-1884) developed theories on genetics for the first time. As Catholicism became a global religion, the Catholic orders and religious and lay people established health care centres around the world. Women's religious institutes such as the Sisters of Charity, Sisters of Mercy and Sisters of St Francis opened and operated some of the first modern general hospitals.

While the prioritisation of charity and healing by early Christians created the hospital, their spiritual emphasis tended to imply "the subordination of medicine to religion and doctor to priest". "[P]hysic and faith", wrote historian of medicine Ray Porter "while generally complementary... sometimes tangled in border disputes." Similarly in modern times, the moral stance of the Church against contraception and abortion has been a source of controversy. The Church, while being a major provider of health care to HIV AIDS sufferers, and of orphanages for unwanted children, has been criticised for opposing condom use. Due to Catholics' belief in the sanctity of life from conception, IVF, which leads to the destruction of many embryos, surrogacy, which relies on IVF, and embryonic stem-cell research, which necessitates the destruction of embryos, are among other areas of controversy for the Church in the provision of health care.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catholic_Church_and_health_care

To be cntd...
Re: Why Criticism Of Religion Is Important In Contemporary Africa by johnydon22(m): 2:35pm On Jul 28, 2015
italo:


During the Middle Ages, the Church founded Europe's first universities, producing scholars like Robert Grosseteste, Albert the Great, Roger Bacon and Thomas Aquinas, who helped establish scientific method https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catholic_Church_and_science

Keep dancing around.
And you keep showing you are not well at all..

"They helped developed the modern idea of scientific method not SCIENCE in essense"

We are talking about SCIENCE not scientific method... There is an obvious distinction between SCIENCE and SCIENTIFIC METHODS. scientific methods are just methods of scientific application of which we have many!

Seems Wikipedia english confuses you a lot.... Even more so many scientific methods have been in play since the ancient times..

During the ancient times egypt had a school "The egyptian mystery school" which formulated most of the scientific knowledge you have now Biology, Physics, Alchemy, Mathematics, Astrology, even medical sciences and others. And this school produced the likes Imhotep, Pythagoras even plato....

Stop confusing yourself with the linguistic addition of the word science with the concept of SCIENCE or should should i now say NATURAL PHILOSOPHY so you don't keep confusing yourself

1 Like

Re: Why Criticism Of Religion Is Important In Contemporary Africa by italo: 2:37pm On Jul 28, 2015
johnydon22:
Nope just like gay law it is just a constitutional amendment by the government and implemented by the government... You can never separate the actions of a state out of government... cool

An Atheistic constitutional amendment done and implemented by an Atheistic Govt run by Atheists...to kill in the name of Atheism.

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