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/

What's za best religion to join .
I wanna change from atheism

Criticize islam @ ur own RISK!#amnonmuslim#

There is need to ridicule any of such ideas that is causing more harm to humanity and human civilization than good; boko haram, ISIS, sex abuse and molestation by priests, prejudice, bigotry, discrimination against women and numerous vices that religion perpetrates.

We have been invaded and consumed by foreign cultures and gods - Roman and Greek gods, god of the ancient desert dwellers of the jews, violent god of middle eastern man by the name Mohammed.

Leo Igwe, your efforts is highly appreciated but you Can't do it alone. Africa is such ignorance, poverty consumed and bonehead sort of people.

This piece is on point. They made selfish laws and made it sacred. Shior!

Let us all go back to reason to regain our glory as a people. That is the true salvation we need as a people. That is the emancipation every living soul needs. That is the sure way of meeting "God".

My guy you go just die before your time..concentrate more on improving yourself..it is a social construct that you cant fight.. you will become a pariah..Thomas paine who wrote the "the age of reason" died a lonely man..even your best friends and family will abandon you.

chibecanglobal:
Let us all go back to reason to regain our glory as a people.
That is the true salvation we need as a people.
That is the emancipation every living soul needs.
That is the sure way of meeting "God".

Much of organized religion is based on brainwashing techniques that robs and inhibits the individual from maximizing his potential and developing his reasoning faculty. This explains why many religious people would rather "fast and pray" for success and "breakthrough" rather than undergoing self-improvement and working harder and smarter.

Organized religion preys on the average person's fear of the uncertainties of life -- it falsely promises a structured (though complex) explanation for human existence and purpose that defies reason and consequently imprisons the mind.

menesheh:
There is need to ridicule any of such ideas that is causing more harm to humanity and human civilization,
boko haram, ISIS, sex abuse and molestation by priest, discrimination against women and numerous others.
Leo Igwe, your efforts is highly appreciated but you Can't do it alone. Africa is such ignorance, poverty consumed and bonehead sort of people.

There was never civilization without religion. Christianity showed you that women are equal to men and should be treated with love and dignity. The enemies of religion, like you promote proliferation of indiscriminate sex including pornography which reduces women to little above animals with no love and dignity. It also increases unwanted pregnancies and you enemies of religion encourage the massacre of those innocent souls in the womb.

Those who molest children are clearly going against the Christian religion...so you can't say it was caused by religion.

The only thing Atheism has ever offered the world is death and destruction. E.g in Soviet Union, North Korea, Cambodia etc.

afroniger:


Much of organized religion is based on brainwashing techniques that robs and inhibits the individual from maximizing his potential and developing his reasoning faculty. This explains why many religious people would rather "fast and pray" for success and "breakthrough" rather than undergoing self-improvement and working harder and smarter.

Organized religion preys on the average person's fear of the uncertainties of life -- it falsely promises a structured (though complex) explanation for human existence and purpose that defies reason and consequently imprisons the mind.

False. I belong to Catholicism, an organized religion, and it doesn't have the features you described above.

You're speaking out of ignorance.

chibecanglobal:
Let us all go back to reason to regain our glory as a people.
That is the true salvation we need as a people.
That is the emancipation every living soul needs.
That is the sure way of meeting "God".

What is this "glory"...and when did we have it in the past?

emmyrichie:
This piece is on point. They made selfish laws and made it sacred. Shior!

Give an example of the selfish law...

Who made it sacred?

italo:


False. I belong to Catholicism, an organized religion, and it doesn't have the features you described above.

You're speaking out of ignorance.

Any religion that tells you it's either her way or "hell fire", or that unless you adhere to its precepts your "sins" can't be forgiven is a brainwashing cult, or that unless your marriage is endorsed by their authority then it is invald, etc. Such dogma-based organizations encourage people to submit their individuality on the alter of religious cohesion and mind control. They prey on human fear of death and the after life.

afroniger:


Any religion that tells you it's either her way or "hell fire", or that unless you adhere to its precepts your "sins" can't be forgiven is a brainwashing cult, or that unless your marriage is endorsed by their authority then it is invald, etc. Such dogma-based organizations encourage people to submit their individuality on the alter of religious cohesion and mind control. They prey on human fear of death and the after life.

On point

italo:


What is this "glory"...and when did we have it in the past?

I'm really interested in the answer to this question

italo:


What is this "glory"...and when did we have it in the past?

Man was in his full glory before the advent of religion.
He started loosing it when he created religion instead of using reason which is the only God-given tool to achieve his purpose in life.
Thank God he is realising his folly and taking corrective steps.

afroniger:


Any religion that tells you it's either her way or "hell fire", or that unless you adhere to its precepts your "sins" can't be forgiven is a brainwashing cult, or that unless your marriage is endorsed by their authority then it is invald, etc. Such dogma-based organizations encourage people to submit their individuality on the alter of religious cohesion and mind control. They prey on human fear of death and the after life.

Firstly, can you show where the Catholic Church says the bold?

Secondly, I'm Catholic, and I don't fear death or afterlife. I don't submit my individuality on the altar of religious coercion and mind control.

I individually and freely choose to cling to God who created me and the world. I know that if I die physically while in communion with him, I will be with him in the next life. So no fear.

chibecanglobal:
Man was in his full glory before the advent of religion.
He started loosing it when he created religion instead of using reason which is the only God-given tool to achieve his purpose in life.
Thank God he is realising his folly and taking corrective steps.

When was this? When was the advent of religion? Who created religion? Which "God" do you speak of? How did you get to know about this "God?" What is man's purpose in life?

italo:


Firstly, can you show where the Catholic Church says the bold?

Secondly, I'm Catholic, and I don't fear death or afterlife. I don't submit my individuality on the altar of religious coercion and mind control.

I individually and freely choose to cling to God who created me and the world. I know that if I die physically while in communion with him, I will be with him in the next life. So no fear.

Before I continue let me quickly say that this isn't about the Catholic church as an organized religious body, but about organized religion in general -- everything I said applies to every religious 'ism' out there (Catholicsm, Islamism, Buddhism, Hiduism, Protestantism, e.t.c). You are the one who brought the Catholic church into this. Now, I'll answer your first question with references from the Catholic church authority regarding my assertions.

" There is but one universal ["Catholic" means universal] Church of the faithful, outside which NO ONE at all is saved. (Pope Innocent III, Fourth Lateran Council, 1215.)

" We declare, say, define, and pronounce that it is absolutely necessary for the salvation of every human creature to be subject to the Roman Pontiff. (Pope Boniface VIII, the Bull, Unam Sanctum, 1302.)

Pope Gregory XVI (A.D. 1831 - 1846):

"It is not possible to worship God truly except in Her; all who are outside Her will not be saved." (Encyclical, Summo Jugiter)

Meaning that according to these edicts, you can't even begin to talk about forgiveness of sin (which is part and parcel of the Salvation idea) unless you're a Catholic subject.

And we all know Catholics are barred from marrying outside their faith.

Now to your second question, I personally would consider you (based on your description of your beliefs) as a liberal practising Catholic who doesn't strictly adhere to the Church dogma, else you wouldn't hold that position. Catholism itself isn't strictly based on the Bible and it confesses that much. Rather it's based more on the tradition of the early church 'fathers'. What I find interesting about Catholism is that on the one hand the popes warn christian adherents not to take the entire bible literally -- meaning they accept that much of it isn't true -- yet the Pope derives his very infallibility authority from such a source? Smh.

afroniger:


Before I continue let me quickly say that this isn't about the Catholic church as an organized religious body, but about organized religion in general -- everything I said applies to every religious 'ism' out there (Catholicsm, Islamism, Buddhism, Hiduism, Protestantism, e.t.c). You are the one who brought the Catholic church into this. Now, I'll answer your first question with references from the Catholic church authority regarding my assertions.



Meaning that according to these edicts, you can't even begin to talk about forgiveness of sin (which is part and parcel of the Salvation idea) unless you're a Catholic subject.

And we all know Catholics ate barred from marrying outside their faith.

Now to your second question, I personally would consider you (based on your description of your beliefs) as a liberal practising Catholic who doesn't stricly adhere to the Church dogma, else you wouldn't hold that position. Catholism itself isn't strictly based on the Bible and it confesses that much. Rather it's based more on the tradition of the early church 'fathers'. What I find interesting about Catholism is that on the one hand the popes warn christian adherents not to take the entire bible literally -- meaning they accept that much of it isn't true -- yet the Pope derives his very infallibility authority from such a source? Smh.

Lol!!!!

Ask yourself why relgion keep changing over time.
Or have not you noticed that what are practised today as world religions are not same with what ppl practiced say 2500-2800 years ago?
Why is it that with all our religionism in the past we could not make enough advancement as we have done in the last couple of centuries when reason started to take its rightful place in the life of man.
Can you confidently say that religion is agreement with all scientific discoveries that man has been able to achieve thru the power of reason?

menesheh:
There is need to ridicule any of such ideas that is causing more harm to humanity and human civilization, boko haram, ISIS, sex abuse and molestation by priest, discrimination against women and numerous others.

Leo Igwe, your efforts is highly appreciated but you Can't do it alone. Africa is such ignorance, poverty consumed and bonehead sort of people.

He is not doing it alone.
We are all involved in this Anti-endarkenment of Africa.

italo:


Firstly, can you show where the Catholic Church says the bold?

Secondly, I'm Catholic, and I don't fear death or afterlife. I don't submit my individuality on the altar of religious coercion and mind control.

I individually and freely choose to cling to God who created me and the world. I know that if I die physically while in communion with him, I will be with him in the next life. So no fear.

Lol.
You freely and independently cling to what You have been fully brainwashed to believe.
You cling to the Catholic cult/church because it has become your only comfort zone,without which you have no compass.
That is a classical definition of a brainwashed person.

Nice article... Quietly perusing.

italo:


False. I belong to Catholicism, an organized religion, and it doesn't have the features you described above.

You're speaking out of ignorance.

Bullshyte in capital letters.

How can you be sooo boldly ignorant?

An organised religion, the Catholic cult, Invented
, honed and perpertuated all the manifest evils of religion.

The Catholic cult sired all the dysfunctions in the religious marketplace.

Every evil we see today in religion, the Catholic cult Invented it.

italo:


There was never civilization without religion. Christianity showed you that women are equal to men and should be treated with love and dignity. The enemies of religion, like you promote proliferation of indiscriminate sex including pornography which reduces women to little above animals with no love and dignity. It also increases unwanted pregnancies and you enemies of religion encourage the massacre of those innocent souls in the womb.

Those who molest children are clearly going against the Christian religion...so you can't say it was caused by religion.

The only thing Atheism has ever offered the world is death and destruction. E.g in Soviet Union, North Korea, Cambodia etc.

What a liar and hypocrite You are.

I guess you have never heard of scandals involving Catholic priests having indiscriminate sexual or. Gies with underage boys right inside churchesy, even in the hallowed chambers of the Rvatican? E
A Catholic should be the last person to accuse others of sexual immorality. Your cult has a very very long history in the area of sexual perversions, Wars, mass murders, torture and fraud.
Were You born yesterday?

sonmvayina:
My guy you go just die before your time..concentrate more on improving yourself..it is a social construct that you cant fight.. you will become a pariah..Thomas paine who wrote the "the age of reason" died a lonely man..even your best friends and family will abandon you.

Absolve yourself of fears.
Venture out with your thoughts.
And explore the world of possibilities.

When we have many enlightened people fighting for same cause, impossibility becomes nothing.

Our society reeks of religious dogma, it's high time we start a 'reverse crusade'.

sonmvayina:
My guy you go just die before your time..concentrate more on improving yourself..it is a social construct that you cant fight.. you will become a pariah..Thomas paine who wrote the "the age of reason" died a lonely man..even your best friends and family will abandon you.

Absolute nonsense, with all due respect.

You have spoken like a true Nigerian. As long as You look after your pretty little comforts, the rest of the society can go to hell.

If the Europeans can emasculate religion and Papal power, and could emasculate the absolute monarchies, then then there is no mental infestation that cannot be unyoked.

The problem with religion in Africa is that we have been culturally genocided long ago. So these useless toxic religious garbabe fills in the gaps where our self identity should have normally resided.
An African Catholic, for example, is like the mythical zombie, neither fully dead nor fully alive. No self identity and no appreciation of cultural heritage and origins.

plaetton:


Absolute nonsense, with all due respect.

You have spoken like a true Nigerian. As long as You look after your pretty little comforts, the rest of the society can go to hell.

If the Europeans can emasculate religion and Papal power, and could emasculate the absolute monarchies, then then there is no mental infestation that cannot be unyoked.

The problem with religion in Africa is that we have been culturally genocided long ago. So these useless toxic religious garbabe fills in the gaps where our self identity should have normally resided.
An African Catholic, for example, is like the mythical zombie, neither fully dead nor fully alive. No self identity and no appreciation of cultural heritage and origins.

You just hit the nail on the head

afroniger:


Before I continue let me quickly say that this isn't about the Catholic church as an organized religious body, but about organized religion in general -- everything I said applies to every religious 'ism' out there (Catholicsm, Islamism, Buddhism, Hiduism, Protestantism, e.t.c). You are the one who brought the Catholic church into this. Now, I'll answer your first question with references from the Catholic church authority regarding my assertions.



Meaning that according to these edicts, you can't even begin to talk about forgiveness of sin (which is part and parcel of the Salvation idea) unless you're a Catholic subject.

And we all know Catholics ate barred from marrying outside their faith.

You interpret those statements differently from the way the Catholic Church interpretes them, according to the official teaching of the Church in its Catechism. Read below:[b]

"Outside the Church there is no salvation"

846 How are we to understand this affirmation, often repeated by the Church Fathers? Re-formulated positively, it means that all salvation comes from Christ the Head through the Church which is his Body:

Basing itself on Scripture and Tradition, the Council teaches that the Church, a pilgrim now on earth, is necessary for salvation: the one Christ is the mediator and the way of salvation; he is present to us in his body which is the Church. He himself explicitly asserted the necessity of faith and Baptism, and thereby affirmed at the same time the necessity of the Church which men enter through Baptism as through a door. Hence they could not be saved who, knowing that the Catholic Church was founded as necessary by God through Christ, would refuse either to enter it or to remain in it.
847 This affirmation is not aimed at those who, through no fault of their own, do not know Christ and his Church:

Those who, through no fault of their own, do not know the Gospel of Christ or his Church, but who nevertheless seek God with a sincere heart, and, moved by grace, try in their actions to do his will as they know it through the dictates of their conscience - those too may achieve eternal salvation.
848 "Although in ways known to himself God can lead those who, through no fault of their own, are ignorant of the Gospel, to that faith without which it is impossible to please him, the Church still has the obligation and also the sacred right to evangelize all men."
[/b]

Would you now humbly agree that you spoke out of ignorance?

Or will you keeping trying to discredit the Catholic Church based on your erroneous understanding of its teachings?

afroniger:


Now to your second question, I personally would consider you (based on your description of your beliefs) as a liberal practising Catholic who doesn't stricly adhere to the Church dogma, else you wouldn't hold that position.

False. Nowhere does the Church teach or encourage Catholics to fear death or the afterlife. Infact, we are taught to embrace death (when it comes) as a door to eternal life. No one controls our minds or coerces us. The Church proposes the way to all men...it is each person's choice to accept or reject it.

You continue to speak in ignorance.

afroniger:


Catholism itself isn't strictly based on the Bible and it confesses that much. Rather it's based more on the tradition of the early church 'fathers'.

Catholicism is based on Sacred Scripture and Sacred Tradition.

afroniger:


What I find interesting about Catholism is that on the one hand the popes warn christian adherents not to take the entire bible literally -- meaning they accept that much of it isn't true

False. That a statement is not literal doesn't mean it is untrue.

I see that all this antagonistic venom against the Church stems from ignorance.

afroniger:


-- yet the Pope derives his very infallibility authority from such a source? Smh.

False. The Pope existed and was infallible before the New Testament was ever written. Infact, it was under the infallible Pope Damasus that the complete Bible was compiled.

Let me advise you. Take a deep breath...humble yourself...then study these things through with a neutral mindset...then, your mind will be illuminated.

Igborance is like living in darkness.

chibecanglobal:
Lol!!!!

Unfortunately, you're 'lolling' a post made in ignorance.

Read on your own...don't just accept any ignorant opinion because it tallies with your opinion.

You should pursue truth...even if it shocks you.