Have the Abrahamic religious beliefs (Christianity & Is-lam), so prevalent in Nigeria, had an overall beneficial effect in Nigeria society?

Have these beliefs been a force for good in the society or have they been the seedbeds for social division, mal-education and exploitation?

Discuss.

*yawns*
have you nuthin new to accuse religion of? eh? nairalands most deluded atheist?

Well I think its therapy for the masses, without it many people will run mad in a poverty stricken society like Nigeria.

Social divisions exist irregardless of abrhamic religions so that doesn't matter

mal-education, well thats relative

exploitation, yeah I'll agree there. Thats basically self evident not questions about that.

However if you are proposing the totally elimination of religous practices in societies at large. i think that is a bad thing in the long run.

I am a non believer in religion, but i still believe that religion is necessary in some parts of the world because it provides some kind of comfort to its adherents and gives them some kind of solace,in lawless societies like Nigeria where people live like animals(survival of the fittest) religion always serves as a refuge for the poor,helpless and hopeless masses who are ignorant of so many things and who might not have any other thing to keep their mind, body and soul intact. religion provides them with some comfort in the belief of life in a beautiful and lovely place after death, it has mostly been used as a means of exploitation in Nigeria but what else do you expect the poor masses to rely on. Religion has failed but most people fail to see it and will forever be providing excuses for it, it has failed to accomplish its main task of providing peace,security,progress and justice to most of its adherents, it has been responsible for most killings, looting, deceit, slavery,repression,wars,division,complacency and oligarchy in the world but i personally believe it is still a necessary evil, All religions were created out of the fear of the many and the cleverness of a few.

Hmm,
religion may have made great impact in the past but lately, i see no impact except helping people maintain sanity in the midst of a crazy society, it helps people have 'hope' that keeps them calm in the face of threats to ther survival,
But in day to day living, nope,religious people are the main culprits, its either an Alhaji or a pastor commiting crimes.Not to say there arent nice ones though.
I think Yoruba folklore (the tortise stories) had more impact on moralty than present day religions.

Religion is what keeps the poor from murdering the rich.

mazaje:

I am a non believe in religion, but i still believe that [b]religion is necessary in some parts of the world because it provides some kind of comfort to its adherents and gives them some kind of solace,in lawless societies like Nigeria where people live like animals(survival of the fittest) religion always serves as a refuge for the poor,helpless and hopeless masses who are ignorant of so many things and who might not have any other thing to keep their mind, body and soul intact. religion provides them with some comfort in the belief of life in a beautiful and lovely place after death, it has mostly been used as a means of exploitation in Nigeria but what else do you expect the poor masses to rely on. Religion has failed but most people fail to see it and will forever be providing excuses for it, it has failed to accomplish its main task of providing peace,security,progress and justice to most of its adherents, it has been responsible for most killings, looting, deceit, slavery,repression,wars,division,complacency and oligarchy in the world but i personally believe it is still a necessary evil, All religions were created out of the fear of the many and the cleverness of a few.[/b]

I agree with your post.

HOPE is a very powerful thing and this is what religion provides.

Can you imagine a world where there is no hope bad people will get their comeuppance and good people their rewards?

Every year, millions of people flood revival grounds and conventions seeking one thing. . . a sign that will tell them their latter will be greater than the former and this is what keeps them going.

mazaje:

Religion is what keeps the poor from murdering the rich.

Lmao!. . . Yeah, that too.

HOPE?   
Mind exercise and artificial truth.


Hope is good for any of us.

It is not only religion that offers hope. politicians offer hope too. Salesmen offer hope to. In fact without hope you cannot sell or convince anyone of anything. The Salesman will not be able to sell his perfume if he didn't convince you that with it you had better hope of getting the girl you want. "oh yeah, spray this on and your latter will be better than your former".

Hope is what keeps everything going in this temporal place. Nothing works without hope.

Oh yeah and FEAR too. "Don't spray this and you won't ever find love . . . EVER!"

Pastor AIO:

The Salesman will not be able to sell his perfume if he didn't convince you that with it you had better hope of getting the girl you want. "oh yeah, spray this on and your latter will be better than your former".

Hope is what keeps everything going in this temporal place. Nothing works without hope.

Oh yeah and FEAR too. "Don't spray this and you won't ever find love . . . EVER!"

What a shame I did not know this in my youth. All the time I had "wasted" developing and honing sophisticated chat-up lines could have been saved by a simply trip to the perfume shop. If this is really true, then how superficial the ladies must be.

Sorry Pastor, I know what you mean, but could not resist a little jibe.

lol

Sisikill:

I agree with your post.

HOPE is a very powerful thing and this is what religion provides.

Can you imagine a world where there is no hope bad people will get their comeuppance and good people their rewards?

Every year, millions of people flood revival grounds and conventions seeking one thing. . . a sign that will tell them their latter will be greater than the former and this is what keeps them going.

Very true. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

mazaje:

Religion is what keeps the poor from murdering the rich.

You just made a common mistake, releigion's not morality!!

Ujujoan:

You just made a common mistake, releigion's not morality!!

Religion is equated to morality in Nigeria and most part of the developing world, when i told my mum that most people in Finland do not believe in god the first thing that came out of her mouth was, how then can they be good? Most Nigerians equate religion with morality and its just so sad.

mazaje:

Religion is equated to morality in Nigeria and most part of the developing world, when i told my mum that most people in Finland do not believe in god the first thing that came out of her mouth was, how then can they be good? Most Nigerians equate religion with morality and its just so sad.

A whole generation of people have been conditioned to think that religion (God) = morality. What a shame religions gets its raison d'etre by claim to offer what it assuredly does not.

@topic
in a country where there is zero welfare considerations for the vulnerable and less priviledged,and no form of reformation or redemption programme,the religious believes have actually been responsible for these social responsibility even though its not their job but the governments
with the number of private universities,they have also stepped in to salvage the educational institution which was in crisi even till now and have saved a lot of parents albeit rich ones from spending more money overseas,
they do a lot of counselling and charitabe works which is on going and like someone said they offer hope and an avenue to direct the frustrations of the daily trauma of the average naija person

mazaje:

Religion is equated to morality in Nigeria and most part of the developing world, when i told my mum that most people in Finland do not believe in god the first thing that came out of her mouth was, how then can they be good? Most Nigerians equate religion with morality and its just so sad.

Well your mom's one of the people making the mistake. Religion shouldnt be euqated to marality. The are both very diffrent. Just because I dont beleive in God dosent mean I dont have a consience.

Religion is nt only smefin dat poor pple run to 4 hope everybdy needs hope whether its bill gates or dangote. Dats why ur view dat on poor need God is wrong everybody needs God whether the rich or the poor we all need God and even. Dis mazaje guy sef u er just making mouth on here. U sef u need help. U go just dey form boss. Everybody needs God point blank. And dat view that religion is a way to exploit people is also wrong

bosschick: Religion is nt only smefin dat poor pple run to 4 hope everybdy needs hope whether its bill gates or dangote. Dats why ur view dat on poor need God is wrong everybody needs God whether the rich or the poor we all need God and even. Dis mazaje guy sef u er just making mouth on here. U sef u need help. U go just dey form boss. Everybody needs God point blank. And dat view that religion is a way to exploit people is also wrong

Actually people don't need any god or gods. .it is god(s) that need people because without people there will be no god(s). Religion is considered as true to the common man, as false to the wise and as useful to the leaders as some one has said in the past. . .I don't need any god because non exist in REALITY. . .