http://www.wissenbloggt.de/?p=5379


A new study conducted by the Washington based Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life says that Africans are among the most religious people on earth. The study titled Tension and Tolerance: Islam and Christianity in Sub-Saharan Africa was based on more than 25,000 interviews conducted in more than 60 languages in 19 countries. According to the study at least half of all Christains in Sub-Saharan Africa believe Jesus will return in their lifetime. One in three muslims in the region expect to see the re-establishment of the caliphate-islamic golden age- before they die. At least three out of 10 people across much of Africa said they have experienced divine healing, seen the devil being driven out of a person or received a direct revelation from God. About a quarter believe that sacrifices to ancestors can protect them from bad things happening. Sizeable percentages believe in charms and amulets. Many consult traditional religious healers, and sizable minorities keep animal skins and skills in their homes.

The study found that in many countries across the continent roughly nine in 10 people say religion is very important in their lives.

Do these findings surprise anyone? Surely they shouldn’t. Unless the person is not familiar with the situation in Africa.

These findings do not surprise me at all. [b]I am an African. I was born in Africa. I live and work in Africa. I am non religious though I was born into a religious home. I attended religious schools. I had a typical (African) religious upbringing. I do not believe that Jesus will return again. I do not think that the Biblical Jesus existed and even if he did, I think he’s gone and gone forever. I can't see the world coming under an islamic caliphate except what we have been experiencing since September 11, 2001. I have never experienced divine healing and I don’t think those who claim to have experienced it are honest to themselves. I have not seen a devil being driven out of any person except some self induced hysteria by some pentecostal con artists. I have not received any revelation from God except may be one day some godly people would claim that their god revealed this piece to me. I don’t believe that sacrifice to the ancestors will protect people from harm. Otherwise the ancestors would be alive today. I think charms and amulets are useless and consulting traditional healers and clerics is a waste of time.

The reasons why Africans are the most religious people in the world are not far fetched. Africans go through religious indoctrination from cradle to the grave. Africans are not allowed by family, society and the state to think, reason or live outside the religious box. In Africa religion is by force not by choice. Religion is by compulsion and not according to one’s conscience. Africans are brought up to believe that there is NO alternative to religion. When in fact there is. So in Africa, it is either you are religious or you are nobody-you are not a human being, you are nothing. There is too much social and political pressure on Africans to be religious and to remain religious. The social, political and sometimes economic price of leaving religion, renouncing religion or criticizing religion is so high.[/b]

So Africans are religious willy nilly. Africans profess all sorts of religious crap even when they know it is all nonsense.

[b]At home, religious indoctrination is the first form of orientation an African child receives. At a very early and impressionable age, infants are taught to recite meaningless syllables called prayers. Children are brainwashed by parents with various religious and spritiual myths. Their minds are infused with all sorts of religious dogmas. Parents ensure that children are brought up in their faith- the faith of the family and the faith of their fathers. Children are taught to believe and follow, and not to question religious teachings even when there is every reason to do so. Some of the findings of the Pew Forum constitute the ‘sacred’ teachings which African kids receive and are told not to challenge, examine, criticize or renounce. African children are brought up to believe them and to swallow them hook , line and sinker. Not to question one’s family religion is seen as virtous and as a mark of a good child. This religious tradition is upheld and handed down unchallenged from one generation to another in Africa.

The religious brainwashing continues in schools. Most African colleges are religious indoctrination centers. Western missionaries and Arab jihadists brought formal education(the model widely used today) to the continent. They established schools to win converts and recruit new members, not really to educate Africans. So schools in Africa are covert churches and mosques. Education is faith based. And this religious tradition is still upheld in most schools across the continent. Some of the findings of the study are what African puplis are taught everyday in schools. They constitute what African students recite and memorize as part of their compulsory morning devotions.

Pupils at one islamic primary school near my house in Ibadan sing this song everyday as part of their morning devotion.

We are soldiers. We are soldiers.

Fighting for Islam. Fighting for Islam

In the name of Allah, we shall conquer, we shall conquer

Every morning these children are made to recite that they are muslim children ; that they believe in Allah and Mohammed as his messenger. What do you expect from these children as adults after going through this religious drilling and being brainwashed superstitious messages? Do you think they will ever grow to say that religion-in this case Islam is not important in their lives. As in their homes, African students are taught to blindly accept the so called divine revelations without questions. They are induced to try and have some encounter with God or to have some spiritual experience as a manifestation of faith or piety. Children and youths are made to believe that professing articles of faith is a mark of a good student. And that education is not complete without religion or belief in God. So why should anybody be surprised that most Africans attach so much importance to religion.[/b]

This religionizing continues in politics and in the state houses across Africa. State power is used to endorse, promote and privilege religion. In Africa, prayer, piety and politics go together. Religion and politics mix. States are not separate from churches and mosques. So there is very high political pressure on individuals to be religious-and to remain religious and faithful even when they are not convinced of the religious teachings or would prefer to be faithless. Many African countries have adopted a religion or some religions as state or official religions. For instance in Morocco, the King is not only the president of the country, but also the commander of the faithful. So every Moroccan is under political pressure to be a faithful – an islamic faithful, particularly a sunni islamic faithful. The president of Gambia, Yahya Jammeh is addressed as Dr, Alhaji, Sheikh …, among others. Some years ago he added to the list of his presidential duties praying for the citizens and trying to heal the sick including those who have HIV/AIDS using some verses in the Koran. In the self-styled islamic republics, anyone who is not a muslim cannot be president. Is there any special value being a muslim adds to the post of the president? None. In Gambia, the government erected magnificent mosques in all public schools in the country. Meanwhile these are schools without good classroom blocks, no libraries or laboratories.

In Africa, politicians have made it look as if to be a good citizen one must be religious or expressly pious. African politicians have made it seem as if theocracy, not democracy is the best form of government. And that the Bible and the Koran are the best constitutions. In fact the Bible and the Koran are the best constitution no country ever had. African politicians strive to ensure that state legislations are based on these‘holy books’ and that any policy, program or proposal that is not in line with the sacred texts are thrown out. Another reason why there is high level of piety in Africa is because most Africans do not think for themselves. They allow clerics to think for them. [b]Africans consult their priests, bishops,sheikhs, marabous, traditional medicine men and women whenever they have problems or when they want to embark on a major project. And they accept whatever they give them including charms like holy water, olive oil as solutions and remedies. They do whatever they recommend they do including carrying out ritual killing and sacrifice.

Lastly Africans are deeply religious due to lack of human rights particularly religious freedom in Africa. This may sound like a contradiction. But it is not. Some may argue that the high religiosity in Africa should be due to ‘too much religious freedom’. No, it is not so. Rather it is due to no guarantee of religious freedom, no protection of freedom of conscience. Africans do not enjoy or exercise their freedom of religion or belief. Africans are denied with impunity this basic human right by state and non state actors. Africans are forced to be religious or to remain religious. That is why they are ‘too religious’. The mechanisms to protect and defend the full human rights of those who change their religion or renounce or criticize religious beliefs or those do not profess any religion at all are weak and non existent. Religious believers and non believers are not equal before the law. Many Africans are religious because they don't want to be in the minority. They dont want to renounce what the majority upholds. They don't want to denounce what the state or society revers. Many Africans are religious because they just want to play along.

Africans are among the most religious people on earth due to failure of family upbringing, failure of human rights and the rule of law, failure of educational system, social and political pressure and bad governance. Africans are religious because they cannot but be religious.

[/b]

May Christ have mercy on your soul.

kodewrita:

May Christ have mercy on your soul.

Clearly you did not read the article.

Idehn:

Clearly you did not read the article.

Just wanted to hint him of what I thought of the thread.

@OP Christ loves you.

@OP,
I had to check your userid to be sure I wasn't the one who posted the writeup while sleepwalking or something.lol 
I couldn't have said it better as you took most of the words right out of my mouth.


@kodewrita,

kodewrita:

May Christ have mercy on your soul.

Didn't you read that the OP doesn't in any way believe in the assumed mercy that the assumed Christ has to have on his assumed soul?

West Africans are religious because of POVERTY! Thats all , and generally people are religious for funny reasons. Liberate yourself Africans


According to a study carried out by professor of sociology at Pitzer College, Phil Zuckerman "levels of religiosity and creationism tend to decline as income levels rise , "

Africans are religious because most of us are poor and oppressed which causes us to use religion and belief as a sort of escape from reality.

It's really pitiful

tEsLim:

West Africans are religious because of POVERTY! Thats all , and generally people are religious for funny reasons. Liberate yourself Africans


According to a study carried out by professor of sociology at Pitzer College, Phil Zuckerman "levels of religiosity and creationism tend to decline as income levels rise , "

am definitely not poor and I am still religious. Find another excuse.

Una well done. The small one wey i wan take join the mata wey una dey yarn for dis join-bodi associate, na sey, na true say na poor poor people dem, dey dey superstitious wella, well well, but at the same time, dat one no mean say make we no worship our God, the creator of heaven and earth, o.

Na my two kobo be that one, o, una good afternun.

[QUOTE author=kodewrita]
am definitely not poor and I am still religious. Find another excuse. [/quote]

then your probably either misinformed or un-educated on theology and the history of religion.

Africans are not religious. Africans are simply superstitious. For Africans south of the sahara, the part of the brain that is responsible for logical reasoning and healthy sceptism is immasculated from infancy and therefore rarely manifest in adulthood even with some education. Most africans live in fear all of their lives, so it becomes a matter of necessity to substitute precolonial superstitions ( i.e ancesteral spirits protect me) with newer or more trendy superstitions( jesus or holy spirit protect me). As for religion, especially christianity, far majority of african dont really understand it and dont care to understand it except for the supersttitious aspects of it. Thats why precepts of Jesus regarding meekness, tolerance and love are sidelined by the new age churches in favour of miracles(superstitions) and properity(greed), deliverance from the devil(fear) and damnation to those who do not follow(wickedness).
The abundance of religious houses in every street corner is evidence of the fear, not religiousity. every one feels that they must belong somewhere to protect them from both real and imaginary obstacles they face in the very complex and sad economic , social and political realities of the modern world.
lacking political and economic stability, quality education and any rigid or codified philosophical system, Africvans seem to be the most handicapped in adapting and coping with modern life.
Why Do i need to understand the compexity of our universe when its easier for me to believe that an omnipotent diety just snapped his fingers and everything came to be?. Why do I need to understand bacteria and viruses as causes of illness and death when i can just blame witches and evil spirits?

The average Nigerian, for example stands petrified each morning as he contemplates the many challenges that face him each day. Robbery attackes in his home or in his car, robbery inside a bus, accidental discharge from a police rifle, or a stray bullet from a rober's gun, being crushed to death by a moving vehicle on an okada, being crushed to death by a fallen container on the road, being kidnapped or abducted by ritual killers, and the list goes on and on.
So he has no choice but to surrender his spirit, his will and his wallet to any one who can offer him carefully crafted delusions of omnipotent protection and blessings.

globexl:

Africans are not religious. Africans are simply superstitious. For Africans south of the sahara, the part of the brain that is responsible for logical reasoning and healthy sceptism is immasculated from infancy and therefore rarely manifest in adulthood even with some education. Most africans live in fear all of their lives, so it becomes a matter of necessity to substitute precolonial superstitions ( i.e ancesteral spirits protect me) with newer or more trendy superstitions( jesus or holy spirit protect me). As for religion, especially christianity, far majority of african dont really understand it and dont care to understand it except for the supersttitious aspects of it. Thats why precepts of Jesus regarding meekness, tolerance and love are sidelined by the new age churches in favour of miracles(superstitions) and properity(greed), deliverance from the devil(fear) and damnation to those who do not follow(wickedness).
The abundance of religious houses in every street corner is evidence of the fear, not religiousity. every one feels that they must belong somewhere to protect them from both real and imaginary obstacles they face in the very complex and sad economic , social and political realities of the modern world.
lacking political and economic stability, quality education and any rigid or codified philosophical system, Africvans seem to be the most handicapped in adapting and coping with modern life.
Why Do i need to understand the compexity of our universe when its easier for me to believe that an omnipotent diety just snapped his fingers and everything came to be?. Why do I need to understand bacteria and viruses as causes of illness and death when i can just blame witches and evil spirits?

The average Nigerian, for example stands petrified each morning as he contemplates the many challenges that face him each day. Robbery attackes in his home or in his car, robbery inside a bus, accidental discharge from a police rifle, or a stray bullet from a rober's gun, being crushed to death by a moving vehicle on an okada, being crushed to death by a fallen container on the road, being kidnapped or abducted by ritual killers, and the list goes on and on.
So he has no choice but to surrender his spirit, his will and his wallet to any one who can offer him carefully crafted delusions of omnipotent protection and blessings.

Word!!!. . . You have put it very eloquently . .

AND Most African atheist are gravely ignorant mediocre whose only claim to logical reasoning is superstitious following of godless sceptics.

https://www.nairaland.com/nigeria/topic-723007.0.html

This truly confirmed who the blind followers of superstitious beliefs are

vedaxcool:

AND Most African atheist are gravely ignorant mediocre whose only claim to logical reasoning is superstitious following of godless sceptics.

https://www.nairaland.com/nigeria/topic-723007.0.html

This truly confirmed who the blind followers of superstitious beliefs are

See this deluded slave of the Arabs claiming special knowledge about what he does not even understand. . .Why are you providing link to a thread where you were your baseless arguments were used mop the floor?. . .

Well this guy did not hold your mediocre point of view, NO?

https://www.nairaland.com/nigeria/topic-723007.96.html#msg8862257

Yewe2011:

then your probably either misinformed or un-educated on theology and the history of religion.

You dont need a college degree to worship God.

all humans are religious inasmuch as they have a creed they live by.