₦airaland Forum

southniyikaye:
are you sure you are OK?

God is a figment of ur imagination and in that imagination he's an assshole

Dannyyoung26:
Are you alright?
Are you on weed?
See you can say anything else, don't come here and start ranting Nonsense. OK?
You are a yahoo boy, so we should embrace what is making other people cry?
For you to know God is magnificent, he still grant you the grace. Efcc on ur track. Better be careful

God is a big bag of walking poop.

EmyGod:
When the sins of men brought their downfall their hearts ranges against God, my friend you are the cause of your own fallen leave God out of your sinful life. What you need is repentance not condemning your soul to second death, very disastrous.

God is the architect of the world problems not man, if we are to believe he exists

ceede2:
.... na human being type this?? Nebuchadnezzar said the same thing he went to the bush fed like animal for 7yrs, came back n give God Glory. If God visit your freedom for a minute, your brain go reset. Anuofia

Yes na Human being wey dey reason type m. I don't understand why u have a brain but u won't just want to think. Religion uses fear to keep its followers from reasoning that's why u are scared of what ur god will do to him for using his brain

Justpassingby45:
You are very stupid, so because of all this lies Will make you and your occultic Religion of Islam to double the atrocities you write above in this modern world. I spit at your disgusting soul.

Read the history of the church. Christianity was once as barbaric and blood thirsty as Islam

Bekind123:
Tradition is even worst.

The world doesn't need any religion

Commotfornigeri:
what a feministic biatch!

blame religion, not men!

Who started religion? No be men. Men created all the world problems

Pelecius:
I didn't need to engage your points one by one. I already saw the crux of everything you said and picked it out. In fact I didn't even read everything you wrote but just by you mentioning "encounter with Christ" I already knew where you are driving at and that place is a place I have been and seen it for what it really is -- an illusion.
Of course, your opinion and disdain for what you understood with the word encounter must have made you think I was talking about visions or dreams of seeing Jesus. Hence, you assume that it's a place you've been and label it illusion.
You built all your arguments on this assumption which is obviously wrong.
Of course, any form of encounter is subjective, it cannot be repeated (reason I wonder how you've been there. Lol)
A change in heart, doing what you can't do before and ceasing to do some things which are contrary to the will of God was what I referred to.
Now, we need to check your definition of ILLUSION. LOL

The knowledge that led you to Christ is what prepared your mind for an encounter with him.
Now that I have explained what I meant with encounter, this your statement becomes invalid.
Why not dwell on the knowledge? After all, knowledge led you to the belief of there's no God (though in changing ground, atheists have tried to redefine it as lack of belief in God, to remove burden of prove. How cowardly?).

I can bet my life that this encounter with him wasn't objective, it was subjective. They are always subjective. That's why God/Christ's existence is still been debated till today because a subjective encounter with Christ only exists in ur mind, it's not real for someone who has had an encounter with Amadioha or for a person whos had none
Again, this is not your definition of seeing Jesus. It's unfortunate that you built so much on a wrong premise. This could have been avoided if you had not allow emotions to judge but calmly try to understand what I was driving at. I went on to explain that he should seek knowledge, as I didn't ask him to seek encounter.

Isn't it funny that you claim that Christ existence is debated BECAUSE of the subjective nature of encounter? How does Christ existence depend on encounter? I laugh more when I see wannabe atheists trying to debate the existence of Christ, showing that it's just their wishes. They reject him (as a belief system of theirs) and then begin to look for evidence to prove it.

Someone living in a remote island can't have an encounter with Christ. An encounter usually follows a pre-existing conscious or subconscious knowledge about him. If it's possible for someone in a remote island to have an encounter with him, link me to any piece where a tribe or person that had never heard of Christ encountered him already before they were preached the gospel and converted.
Your first statements cannot be taken as absolute. You don't have all the knowledge, so you can't make a claim.
Secondly, absence of evidence is not the evidence of it's absence.

Lastly, even if it was reported that what you want happened (using your definition of encounter), you would still scoff at it because you already BELIEVE that it's impossible. And explain it away as hallucinations or any other thing.

Xtianity started 2000 years ago, it first reached Nigeria 400 years ago. So for 1600 years, no where in history is there mention of our ancestors encountering this Christ before the missionaries came. But in 2021, encounters with Christ stories have suddenly become replete. People are having visions, dreams, trances and hearing voices from Christ only after the missionaries have come and gone.
Like I said earlier, absence of evidence is not same as evidence of it's absence. You don't have ALL knowledge.
Also, how many history has your ancestors kept? How many things do you know about your ancestors, if you want to appeal to them keeping history?
Again, what would be the reaction or how would they have explained such incident (I am just using your definition this time, though I explained what I meant earlier)?

Lastly, the knowledge of the missionaries would set the tone to explain whatever anyone sees. As you wouldn't know what it means if you don't have a prior knowledge.
It takes a Paleontologist (trained with knowledge) to recognize a fossil, else, another person will just wonder and probably leave it.

I agree that I assumed your encounter must have been having dreams or seeing visions, those sort of thing but whatever it was, it still doesn't negate my point of every encounter being subjective. Note that you can't universalize a subjective experience. This is the basis for my argument. I can't dispute anyone's claims of having a divine experience that is subjective, I will only dispute that if the person tries to universalize his experience.

Let's be honest if there was such an encounter(even if our ancestors didn't keep such records which is very unlikely because such an event would be tumultuous across the land, shaking the then existing beliefs) the missionaries at least would have taken note of foreign cultures who had already encountered Jesus before they came with his(Jesus') gospel.
Based on the evidence we have, there's no evidence anywhere of such encounter before the missionaries came. This evidence is also missing in cultures across the world.

Righteousness2:
7.2. That's a real Huge one.

From Fires to Flood to Earthquakes etc. it has never been so clear that We are In the Biblical Endtimes..

Say whatever, but do not Let yourself deceive yourself.
The End of this age is at Hand.
Be ready, so as to avoid what will hit this Earth.

Prayers for the Haiti people.

Pelecius:
Most of you lots are the same. You leave the moon and focus on the finger pointing to the moon.

Why not engage all my points one by one to keep it in context? You left the parts where I said that knowledge led me to Christ and encounter SEALED it.
Must you rip out of context in order to present a point?



Why can't someone in a remote island who's never heard of Jesus have a personal encounter with Jesus
The answer is that you don't know if anyone who haven't heard of Christ before have encountered him
You can't make a claim that it hasn't happened nor that it has happened.

Sorry pal, even with ripping statement out of context, you still don't have a point (as your question is almost rhetorical)

I didn't need to engage your points one by one. I already saw the crux of everything you said and picked it out. In fact I didn't even read everything you wrote but just by you mentioning "encounter with Christ" I already knew where you are driving at and that place is a place I have been and seen it for what it really is -- an illusion.

The knowledge that led you to Christ is what prepared your mind for an encounter with him. I can bet my life that this encounter with him wasn't objective, it was subjective. They are always subjective. That's why God/Christ's existence is still been debated till today because a subjective encounter with Christ only exists in ur mind, it's not real for someone who has had an encounter with Amadioha or for a person whos had none.

If someone living in a remote village where no one knows Christ encounters Christ then there will be no need to take the Gospel of Christ to places where his gospel hasn't been heard.

Someone living in a remote island can't have an encounter with Christ. An encounter usually follows a pre-existing conscious or subconscious knowledge about him. If it's possible for someone in a remote island to have an encounter with him, link me to any piece where a tribe or person that had never heard of Christ encountered him already before they were preached the gospel and converted.

The idea of taking the gospel to people who haven't heard is so that it can be impressed upon on their minds until Christ becomes a reality to them.

Xtianity started 2000 years ago, it first reached Nigeria 400 years ago. So for 1600 years, no where in history is there mention of our ancestors encountering this Christ before the missionaries came. But in 2021, encounters with Christ stories have suddenly become replete. People are having visions, dreams, trances and hearing voices from Christ only after the missionaries have come and gone.

phemmyfour:
Ode!
What about believers in western Europe

You mustn't be that bright to not have seen what is very clear. But let me point it out clearly. Believers and non-believer in Western Europe have a higher standard of living than believers and non-believers in Africa.
This is possible because Western Europe has a functioning govt not because of their level of religiousity or godliness. Going by the comments from religious fanatics here, threatening the OP with problem that will soon befall him, it is safe to conclude that unbelievers in Africa should be the ones who feel the brunt of our inept govt the most but we know that that the ineptitude of our govt is felt equally by both sides -- the unbeliever and believes.
So what this rather demonstrates is a negligence on not just unbelievers but on believers from a god the same believers claim ownership of and claims loves them and looks after them like a father looks after his children. This negligence is starkly indicting on what we are made to believe about this supposedly benevolent being because when you peel the layers away and get to the root of the pattern, what you are left with is a god whose care and kindness and attentionn is determined by the circumstances surrounding a person life; which family or country they are born into etc if the circumstances aren't favorable, this god abandons them example being the case of the average Nigerian who's at the mercy of our bad government rather than the God they endlessly and passionately pray and sing and extol adulations to.

phemmyfour:
Ignorance at its peak

Atheists in Western Europe live happier and longer than believers like you in Nigeria. You and the average Nigerian believer are more likely to die never knowing or experiencing what it feels like to live the good life despite the fact that much of your prayers centers on asking God to make better lives you all but the truth is most of you will die without ur prayers being answered. There's no guarantee that the OPs life would be happy and good but at least he won't waste his time chasing the wind by praying incessantly. I pity Africans who pray endlessly and still end up dying having lived mediocre lives. Imagine all the things; little things that might have brought them joy and happiness that they would have done with all that time they wasted praying. How sad

Chrisog:
My dear your decision is not right. Religion does not make one rich. God is your creator and you must worship and believe only in him. Bible says praying and having faith without work amounts to nothing. So as you pray to God you must also be hardworking for you to enjoy the fullness of life.
Coming to prayer issues; it is very necessary for your survival and your salvation. Ephesian 6:11 or thereabout Says" We no do wrestle against fresh and blood, but against principalities and power of darkness. So prayer is the only weapon of warfare against the devil. So I urge you not to give up on your faith in Christ.

A God who demands WORSHIP is in fact an a**hole.

Pelecius:
I don't know what you practice before but some of us here have gone through the phase of unbelief before. I was in school then and was introduced to many info I don't know before.
It wasn't easy to just dismiss them, being the curious and inquisitive one right from childhood. But that curiosity made me search deeper and I got answers. It took months (few years actually), and an objective mind to drive through the tons of info for and against God to get to a conclusion.
Personal encounter did the remaining and I am forever grateful for his mercy.

I don't think you have done searching and counter searching before making conclusion, as your reasons are incompatible with what Christianity teaches in the first place (assuming you're a Christian), showing some form of inadequate knowledge.

And there's a difference between being religious and actually having a relationship with him.
Religious folks tend to be sort of antagonistic once you are not with them, but a follower of Christ is meant to LOVE whosoever

Ur personal encounter doesn't prove anything. It's all in your mind. Why can't someone in a remote island who's never heard of Jesus have a personal encounter with Jesus?

Ochelyko1:
To me am not against you not to be in any religion, but as far as the heaven and the Earth exit God is God and there is nothing u can do about it, what ever u think u are achieving now is all by his grace and nothing More.

One more thing christainity is not a religion but a life, u don't follow the religion of men and claim u don't like it. Follow Jesus who is the author and the finisher of ur faith only in him will u find rest and peace of mind.

Let me tell u bro u can't be neutral is either u are for God or for Satan simple no two ways about it.

Leave the religious men and their churches and know God for ur self.

One thing am always glad of and happy about is dat what ever you do here on Earth is already recorded in the Bible and no matter how ignorant u think u want to be at the last day of judgement is still these same Jesus that will still judge u and decide ur faith where to spend ur eternity.

Even demons and occultic people's knows that God and his son Jesus exit's and they are real.

I learned from occultism and my biggest takeaway was that all of that shit is all mind games

Dear OP,

From your story, I can tell you are young and questioning everything you have been taught growing up. I too have gone through that phase.

I'm just here to tell you that eerything you're feeling and thinking about the faith that was thrusted on you by your parents and society is normal. Don't feel isolated nor let people guilt or frighten you into thinking you've chosen a path that is lonely and dangerous. There are so many people like you walking that path and we are doing just fine.

I left religion some years ago and started reading about other religions because I wanted to find the truth. I wanted to find God. I read almost anything from history to occultism to mysticism to Eastern religions to ancestral religions that illuminated my journey that I could get my hands on. At the end, I became Agnostic Atheist.

My biggest take away from everything thing I have learned while in the course of trying to find the truth is that God(at least the one worshipped in religions) exists in the mind. Yep! Quote me anywhere. I can say that anytime, anyday with my full chest. This explains the reason why Gods existence seems quite seemingly shrouded in mystery. It also explains why the efficacy of prayers are questionable. For example we know the no amount of prayers can regrow an amputated limb. It's very easy to link how prayers fail to produce objective results with the subjective realities undergirding the Gods responsible for answering these prayers.

One thing, I heard and still hear frequently from believers is how all I needed was an encounter. But don't be decieved, an encounter is always subjective. It only exists in your mind. Your mind only shows you what it has been fed. It's very unlikely that ur encounter with God would be Krishna or Sango. Have you ever wondered why your encounter with divinity always has to be the god/deity popular in the society you grew up? It's because it's all your mind knows. The reason I'm saying this is because it won't be unusual for you to experience this encounter having grown up in a very religious society as ours so knowing what you are experiencing would determine whether you will fall back into the traps of the indoctrination you are trying to free yourself from or resist it. Because to be honest, your mind will fight back hard! Because it's not really your mind, it's society's, it's your parents', until you take full ownership of it and mould it yourself into what you want for it.

Don't mind the threats they are throwing at you. If you check their lives, most of them are actually going through one problem or another. Most of them haven't read any other books than their religious texts and most of them are afraid of their gods. Fear us a tool that has been used to silence them from asking questions and conceiving the thought that a world in which people like you exists without suffering their God's wrath actually exists. Their world view is very narrow and so they are going to try and get you to see from it by resorting to threats.

Please equip yourself with knowledge, read extensively, it will help you in having confidence to defend your decisions.

Have a good day.

EyezofGod120:
,,lols I knew you're living with them, that's why you knew all this info

I don't have to live with him to know how people with his condition behave. Dude, the average American hates Kanye because they think his a jerk. Google what bipolar disorder is and see that Kanye needs help. He's even come out to say it so many times

EyezofGod120:
, because say kim save him from huge debt make she come kill am with depression?

Kanye has a mental health condition that makes him snap often. Most of you cannot even tolerate someone like him for a week how much more 7 years. One sided stories shouldn't be believed until you hear the other side

heniford2:
That has always been my prayer lord I don't want to end up marrying a bitch that will make my home fill like prison woman can mess you up look at P square a beautiful home torn apart by woman lord!!! I don't need this shit in my life dramatic woman please

We shouldn't believe onesided stories. The Kim he is dissing, is the same Kim that stood by him, believed him, helped him pay off his debts and helped him become a billionaire. Everyone knows Kanye is sick, he's got bipolar, w mental disorder that makes him snap often. Half of America hates him because of his bipolar which makes him a jerk. Most of you criticizing Kim can't even tolerate someone like Kanye for a week.

The comments here are just embarrassing. I feel ashamed that I share the same country with highly ignorant misinformed religious fundamentalists

SenecaTheYonger:
I have seen the pattern. I understand now that NK is a fraud.

This is how he does it. He makes “predictions” and they come to pass, here is how he does it.

He predicted the fire at Ladipo but what he does is he sends his foot soldiers to set it on fire and boom, he’s seen as a prophet.

Here’s the thing, why would you say Tinubu will set fire to a market he gains so much money from and despite everyone knowing this, Tinubu will still go and set fire to the market? He’s old but not stupid.

I’ve also noticed something else. Anytime there are military campaigns in the East, there are some propaganda agents here on Nairaland that are always ready with pictures both from past incidence, from movies, and from other countries and they are all to claim that it is what’s happening in the East.

This happens every single time without fail. Be careful, most of the comments here are from paid actors.

Plot twist: you are the paid actor we should ignore

abbey621:
Nigeria is not a place fit for animals not to talk of humans. It is not enough that these people have the guts to set another human ablaze but they stood there with the bruning flesh and the horror, emotionless as if na normal occurrence.

Let's not kid ourselves in this country, there's no remedy, majority are beyond redeemable. To call us animals would be a kind gesture, we are way worse!

I'm telling you. I was about to say that we are just breeding animals in this country but that will be an insult to animals

Spicycat:
You're confused

Research esoteric Christianity, the gospel of Thomas and you will see he isn't. The true teachings of Jesus were intended to help us realize that we are Gods in human body and that the kingdom of God is within us opposed elsewhere. These teachings didn't resonate well with the Romans who sort to control and subjugate the population.

Benoxvals:
You will experience worst than what that poor child is experiencing.
A child was captured and raped continuously for several years now and that is what you’ve got to say bout her?You are worst than death itself.

You aren't that bright

phrancys001:
Sorry o!

Thank you

Draslo:
In your whole article, you didn't even mention any consideration to treat Mr Vitus' fuckup.

I'll make sure he loses his job

I didn't know that apart from the sheer discipline, hardwork and money required to become a rev father in Nigeria, you are also subjected to the kind of physical abuse, my cousin, a 12 year old jss3 student suffered at the hands of one Nnamene Vitus, a teacher at Nsude Seminary School.

My cousin describes the incidence as leaving the flesh of his buttocks ripped off, bleeding and his underwear gumming to his wounds as he fumbled out crying and sobbing in pain and also not being able to sit down on any hard surface without the aid of a soft material for days.

He said the punishment was meted on him after he was accused of jumping out of a window. And
later when Mr Vitus learned of my his innocence, he told him to ask God to use the injuries he had inflicted to make him stronger to withstand future punishments.

I heard that seminary schools are places where good training is doled out on children but this isn't how to train a child, this is how you traumatize a child. This is how you raise a child who will grow up dysfunctional and psychologically wounded, unable to heal, manifesting the wound as negative social behaviors such as violence.

I learned of this by the virtue of a family get together we just had. Needless to say that had this get together not held, the wounds inflicted by the monster of a teacher would heal before he comes home for Easter and we'd never know!

This raises the question of how much of this brutal treatment he as with his classmates and other children pass through at the hands of teachers as Mr Vitus?