₦airaland Forum

It’s not about how you start a race its how you finish. Don’t give up, your life may inspire someone one day and tomorrow may prove better for you.

plaetton: Yes , you might call me an athiest because I have found, from my youth, that the basic constucts of religious belief do not measure up to rational common sense.I found in my personal research on religion that the idea of god is constantly evolving in the same way the minds of men are constantly evolving.In Nigeria and in much of Africa, the idea of god is a money/prosperity/ wealth centered idea simply because those are the things that majority of us lack very much, and so and so forth. When powerful nations go to war to take the resources of other nations, they invoke the name of their god to lead them while the invaded less powerful nations also invoke the name of god to protect and defend them.
So it is all in the mind. It is created in the mind and lives in the mind of the creator.

This is so interesting. Have you noticed that those who had the authority of a nation introduced and established their god as the central or legitimate god – thus marking their territory with their deity. Being under another man’s god is essentially being under another man.

plaetton: I presently alarmed at the (pretended) religiousity of Africans simply because of mentally debilating effects and the exploitation that go hand in hand with religious zealotary

But Africans must certainly know these things already. Nothing new has been brought to light. The thing is. . . many Africans are no more familiar with those stigmatized and abandoned traditional beliefs. And since the archetypical African is belief-centred anyway and being irreligious is a taboo what do we have left to fill the religious gap? Some Africans don’t even know or want to know their native beliefs and they thus adhere or are accustomed to the well-known prevalent belief in the society. It’s like the only option left on the menu for some and they don’t want to go hungry.
A thoughtful African regardless of their religious status must have contemplated at least once, the purpose of why our continent’s encroachment was coupled with a religion(s).

But why Africans are so keen on this imported belief more than the nations who presented it to the continent may be because our desperate condition has encouraged this and some are after favour from this being thus will try to over please “him” and that is often exhibited in the most colourful of ways i.e. singing the loudest, theatrical praying etc
Although I guess some Africans particularly Nigerians are melodramatic exhibitionists and are not necessarily even moved by the “spirit”.

However,on closer observation, I have seen that Nigerians are not really religious in the true sense of the word. There is a big knowledge gap between ordinary Africans and the rest of the world.I want to go out on limb here to guesstimate that an overwhelming majority of African do not have the faintest clue about how the world works. There is a big gag, no, big hole, in scientific knowledge, there is a bigger gap in historical knowledge, and yet even a bigger gap in the basic philosophical constructs upon which civilisations are built and maintained.

I agree with this and more.

mkmyers45: I technical see the zealous as a result of age-long brainwashing, afterall they were forced to accept christainity and islam.

Well initially to an extent yes they were forced but today it’s largely voluntary. Could the forced converts exhibit much enthusiasm to an intruding faith as opposed to the voluntary converts?

Of course forcing much of the natives in the beginning to adopt this belief has set a climate and for the subsequent generation it has become relatively standard to be a Christian.

The African Christians I know are rather grateful for the missionaries that arrived on the continent. Because in their mind without these intruders we would have forever been a lost people. Never mind the entry in which this faith was carted in and the things we have lost as a continent because of this agent but what does that matter if we have gained the infallible “truth”, right.

What I don’t understand is if most of the Europeans at the time could not even consider Africans as equal or "love thy neighbours" why would such a people be willing to share the alleged truth with “animals” and “savages”?

Why would anyone share any “truth” with another that they do not hold in high regard and have subjected to degradation?

And Africans are grateful for being allowed access to the “truth” despite not being deemed fit or worthy enough to congregate with the Europeans once upon a time. So grateful they are now as reverse missionaries Africans stand in the streets of London spreading the good news to the nation responsible for our “salvation”.

Today they pray to god the loudest. Worship god the strongest. Evangelize the hardest. Whilst Christianity has waxed stronger in our ailing continent it has faded in significance in affluent Europe.

I know that Africans rightly or wrongly take matters concerning spirituality very seriously but it does still make me wonder why they are more committed to the course than the countries that introduced “the way, the truth and the light” to our continent. Stockholm syndrome perhaps?

Image123: And who said that you would be “before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple”.

Er. . .the “word of god” aka the bible quoted from revelations 7:15.

With all due respect what type of reward is that for any believer?

So as a reward for remaining faithful on earth they’ll get to worship this god for eternity?

It sounds more rewarding for this god than the obedient servants if you ask me.

Image123, when I was younger I used to attend church irregularly and the worst activity I was made to be a part of was singing and worship. I didn’t like it at all so for heaven to feature much of the same thing but on a greater scale and for eternity actually turns me right off.

But maybe you’re right. I may not be considering this with an open mind. Like you said, how do I possibly know how it would be like. . . .who knows it might just be an “org[i]a[/i]sm[i]i[/i]c” experience for me to be worshipping the feet of this entity for eternity. . .oh boy imagine what it must be like for “him” then.

Funny how the reward of the “righteous” appears to be more rewarding of their entity. Or is that their reward? Being able to indulge their god?

Image123: There's no sorrow in Heaven. There's no pain, no sickness, no death. How that doesn't meet your need is flabbergasting.

Nice try . . .but I'm sure you know what I was trying to get at.

Of course in any utopian-like realm there has to be an absence of bleakness. But one person’s idea of enjoyment may not appeal to another.
I don’t wish to be “before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple”. Such sounds tedious and not exactly exciting or rewarding for me.
Pain may be absent but I would not want to be fixed in a permanent abode worshiping the feet of this enigmatic entity for all of eternity - that is not a heaven that appeals to me.

Why are African Christians more zealous than the European nations that converted us?

African Christians have invested wholly in an imported belief and are so much devoted to this foreign faith it surpasses the piety of the European nations that introduced this belief system to our continent. Even the European Christians that still regard this faith are tame in comparison to African Christians.

African Christians are perhaps the most zealous Christians I’ve ever encountered. Whilst many Europeans have now moved on and discarded the faith they once shared with a fraction of the globe, Africans still remain largely dedicated to this borrowed belief.

Some Africans have now even assumed the former role of the early European evangelists and witness for Christ here in Europe to the very countries that imposed this faith on us.

Why are African Christians more passionate about this imported faith than the very nations that foisted this belief on us?

Hhmm what's my idea of heaven?

Not streets of gold (I’m not much a fan of gold)
Not 72 virgin female characters (although I believe that reward is more gender specific eh)

My idea of heaven is to see my family forever happy and at peace and for me. . .I wanna fly and not be limited.
I want to soar above this earthly habitat and seek more knowledge and communicate with all different types of creatures. . .my ideal utopia is not promised in these holy books so how would a person such as me be moved or motivated by that which does not excite me in the least? And I'm sure my own idea of "heaven" is bland to others.
So how can the promised "paradise" described at length in these holy books pose as a glorious reward or loss for the uninterested individual?

I am just one out of many, unimpressed by these scriptural renderings of heaven.

If the heaven in the Quaran does not move a person shall such person go and seek the heaven promised in the bible? But what then? . . . .What if that fails to grabs one’s attention also?

Is not our own romantic idealistic notion of “heaven” personal anyway? Is it not subjective? We all have differing desires.

I haven't seen Bekay but I've seen her trail lol.

[quote author=Ta_Xasa]Hahaha Don't Tell That to The mods, They think they upgraded the looks In here. lol[/quote]Haha beauty is subjective

4 Major Migration Groups, there is small one's too but the 4 major waves today make up 90% of the people of africa. There was also Greeks,Arabs,Romans,Persians,Turks,albanians to North africa but they Mixed/Integrated with Arabs.

The early Africans were pushed down. From North leading to South the continent appears as a spectrum lol.

They are the oldest Unchanged People together with the aboriginal People of Australia, Meaning they stayed in one place the longest and their culture/Language merely Changed since they were established.

Really? Funny as these people are so tiny as well. I’m intrigued by them though.

The bantu speaking Groups are the Most In africa to Branch Out seems like they are the Most Likely to Venture and Branch out and Try New things, Nilotic Tribes are less open to this except when it come to war They Love Fights and they are the most stubborn People you would Meet, Kushtic Tribes Mentality vary from conservative to " let's Mix with anyone it will be fun" Mentality.lol The Nilotic Tribes are the closest Relatives to the Kushtic people But One is calm and the other is the Completly the opposite. lol Did you Relaise that when in nigeria?? Since you have some Nilotic/Chadic Tribes from the north are they difficult to deal with?? Like Violence?? ABIT stubborn Saying that you would also find that In Many eastern african countries The nilotic People Have a strong presence in the army They make good soldiers.

Hausas are Chadic, right. I actually left the country at a very young age so I can’t really say much regarding that. However my family used to live in the North and they used to share some interesting stories. My mother actually loves the Northerners/Hausa people. She and a few older Nigerians I know would always warn me...the Hausas are friendly and honest people but never ever offend their religion. And that was the only warning they used to give me. Apart from issues pertaining to religion the report about them was not bad at least within my circle of relatives/acquaintances.

If the Bantus refers to central/southern Africa, Cushitic refers to East and Nilotic = East/Central and San = South Africa . . . where does that leave the majority of West Africans?
Nigeria (at least the South eastern part of Nigeria) along with Cameroon had been said to be the root of the Bantu languages/people.

See as Carter resemble house boy sef

Worthy cause for celebration

Bloody hell na who dash me 2?

Subtract 2 and I'll be on my merry way

jamace I missed you

Comot for road o boy mek I tell bekay something

Ozi and owoh soup

I wonder which 10 languages in Africa are the least spoken.

Ozegbe: why cant they just wear suit for once or is it because of their pot belle, abi them dey fear say them no go represent africa well. Amaka why na....

Else dem no get space to store extra kudi under their cloth naa



On a serious note though, this should actually be a non-issue. I believe they dress as they do as a reference to their cultural background. There is nothing shameful or worthy of criticism or contempt about that.
We don’t always have to marginalize our culture to appear acceptable before others. Africa hot sha.

By the grace of God yes. Christianity was a tool largely used to exploit Africans.

tbaba1234: The true religion of God must be universally understandable and attainable throughout the world. In other words, the true religion of God cannot be confined to any one people, place or period of time. Nor is it logical that such a religion should impose conditions that have nothing to do with the relationship of man with God, such as go-betweens, baptism or belief in man as saviour.

But how do you know such conditions have nothing to do with the relationship of man with God? Do you understand the symbolism behind certain practices?

As already mentioned is not the holy book also a “go-between”. . .a bridge between man and God?

dalaman: Mazaje gave a very good rebuttal to this assertion of yours, the Koran that is considered the word of God is also a go between. Since it is claimed to be the word of God.

I was wondering about that also.

Why do some religious people disqualify other renderings of god of differing faiths when they actually have parallels and equivalents that operate in their own belief-system?

Ultimately it all boils down to "my depiction of God is correct and everyone else's portrayal is blasphemous and wrong". If all or some religion claims this then it's clearly biased because the context in which their God is conveyed usually favours a specific group.

Beaf: Swimming for recreation is not the same as for sports. Nigeria should be hauling medals with the natural abilities in the area, but there is nothing to harness it.

True - that goes for other areas too i.e. equestrian sports.

the serpent deceived Eve in the Bible to eat the
fruit of life and death

No, it was the "tree of the knowledge of good and evil".

Callotti: Well. . . there are many possibilities as to what would have happened.

1. God would have provided another woman for Adam and Adam would have had to give up more 'ribs' till he had none left.
2. Adam would have remained without a 'helper', and mas-tur-bation would have made him an enemy of God. Meaning he would have eaten the forbidden fruit ALL BY HIMSELF with the help of the serpent.

I could think of many more options!

The 'gay' route is also another option!

lwkmd.

buzugee are you a black hebrew israelite?

^^^

Lol. My favourite reply.

[quote author=Okija_juju]A book written by Niggas I never met in my life nor do I know their mental status. .[/quote]Good point.

Interesting subject and response.

*subscribes*

blacksta: NDDC set to promote swimming in Niger Delta NAN-S-4 Swimming Port Harcourt, March 27, 2012 (NAN) The Niger Delta Development Commission is set to build swimming pools in some oil producing states in the region as part of effort to promote swimming as a sport. The Managing Director, Dr Christian Oboh, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Port...

http://www.nanngronline.com/section/sports/nddc-set-to-promote-swimming-in-niger-delta

Promote swimming?

Swimming is already a usual practice for those dwelling in the riverine areas especially the Ijaws unless the aim here is to create cleaner swimming areas. However I'd rather the fund spent on cleaning the polluted rivers.

The way one worships their god is also linked to ones esteem and ability of understanding. Imagine what happens to the esteem of a person who abandons their former way of worship because they apparently adhered to the wrong depiction of god? Or vice versa, what happens to the esteem of a person who has gained another believer who adopts their form of worship?
Their sense of understanding will also have to be tailored.

tbaba1234: All representations of God can not be correct since each claim render the other wrong. Some of the claims are similar(like the Jewish and muslim definition of God).

God gave us minds and intellects to help us make this important decision, probably the most important of our existence. So each of us must examine dispassionately the evidence that each of these ideologies present.

In my experience, one can only determine the true path by putting all emotions aside, emotions blind reality. It is only then we can make a rational choice.

How do you carve things with your hands from rocks, stone and wood and then bow down to it or give it offerings? If it falls and breaks you replace it with another stone, rock or wood;


God has already revealed himself, you just need to be willing to examine the evidence of each revelation using common sense to come to a reasonable conclusion.

But everyone is biased, right?

Yes you’re right. All representations of God cannot be the same as not all gods are in harmony with each other. And all representations cannot be the same since humans interpret differently. Should other depictions of god be marginalized because some people have a different understanding or pattern?

What about those who are illiterates or those certain cultures that may in the past or even till date had or have no written alphabet and thus employ art as a tool?

Like I asked before, could God not reveal itself or be celebrated in various contextual forms?

Why should the portrayal of god be limited to a specific context that may favour a particular group and may not even be able to be understood by all people of various backgrounds or who have different means of retaining information?

And like I said in the opening. . .these adherents (well the ones I’ve spoken to) say they do not bow down to the raw materials. They accord reverence only to what the figurine embodies or the essence.

Was not the alleged “word of God” published by man? What is the difference between man writing the holy book as an account of God’s word and an animist creating a similitude of god as a reference to “him”?

chioms4me: how do u pray to ask God to show you if a particular guy u a dating is the right one for you?

And after such prayer how does God reveal the answer to you?

naijasexy: ^No, not at all. Last time I checked, Jagged and Edge were two different words of their own that whosoever chose, could be put together to form a phrase that conveyed a certain meaning. If I'd read both their etymologies correctly, they'd existed long before the band "Jagged Edge" came into being.
Thanks though.

Ha true. My mind hovered on the band first probably because of their usual genre of music.

Was the title of this narrative inspired by the name of the defunct band “Jagged Edge”?