₦airaland Forum

Crime is crime. Murder is murder. Fact is that even with all the racism that exists in what is essentially a backwards nation the rate of crime is still lower.

It's sad that racist murders are happening in Russia but is it really any different from the killing of (so called) Christians in northern Nigeria? Or Jews killing Arabs in Israel? Or Christians being killed by Muslims in Pakistan? Hindus killing Christians in India, is that better? Or Muslims killing people irrespective of their religion in New York, Madrid and London?

Also, small point, but it wasn't so long ago that Russia was a Communist country- essentially a nation where the State was God. So Russia, in effect, is yet another nation full of religious crackpots.

To mlks,

You continue to bring up the topic of racist attacks in Germany and Russia. Are you saying that only non-religious people are capable of racism/violence?

I think we should continue this discussion in the relevant thread.

[B]non-religious societies are as equally dysfunctional.[/B]

Not true.

Find me a set of data (make some up, if you will) to prove this.

My point is that people such as yourself continue to blindly follow (and then teach) a message which does not stand up favourably to everyday events.

I believe you attempted to make a similar point about my claim that religious societies are (very often) dysfunctional societies.

Why is Phil Collins on that list?

How's about this luck.

A guy I went to school with- happened to be a committed Christian and genuinely nice guy recently lost his girlfriend and the use of his legs in a car crash that wasn't his fault.

As for me: I often drive above the speed limit without wearing a seatbelt, with a ladyfriend by my side. Needless to say I've never been in an accident.

I guess God really gets off on 'blessing' (i.e. not tormenting) those who do not believe he exists.

Precisely, We can't stand afar and blast miracles as being false.

I guess it's better to stand afar and accept every rumour as the truth.

Are most of the people who have the money to buy these high spec phones importing them themselves?

Or are they going to the technology market like everyone else?

You can make statements like that especially when you ignore the cases of communist China, the Russian experience, and the racist tendencies among young Europeans who lay no claim to "God on their side" for their actions in contemporary times

This is waaaay off topic but there are a number of groups in Europe, America and South Africa who profess faith in Jesus Christ whilst espousing idiotic/racist ideologies. How do you explain that? There are groups in Israel who link their anti-Arab stance with their Jewish faith. Likewise there are Muslims who use their religious dogma to justify the wrongs done by Islamic fundamentalists

p.s.
Gregory Paul is by no means the only person to conduct a credible study on the correlation between religion and social ills.

Read this thread:
https://www.nairaland.com/nigeria/topic-2026.0.html

I'm interested to hear what you have to say.

To be honest I think it's a good thing that fast food is out of reach of a lot of people in Nigeria.

I'd prefer not to see the health problems prevalent in American society in Nigeria.

Nobody's supposing that children be taught to believe in the tenets of all the major religions, so don't be too driven to suppose what was not inferred.

The heading of this thread was (and still is) Recommend Reforms To The World Religions. Therefore it's only right that we take into account all the major 'faiths'.

As for the question of morality, that isn't even an issue. No matter where you are there are laws enforced by the state. Contrary to what a lot of religious groups teach/imply, people who lack religious persuasion are not more likely to commit a crime. The sheer fact that even the most religious people cannot refrain from wrongdoing shows that.

If children are to be taught anything at all, they should be taught religion as well.

Fine. So we're in agreement; children should be taught to believe in the tenets of all the major world religions?
How many parents would feel comfortable with their children being taught to accept (and give credence to) Scientology?

I guess we should also ensure that ancient Greek and Roman mythology are given their due.

Obviously they are as relevant as being able to spell your own name or take care of your finances. Or even wipe your own bottom.

@mlks

Clearly you've misread what I wrote.

Here's what I said:

Most parents (of a religious persuasion) do not know how to take into account the feelings of their children when it comes to religion. The result of this is often confusion and subsequently conflict in later life.

WHEN IT COMES TO RELIGION.

Of course there's the possibility that conflict that arises from religious uncertainty will cause problems in other areas of a persons life but I haven't (until now) mentioned that.

Anyways, back to the point.

My point was that people shouldn't be spoonfed religion at a young age. Rather, religious groups should focus their efforts on those who are truely searching for 'spiritual fulfilment'.

If you look back you'll see that I already agree with you on this point:

Discussing issues that result in conflicts in later life is not simply a religious matter. It happens to non-religious people as well. As most children do not know how to ask the right questions when being taught religious beliefs, so in parenting in general: most children do not know how to ask the right questions about issues they are concerned about, nor are some parents of non-religious persuasions able to coherrently take into account the feelings of their children about these life issues. In a world where people want to blame every failure and conflict in later in on religiour persuasions, they fail to take into account that most conflicts in adults today have no religious connections but are based on individual development.

My issue is with your claim that there are problems that can solved by religious parents but not by those who are not members of a sect.

Good thread. Agree one hundred percent.

While it might difficult to get the Pastors and Imams to give up some of their loot, once a few of them are arrested I am sure the rest would see the light. Right?

hahahahaha!

Whether religious or not, there are issues of youngsters that most non-religious parents don't have a clue how to address.

I agree with you that irrespective of religion child-rearing can be a struggle.

But the second part of your statement on 'non-religious' parents baffles me.

Are you saying that these same issues are more easily dealt with by those of a religious persuasion?

If so, which issues are you speaking of?

My suggestion wasn't brought about by a desire to suddenly end all religion.

There are a number of religions that do not accept children as full members- instead they focus on recruiting adults who should (in theory at least) understand the implications of a religious message.

Most children do not know how to ask the right questions when being taught religious beliefs.

Most parents (of a religious persuasion) do not know how to take into account the feelings of their children when it comes to religion.

The result of this is often confusion and subsequently conflict in later life.

Thanks loverbwoy- I was thinking about something along those lines.

What would you say is the average price for a mobile phone in Nigeria?

Like a lot of people have said there are plenty of places to visit in the U.K besides London.

Bath, Cambridge, Oxford and Edinburgh are all nice cities that aren't as expensive, or congested.

However if you're really into your art and your museums then London is a must, best in the world.

As for shopping, the U.K really is a rip-off. Go to the states if all you want to do is shop.

This reminds me of a rather funny story.

This guy I went to school with was very much a christian, as was his then girlfriend.

Man wanted to dump the girl because she had become possessive and irritating.

Girl was paranoid; had heard rumours that guy was interested in another.

Girl confronts guy.

Man dumps girl on confrontation, claiming that God told him that they shouldn't be together.

Girl gets angry, blames guy/God.

As for me? Well I laughed and laughed, and laughed again (and so on, and so forth).

This thread has well and truely opened my eyes as to how ignorant people can be.

Thanks guys.

Spelling, people, spelling.

CONFUSSED?

Try[i] confused[/i].

I am God.

I am male.

Discussion over.

Not everyone with a Nigerian name is a Nigerian.

Whoever is saying that the Williams sisters hail from Nigeria is lying.

Apologies, the question is about the Islamic schools in Nigeria.

William Alston has suggested that the presence of a number of the following characteristics would make a set of practices a religion:

1) Belief in supernatural beings (gods)
2) a distinction between sacred and profane objects
3) ritual acts focused on sacred objects
4) a moral code believed to be sanctioned by the gods
5) characteristically religious feelings
6) prayer and other forms of communication with gods,
7) a world view, or a general picture of the world as a whole and the place of the individual therein
a more or less total organization of one's life based on the world view
9) a social group bound together by the above

Who funds the religious schools?

What is taught there besides the Koran?

Approximately how much time is given to teaching the Koran in relation to any other subjects?

Is there anything that isn't taught to girls but is taught to boys (and vice versa)?

An end to the indoctrination of children would be a start.

I gotta admit, this thread is disturbing:

. where can you allow your wife to work ?

Are you for real?