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Christianity Etc › Re: My Thoughts And Questions About Religion by joseph1013(op): 2:17pm On Jun 10, 2020

HOW TO PROVE GOD EXISTS

I know talking to atheists can be exasperating for theists. Atheists keep asking for evidence but they reject all the evidence offered. Honestly, this is not atheists being bloody-minded, it is theists not understanding what evidence is.

If you are a lawyer, a police detective or a scientist, you should know exactly what evidence is but I find even people from these professions cannot always define evidence--it is often a case of "I know it when I see it". So here are my three easy-as-pie rules for the evidence. You can use them to demonstrate the existence of the god of your choice. Evidence must satisfy all three rules for it to be valid.

1. Evidence is an observable and verifiable fact.
a) You may need tools like a microscope, a radio detector, chemical analysis etc. to observe the evidence--evidence does not have to be observable with the naked eye.
b) The evidence does not have to be direct evidence of the god itself--it could arise indirectly as a consequence of the existence of the god.

2. The evidence must be consistent with the existence of the god in question but not with the existence of any other god.

3. It must be impossible for the evidence to be found if the god in question does not exist.

To summarize these rules, facts that are consistent with many different gods are not valid evidence for the existence of a specific god and nor are facts that could be found whether or not the god in question exists.

Let's look at two common pieces of evidence people give for their god-belief and discuss why they are discarded by people who understand the nature of evidence.

The Existence of Life
The most common evidence offered by theists is the existence of something that cannot yet be explained, such as the existence of life--"The existence of life proves Lord Brahma exists".

This evidence passes rule (1). Life is an observable and verifiable fact. However, it does not pass rule (2). There are several hundred different gods that have been proposed as the creator of life and the evidence of life does not point uniquely to the god in question.

The evidence also fails test (3). We cannot say it is impossible that life could exist if the god in question did not exist. Unknown natural processes may have caused life to come about. We simply cannot rule out this possibility.

So the evidence of life fails two of the three tests and is, therefore, disqualified.

Personal Experience
The second most common evidence offered is personal experience. People say thinking about the god in question makes them feel happy and at peace and they may sense the presence of that god or have a conversation with it--"I know Allah exists, I experience him."

This evidence passes test (1). It is observable by the person having the experience although it is difficult to verify. However, recent work using various type of brain scanning has shown consistent patterns of brain activity occur during these experiences so we can accept these personal experiences are facts.

Unfortunately, this evidence does not pass tests (2) and (3). Any god with the ability to put thoughts into your brain could be responsible for these experiences, we have no way to be certain they are caused by the god in question. And it is possible for these experiences to occur without the god in question existing--they could be generated by the brain itself. Indeed, we have evidence that identical experiences can occur through wholly natural causes.

This evidence also fails two out of three tests and must be disqualified.

So theists, before you offer evidence that a god exists, please check it against the three rules of evidence. If it does not satisfy all three rules, forget it and keep looking. But you shouldn't feel too bad about it--people have been searching for valid evidence for gods for at least 3,000 years and all have failed.

You might like to ask yourself one final question though. If we have no valid evidence for any god, why have billions of humans been certain that thousands of different gods have existed over many thousand years? Odd isn't it?

It doesn't look as though evidence has played any role in the human experience of gods.

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Christianity Etc › Re: My Thoughts And Questions About Religion by joseph1013(op): 8:57pm On Jun 08, 2020

The Bible ticks 3 major boxes on slavery;

1. Purchase of humans as possessions.
2. Torture of humans.
3. Bequeathing of humans to offsprings as inheritance.
Now, kindly read what is written in our holy bible;

Lev. 25: 44-46
“As for your male and female slaves whom you may have: you may buy male and female slaves from among the nations that are around you. You may also buy from among the strangers who sojourn with you and their clans that are with you, who have been born in your land, and they may be your property. You may bequeath them to your sons after you to inherit as a possession forever. You may make slaves of them, but over your brothers the people of Israel you shall not rule, one over another ruthlessly.”

Exodus 21: 20-21
“When a man strikes his slave, male or female, with a rod and the slave dies under his hand, he shall be avenged. But if the slave survives a day or two, he is not to be avenged, for the slave is his money.”

Exodus 21: 26-27
“When a man strikes the eye of his slave, male or female, and destroys it, he shall let the slave go free because of his eye. If he knocks out the tooth of his slave, male or female, he shall let the slave go free because of his tooth.”

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Christianity Etc › Re: My Thoughts And Questions About Religion by joseph1013(op): 8:56pm On Jun 08, 2020

Ephesians 6:5-8
New International Version

5 Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect(A) and fear, and with sincerity of heart,(B) just as you would obey Christ.(C)

6 Obey them not only to win their favor when their eye is on you, but as slaves of Christ,(D) doing the will of God from your heart.

7 Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not people,(E)

8 because you know that the Lord will reward each one for whatever good they do,(F) whether they are slave or free.

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Christianity Etc › Re: My Thoughts And Questions About Religion by joseph1013(op): 8:54pm On Jun 08, 2020

Jekwu Ozoemene

There is so much wrong, so much indoctrination in the history we were taught in Nigeria and Africa.

Only deep, thorough and open minded education can unwind the calculated misinformation. Unfortunately, most of us have closed minds and our borrowed religions helped cement that white - good, black- bad mental dichotomy.

I have spent the last 48 hours explaining to educated Nigerians that not only did the Church promote, justify and benefit immensely from the Trans Atlantic slave trade, other than economics, the bible was the primary tool used to enslave our ancestors.

But Nigerian Christians wanted to chew me raw.

Not even after I pointed out that the heads of almost all (if not all) denominations of Christianity have since apologized for their ignoble role.

Whosai!

Tell me, what level of indoctrination forces at best second generation Nigeria Christians to claim that their religion did not do something? Meanwhile, those who did it (the heads of every major denomination of the Church) and introduced the religion to us have since apologized for the crime (let's not talk about reparations yet) and asked for forgiveness.

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Christianity Etc › Re: My Thoughts And Questions About Religion by joseph1013(op): 12:37pm On Jun 06, 2020

Daniel Etim wrote:

Dude prayed that if God granted him his prayer request, he'll serve God for the rest of his life.

Haq Haq Haq Haq...

Wait a minute. Like seriously? Is God now your mate? See wetin see finish done cause. Like, you didn't read the T&Cs before clicking 'yes I agree'? Dude you accepted Jesus Christ into your life as your personal LORD and savior 13 years ago. If he is your Lord, what are you to him? His servant of course.
So you've not been serving him those 13 years? You've been doing your village things so that grace may abound? Once saved forever saved right? If I whoze you ehn...

Now you come get mind to approach baba to renegotiate what you've already signed for. Whether you serve him or not shey he is still God ba? So why you come dey whine yourself ni. You think this is old testament and you are Jephtah ni. But the game has changed bro. Old testament was PES, New testament is FIFA.

Bringing your lukewarm ass self to give God an ultimatum. God that has already looked into the future and seen that your chances of even making purgatory is slim. My friend bera sit up and fulfill your end of the contract and stop trying to be funny with your destiny. Your bride price abi dowry has already been paid and you are now married to Jesus. Stop messing around with Satan your ex.

I don't know how the angels cope with all these nominal Christians sef. Must be hard on them.

Have a lovely Saturday folks.

And ehen, this is not an invitation to persecute anyone in the comment section.

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Christianity Etc › Re: My Thoughts And Questions About Religion by joseph1013(op): 9:14pm On Jun 05, 2020

Dr. Olayinka Ayinde

A few years ago I had a patient who would arrive on the ward very ill and disruptive. After getting care on the ward for a couple of weeks, she would get well and be discharged home. Within a month or two, she would be back exactly as she arrived the other time.

The story was always the same: she got home and stopped taking her medication because she read the book written by the founders of her church: Healing without taking medicine (actually written in Yoruba: ìmúláradá láì lo òògùn!).

In the process of coming and going out of the hospital while reading this strange book, she had run down a multi million naira business.

In frustration, I called a meeting with her pastor and asked why they made people read that patently dangerous book. I pointedly asked him if he would not take medicine if he got knocked by a car and was bleeding profusely. After blushing and feeling a little embarrassed, he said eeerm... that book was no longer emphasised in their church; it was written by their founder when "things were still dark". Now the leadership no longer "emphasise" the book or it's content.

It was my turn to be shocked and embarrassed on his behalf.

Can't you guys just round up every copy of this book, burn them and ask people to take their bloody meds! This bloody book was ruining a life right before our own eyes! He kept opening his mouth and closing it and saying it was their founder who wrote it and they just couldn't throw the book away!

So each time we tell you that people read foolish things in holy books, and lives are ruined as a result, please believe us. If contents of holy books embarrass you and ruin lives, tear them up, edit them, rewrite them... do whatever you need to do. These things ruin lives!

Not everyone has a PhD like you and can use holy books with commonsense. It's just that holy books shouldn't even contain dangerous or ambiguous texts! And no, the Holy spirit doesn't explain it to everybody "who seeks sincerely". It didn't explain it to my patient.

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Christianity Etc › Re: My Thoughts And Questions About Religion by joseph1013(op): 11:15pm On Jun 04, 2020

A friend who went to OAU just narrated the time Pastor Adeboye was at OAU.

He had a morning service at Amphi Theatre. He spoke about a woman who ate his leftover food and conceived in his sermon.

After that service, as soon as he stood up from his chair, people rushed his chair, pushed themselves, some got injured, broke that chair to pieces and took the pieces for themselves. Omo. It was like a movie.

MYTH LOVING SOCIETIES ACT FOOLISHLY WITH PROFOUNDNESS, ALL THE Time

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Christianity Etc › Re: My Thoughts And Questions About Religion by joseph1013(op): 5:11pm On Jun 02, 2020

While believers and unbelievers alike continue to stand against rape and demand justice for Uwa, it'd be food for Christians to understand that their scripture justify and even encourage rape...

We need to put this in the ongoing conversations so that we can learn and become better.

"The Hebrew Bible contains several references, both in Mosaic law as well as in its narrative portions, to acts that would be considered rape in the modern world. [1] Hebrew lacks a legal or technical term for rape, since in Biblical times, a sexual assault against another man's daughter, wife, or betrothed could only be a theft of that man's sexual property, rather than an offense against the woman herself". (Wikipedia)

There are several passages in the Old Testament, including Genesis 34, Numbers 31:15-18, Deuteronomy 21:10-14, Judges 19:22-26, and 2 Samuel 13:1-14, which depict rape or have been interpreted as discussing rape.

One way or another, women are constantly implicitly blamed, both in the Bible and in contemporary culture, for their rape. Because they were beautifully irresistible, or they made friends with the wrong crowd, or as plunder of war, or as properties of father or husband, or because of their dressing. The reasons are getting many by the day.

As an aside, what happened with Lot and his daughters was rape. Also, the marry-your-rapist law is actually horrid. Let's say it again: They didn't know any better.

Rape is plundering of another's body. It is a serious crime. It is a violation of the victim. We should stand against it in all totality.

The Bible has nothing to teach us about morality about rape.

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Christianity Etc › Re: My Thoughts And Questions About Religion by joseph1013(op): 3:58pm On Jun 01, 2020*

Mayoveli: A lot of Jews became atheists after the Second World War. It dawned on them that their God was useless in real situations. Even though they are renowned for being their God's favorite group of humans, a lot of them realized that the whole Yahweh shit made no sense.

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Christianity Etc › Re: My Thoughts And Questions About Religion by joseph1013(op): 3:41pm On Jun 01, 2020

Kedei Ibiang wrote:

Religious books were written by men of their time who were seeking answers to the realities they were exposed to.
It was based on their experiences(plus imaginations and hallucinations), their limited knowledge, and the answers they found in that era.

The religious books on Christianity and Islam in particular were written by stone age, misogynistic men who saw themselves as superior to women and that reflected in their wirtings.

If you weren't born in Nigeria, you would've been a strong follower of whatever religion you were born into and brought up with. Whether Buddhism or anything else.
And in your limited knowledge, you still think that your religion trumps all the others, yours is the only true one.
Every religion seems to think so, it's hilarious to see. �
So if you're not going to hell in Christianity, you'll go to hell in Islam and all the other 4K+ religions. Makes me laugh so hard each time I remember this.

In your quest to find something to believe in, or a Supreme being to ascribe your life to, ask questions, seek answers, open your brain and think. Don't be close minded.

I tell people that I basically have two reasons for being irreligious and indifferent towards the possibility of the existence of a God.

1. There really isn't much of evidence to prove or disprove that S/he exists, seeing how uninterested and detached s/he is from our activities.

2. If that supposedly Supreme being exists, then that being is a quite violent, blood thirsty and unjust one. To watch children suffer and die, watch its supposed adherents and worshippers be killed in the most gruesome manner? Just sit there and do nothing? While it's worshippers cover it up with 'God's ways are not our ways'?

I know you're too scared to question your God and his ways, don't worry you won't be punished for reading this. �

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Christianity Etc › Re: My Thoughts And Questions About Religion by joseph1013(op): 12:36pm On Jun 01, 2020

Kedei Ibiang wrote:

Religion thrives on FEAR.
I'd try as much as I can not get too sentimental about this because I have a personal experience from just about a week ago which buttresses this point even more.

I began to lose my religion/religious doctrines sometime from late 2015.
I was neck deep, and I mean every word of that. I had seen and done it all; prayers, fasting, speaking in tongues, you name it.
But you see, there were a lot of unanswered questions.

I was still a medical student then (in year 5 at the time), so I was doing pediatrics and OB/GYN rotations. I saw thingsssssss. I saw little babies die during childbirth, die while in the ICU. I always asked myself, how come this God that loves children, would let them die like this?
Typical answer was 'Don't question God', 'God's ways aren't our ways'.

I was never satisfied with the answers I got, and my inquisitive nature didn't let me stop. So I started searching, books, the internet, articles everything I could read ro get closure.

I could never understand why an all powerful, all loving God will just sit and watch violent acts happen, even to the ones who worshipped it.
I mean, as a human, I wouldn't sit and watch people I love undergo any form of hurt, especially if I have the power to prevent or stop it.
So I couldn't understand why this all powerful being would.

I began to logically look at some the questions we never dared to ask because of fear and supposed punishment from God. Some of these things made no sense. (They will tell you 'A carnal mind cannot understand the things of the spirit'. Lol.)

Now, a young lady in her early twenties, in a bid to get somewhere peaceful and quiet to read, obtained the keys to her church building and went there to study, she was gangraped and murdered by 4 men while in that church building.

The church has come out to say, that the church building has been closed to the public, that she personally went to her parish to obtain the keys to use the place for study, we all see where that is going. Absolving themselves of responsibility.
The supposed Daddy GO of the church made a statement, saying that they pray that God will fish out her killers. They commiserate with her family, bla bla bla.
There was no outrage, nothing about joining in the investigation to fish out the perpetrators of this evil acts. Nothing.

Now, you would expect that adherents of Christianity will ask the necessary questions, show some anger, ask to know what is being done.
Some people have gone ahead to blame the victim, asking why she went to read in a church, blaming her dressing (as is usual with them, even though we all know how 'covered up' she must have been to enter a RCCG church building).

The people who are asking the necessary questions are being shushed,
"Why are you questioning my Daddy GO?"
"Do you want the wrath of God to fall on you?" "You want to attract curses to yourself?"

I weep. I weep.

You are so far gone into religion that you have lost your humanity.
You would rather we put your pastors on a pedestal, where they are unquestionable and infallible, without blame.
You are so enveloped in fear of the unknown that you can barely even ask questions or think rationally.

Religion is one of the highest enablers of violence and injustice.
Ranging from violence against women, to violence against children and innocent people.

Religion is the reason why a child is raped and we are told to 'leave it for God'.
A woman is raped and we are told that 'God will bring her justice'.
Criminals aren't arrested and charged to court because 'God will judge'.

WHERE IS THIS JUSTICE THOUGH?!!!

Rapists are roaming the streets, because when they rape it is either made a family matter or a religious matter and swept under the carpet.
And they go on to keep perpetrating such horrific acts because they know it will end in prayers and wishes.

We need to start asking ourselves the difficult questions!!!

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Christianity Etc › Re: My Thoughts And Questions About Religion by joseph1013(op): 7:17pm On May 18, 2020*

He was useless during the Augustinian Plague.

He was useless during the Plague of Athens.

He was useless during the Bubonic Plague.

He was useless during Slavery.

He was useless during the Spanish Flu.

He was useless during World War I and II.

He was useless during the Biafra War.

He is useless during COVID-19.

He is useless yesterday, today and forevermore. Amen.

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Christianity Etc › Re: My Thoughts And Questions About Religion by joseph1013(op): 5:22pm On May 06, 2020

I don’t care for Odumeje at all, but I hate how he’s being portrayed in some quarters like he’s the worst thing to happen to Christianity. Most of the “men of God” you guys revere so much are not so different from him in substance.

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Christianity Etc › Re: My Thoughts And Questions About Religion by joseph1013(op): 7:49am On May 02, 2020

Around October 1696, a 19-year old boy named Thomas Aikenhead was arrested in Great Britain on charges of blasphemmy.

According to prosecutors, during the year Thomas had made a lot of statements that were considered provocative and could arouse civil unrest in the society.

These statements included saying that theology was "a rhapsody of feigned and ill-invented nonsense" and made up of "poetical fictions and extravagant chimeras".

The state charged him with saying that the Old Testament is "Ezra's Fables" and that the New Testament is "the History of the impostor Christ who learned magic in Egypt and picked up a few ignorant blocckish fisher fellows".

His 'friends' who were coopted to testify against him said that Thomas had told them that the Trinity is "not worth any man's refutation", scoffed at the incarnation as contradictory, professed pantheism, and denied creation.

They even said he declared to them that he preferred Mohammmed to Jesus and hoped to see Christianity soon extirpated.

For daring to say this much, Thomas, aged 20, was hung to death on January 8th, 1697.
- - -

Today most of us look back and wonder how a progressive Britain could engage in such a barbaric act. Yet here we are in the same 2020 having people supporting the arrest and trial of a supposed blasphemmer who is due to be tried under a system, with as much as a deeath sentence hanging over him.

Mubarak Bala's offence? He spoke against the Prophet.

His offence? They say his statement would incite a mob into civil unrest.

The same people who will not be incited against widespread poverty and insecurity in their land will be offended about a Facebook post.

The joke is on everyone who supports this gross disregard of freedom of speech.

We should build on our tolerance of free speech and use counterspeech for those we disagree with, not seek imprisonment (or worse deeath) for people whose words we don't like.

I repeat, if you only support religious freedom for people of your faith....you don't support religious freedom.

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Christianity Etc › Re: My Thoughts And Questions About Religion by joseph1013(op): 5:50pm On Apr 30, 2020

Been reading:

A Blasphemy law is a law that penalises speech or acts that disrespect God or the sacred. Blasphemy laws are said to be used to protect religious beliefs and also to prevent religious crises.

The Nigerian constitution provides a Customary (secular) system and a system that incorporates Sharia. The Customary system prohibits blasphemy under section 204 of Nigeria's Criminal Code.

Section 204 is entitled "Insult to religion". According to the section:
"Any person who does an act which any class of persons consider as a public insult on their religion, with the intention that they should consider the act such an insult, and any person who does an unlawful act with the knowledge that any class of persons will consider it such an insult, is guilty of a misdemeanour, and is liable to imprisonment for two years."

In addition, Islam is the main religion in twelve out of Nigeria's thirty-six states. Hence, in 1999, the Islam-dominated states chose to have Sharia courts as well as Customary courts.

A Sharia court may treat blasphemy as deserving of several punishments up to, and including, execution.

Here is the constitutional contradictions-
The prohibition against blasphemy in the Criminal Code and the prohibition recognised by Sharia, as stated above, may not be lawful because Section 38 of the Constitution entitles every Nigerian to freedom of thought, conscience, and religion, and Section 39 gives every Nigerian the right to freedom of expression.

What’s Wrong With Blasphemy Laws?

1. They violate the human right to freedom of expression

2. They protect religious beliefs and practices, institutions and leaders, from legitimate and often necessary criticism

3. They are intrinsically bad, subjective, inconsistent laws; there is no “right way” to use them

4. They legitimize vigilantism, mob violence, and persecution of minorities

My thoughts:

In short, blasphemy laws are unmeasurable, unfair and encourage injustice. Though Nigeria is an unsafe environment generally and one should look out for oneself, when are we going to effect many needed changes? When are we going to break free from religious shackles?

Beliefs should be subject to reason, criticism and change. Considering all untold evil perpetrated due to beliefs systems, why do you think that even the presently treasured beliefs of yours will hold any water in times to come?

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Christianity Etc › Re: My Thoughts And Questions About Religion by joseph1013(op): 12:10pm On Apr 30, 2020

Idùh Amì Ibégwù

I grew up in a majorly Muslim community, back then as a young kid anytime we listened to news of Christian/Muslim riot in the far north we're always gripped with the fear of an impending doom. As Catholics ourselves we were always treated as second class citizens despite been well off on average with other members of the community.

During christmas we were always advised by our Muslim neighbors not to slaughter our goats by ourselves as that will render the food as "haram" so my parents will always call on the service of a Muslim butcher to slaughter the goat. We were communally marginalised and treated as "kafirs"

I remember attending "karatu" as popularly called with my Muslim friends and could even read the Arabic alphabets to a certain point. Until someday my mum got fed up and we moved out of that environment. This childhood and teenage hood upbringing shaped my understanding on how to live in peaceful coexistence with a Muslim.

One of the knowledge I acquired during this time was: "never argue with a Muslim you'll stir an upheaval" this simple and basic truth has always influenced my dealing with them.

The term "moderate islam" is not just vague, it is untrue and evanescent in the face of logical reasoning or religious argument and criticism. The average Muslim only understand peaceful coexistence on the ground that you don't talk down on his/her religion.

They're not just conservative they see a criticism of their religion as an existential threat. Automatically the human mind is susceptible to attack anything when confronted with an existential threat. This explains why most Muslim are violent when their religion is criticised, Islam has been infused into their subconscious mind as an existential struggle. This automatically breeds people who become violent when faced with conflicting argument against their faith. It also create a "we vs them" mentality though this is common among other religion.

The average Muslim as a child attended Quranic school "karatu" where they're fed with a lot of repugnant and retrogressive doctrine by their fanatical ustaz and imam. This indoctrination would've been easy to escape if only it were done by their parents like Christianity but unfortunately, it is done by their ustaz because most of the parents find it difficult to teach in Arabic language or understand the Quran.

Sometimes I laugh at the extreme left when they coin terms like "islamophobia" or when they say things like "Islam is not a problem". It facsinates me that people thinks, a religion that has thrived on 1500 years of blood conquest without any form of Reformation all of a sudden is now a religion of peace! this kind of thought is insidious. Muslim are only peaceful when they're a minority, when they become majority they will do all it takes to sanction dissenters, impede freedom of speech, trample on minority right and women's right.

We've been perplexed at the recruitment protocols of terrorist groups around the world like Isis, iswap and boko haram. If we understand the basic tenets of islams and the gamut of its doctrine we will be shocked at the discovery that at the core of its doctrine it is a fertile ground for hate and terrorism to thrive.

Every Muslim can be easily recruited into terrorism when presented with truncated and manipulated version of their holy book.
Ignorance also play a large role, islam has constantly wage war on intellectualism, sound reason and western education, they see it as a vaccine to the virus of Islamism and thus, will go any length to clampdown on intellectual progress.

Albeit, the religion is known for its soothing effect and the comfort it brings to its followers, we must always extol the fact that the religion should not be allowed into any public discuss, or be incorporated as law in any system because of its repressive nature.

I use to be a champion of anti religious reformation, but from the events that have transpired around me and from an optical view of nigeria and how the country is currently battling the grim effect of two opposing foreign religion whose followers are in perpetual loggerhead with each other, it is imperative to add that the transformation and development we seek as a country will always elude us, because a society in conflict over religion is not a fertile ground for any tangible or sustainable development.

The arrest of Mubarak bala by the Nigerian police force and his repatriation to kano brings this issue to the front burner, how do we claim as a country that operate on a secular values and laws, still maintain a law as atavistic and barbaric as blasphemy. this kind of law has no place in a sane society driven by rationalism and scientific progress.

We may paint the picture all we want, we can scorn Mubarak's recklessness and deride him for criticising islam while he live in an ultraconservative northern part of the country. Just to sound brilliant, but the fact still remain that freedom of speech, expression and religion is boldly scribbled in the Nigerian constitution, except we want to extol and aggrandise sharia law to trump the Nigerian constitution, which is what beau harry and his government are covertly trying to entrench. We also hear arguments llike "religion shouldn't be criticised" well! Jokes on you. No idea is above criticism, if science had adopted an anti criticism model, we wouldn't have been searching for a covid19 vaccine or make any intellectual progress as a society.

As this debate rage on we must ask ourselves these questions, who is next? Many Christians have resorted to the narrative of scorn because bala is an atheist, but their hypocrisy is alarming because theyre unconsciously enabling a system that endangers Christians in the north.

Leaving Mubarak in the gloomy grip of fanatics to be dealt with Because of a mild criticism is automatically and systematically upholding an ominous future that will renounce the use of sound reason and entrench punitive major for freedom of speech and repression of dissenting opinion and independent thoughts.

#freemubarakbala

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Christianity Etc › Re: My Thoughts And Questions About Religion by joseph1013(op): 7:27am On Apr 30, 2020

These guys are ridiculous.

You won't see them criticize Boko Haram for their killings...

You won't see them criticize those who have arrested an atheist in a secular Nigeria for 'blasphemy' (whatever that even means)...

But they will be out en masse saying, "But why did Mubarak Bala criticize Islam?"

Bros...you're a potential terrorist. You just don't have the opportunity yet.

No belief should be above criticism. None whatsoever!

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Christianity Etc › Re: My Thoughts And Questions About Religion by joseph1013(op): 10:44pm On Apr 12, 2020*

No single faith healer anywhere in the world has called a coronavirus patient and laid hands to heal him.

Just take a moment to think about it.

Not a single one!

This is especially true when you realize that there is no better occasion to manifest the glory and greatness of God than at this point in human history.

I put these things out there so believers can understand what lies they have lived.

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Christianity Etc › Re: My Thoughts And Questions About Religion by joseph1013(op): 9:19am On Apr 12, 2020

I like Indabosky Pahoos for one thing...

He's open about his charlatanism and stupidities associated with con artists.

He dances to secular lewd-lyricsed songs, chants incantations like a herbalist and sprays money like drug barons.

He is a charlatan. He knows it. His followers also know it.

He doesn't try to be a wolf in sheep's clothing which is common with many fraudulent men in the same trade. It's really an unknown style of creating cult followership.

He swims against the tide and is coasting home nicely.
He comes clean with tomfoolery.

He's like "if you can afford to trade your brain for fecal matter...come follow me...lol

Surprisingly enough, he has "genuine" followers.

That tells you how desperate people are about believing in something.

The vacuum must be filled.

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Christianity Etc › Re: My Thoughts And Questions About Religion by joseph1013(op): 9:14am On Apr 12, 2020

You respect adeboye but mock indabosky..
Who be you?
Who born you?
Who you?
Where you from? Lol.

I can tolerate orthodox pastors and preachers. Most of them are decent good men. Ignorant about fact maybe, but largely decent good men.

Pentecostal pastors are just crooks!

Not one!

Not one!

So when you worship Oyedepo and praise adeboye but mock my pastor.. The riquid metal, who born you? grin

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Christianity Etc › Re: My Thoughts And Questions About Religion by joseph1013(op): 3:33pm On Apr 05, 2020

I’ve learnt to not underestimate pastorpreneurs. They’re merchants of fear; it is how they sell their scam.

Their latest endeavour to spark outrage among true intellectuals by leveraging on baseless 5G-New World Order-Anti-Vax nonsense isn’t designed from a place of ignorance.

It’s a scheme, designed to exploit the uncertainties and fear their adherents currently experience. Designed to extort those seeking answers.

The aim is to cash in on fear-mongering by tying their poor congregants down to a commitment of perpetual offering and tithe giving even when these desperate people do not have the means.

These purveyors of superstitious nonsense are more dangerous than standing armies. Do not underestimate their greed for a moment.

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Christianity Etc › Re: My Thoughts And Questions About Religion by joseph1013(op): 9:35pm On Apr 04, 2020

Review of COVID-19 care statistics

1. Number of patients healed through laying of hands by pastors: zero
2. Number of dead persons raised by pastors: zero
3. Number of patients nursed to health by healthcare workers: thousands and counting.

We just thought we should remind you.
In case you're not keeping count.
As you were.

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Christianity Etc › Re: My Thoughts And Questions About Religion by joseph1013(op): 8:23am On Apr 03, 2020

The candidate drugs against Covid-19 include hydroxychloroquine & azithromycin—still waiting for Blood of Jesus to make the list.

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Christianity Etc › Re: My Thoughts And Questions About Religion by joseph1013(op): 4:15pm On Apr 02, 2020

Religion is waiting for Science to find a vaccine for Covid-19 so they can give God all the credit.

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Christianity Etc › Re: My Thoughts And Questions About Religion by joseph1013(op): 7:41pm On Apr 01, 2020

If the Coronavirus wasn't so contagious, pastors would be trying their luck in attempting to pray it out of people...
Not saying they would succeed. But they'd be trying.

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Christianity Etc › Re: My Thoughts And Questions About Religion by joseph1013(op): 2:24pm On Mar 30, 2020

A South African televangelist called Pastor Mboro has reportedly offered to travel to hell to kill the demon responsible for coronavirus.

According to KenyaUpdates, Mboro, the pastor of Incredible Happenings Ministries, requested $100,000 to take care of his transportation.

The controversial evangelist reportedly said there’s no need to waste money on research as the real cause of the contagious disease is a demon in hell which he has volunteered to kill in his “dangerous mission.”

“I am ready to save mankind, I have seen a vision of how the Corona demon looks like and I will defeat it,” Mboro said.

“There is no need for worrying and expensive research. The real problem is the demon causing this disease and I’m ready to kill it once and for all.”

https://lifestyle.thecable.ng/extra-pastor-demands-n37m-fare-to-fight-coronavirus-demon-in-hell/

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Christianity Etc › Re: My Thoughts And Questions About Religion by joseph1013(op): 2:32pm On Mar 28, 2020

Pastors are waiting for Coronavirus to end so that they will continue healing the sick and casting away demons and diseases.

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Christianity Etc › Re: My Thoughts And Questions About Religion by joseph1013(op): 8:38pm On Mar 22, 2020

For one month, the number of Coronavirus patients in South Korea was 30.

For one month there were no new infections, no widespread outbreak, no shutting down for quarantine...until one patient decided to go to church: Patient 31.

This woman went to a church service with where thousands of people attended. The result?
4,000 newly confirmed cases in just 2 weeks; 60% of those infected across the country came directly from the church she attended.

The General Overseer (Daddy G.O.) told her and other church members to defy government orders about large gatherings.

After authorities traced infections and deaths to the church, the G.O. held a press conference to apologise to the country.

Lee Man-hee, the G.O. of Shincheonji Church of Jesus was seen kneeling and asking for forgiveness from the country for literally causing the death of hundreds of it thousands.

The South Korean authorities have charged the church leaders with “murder and causing of harm”.
-
Friday, 19th March: Nigeria’s confirmed cases: 12
Sunday, 21st March: confirmed cases has climbed to 31.

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Christianity Etc › Re: My Thoughts And Questions About Religion by joseph1013(op): 2:41pm On Mar 22, 2020

These pictures of today’s church services in Nigeria is really disappointing.

You see, South Korea was one of the earliest countries to report a significant Covid-19 outbreak outside China.

In fact, were it not for the Shincheonji Church being open, South Korea’s infection numbers would’ve likely been about 60% less.

Yes, that church accounted for 60% of coronavirus infections in the country. The government had to order an aggressive testing of all of its 200,000 plus members.

In Malaysia, the number of infections have jumped by 158 cases to 1,183 after mosque worshippers dismissed the government’s plea to instead pray at home.

Now there is a race to trace and test people who went to prayer mosques since last Friday - the government did set up telephone hotlines for citizens to call and report anyone who went to mosque for prayers.
-
In both of these instances, the heads of these religious organisations defied government orders, thereby emboldening congregants to risk their lives.

It’s easy to see why people view religion - particularly in developing countries as cult-like. Where it seems people abandon reason, dismiss experts and only choose to hear it from their “G.O.” or Imaam.

In return, for whatever reason, these G.O’s and Imaams proselytise baseless claims not grounded in reality or backed by any credible evidence.
-
People wonder why churches and mosques as places of worship are being required to close, but markets and transport vehicles for example are much less so.

For starters, places of worship are non-essential. Therefore there is significant necessity to delay the economic impact on people (market and transport services), compared to religious obligations (churches and mosques).

You may not be able to avoid not going to market for food items, or travel to the market for food items. But you can certainly avoid going to places of worship at this time.
===
As always, please follow expert guidelines:

Wash your hands with soap and water often – do this for at least 20 seconds.

Always wash your hands when you get home or into work.

Use hand sanitiser gel if soap and water are not available.

Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve (not your hands) when you cough or sneeze.

Put used tissues in the bin straight away and wash your hands afterwards.

Try to avoid close contact with people who are unwell.

Don't touch your eyes, nose or mouth if your hands are not clean.

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Christianity Etc › Re: My Thoughts And Questions About Religion by joseph1013(op): 10:28am On Mar 22, 2020*

- The Spanish flu decimated 30 million People in 1918.

- The Smallpox Virus annihilated over 300 million in the 20th Century alone. In fact, your Ancestors were injected with the Virus & sent to POWs to infect Enemy Camps.

- The Black Death wiped out a third of Europe, Asia,and parts of North Africa between 1348 and 1351. Prior to this time, the Justinian plague in the 6th century CE from the same organism had killed an estimated 20 million People.

- HIV has killed an estimated 25 Million.

- Ebola, MERS, SARs, & Avian Influenza have sent hundreds of Thousands of People to Oblivion.

- Malaria has killed more people than any pathogen and still kills 400,000 people a year-most of these are African children under the age of 5

- About 20,000 People still succumb to severe Malnutrition daily.

...
But somehow, a Doomsday Charlatan, with a mandate to bewitch you, will try desperately to convince you that COVID-19 is God's Dress Rehearsal - a divine orchestration to herald divine Judgement.

And unfortunately, he will succeed.

You'd naturally give into any highsounding Foolishness, cos it is more palatable to dabble in Enigma that comes with Ignorance.

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Christianity Etc › Re: My Thoughts And Questions About Religion by joseph1013(op): 10:22pm On Mar 21, 2020

Don't be surprised if the number of Coronavirus infections in Nigeria rises - in part due to religious activities held yesterday (Friday) and tomorrow (Sunday).

If the claim is that God or Allah is everywhere, then why does anyone have to go to church or mosque, especially now that the world is dealing with a pandemic?

I know how it feels, every now and then your mind tells you “what? Of course it can’t be me. I’ll be fine, I’ll just quickly go and come back, I don’t even speak to people in church or mosque for long anyway, I mind myself...”

I know. The human mind is that way, it creates a sense of false security. Experts call it overconfidence bias and illusion of control.

Every country that is dealing with this first thought it probably won’t be them. People now laying down in the hospital struggling to breathe in Italy, South Korea, UK, Germany and the US probably thought it couldn’t be them, the things that happen in the news doesn’t get to them anyway, so why now, right?

Look, maybe you’ll be infected with covid-19, maybe you won’t. Maybe you know who’s touched your seat in church before you arrived and sat down. Maybe you know where the person that’ll sit next to you in the taxi or bus to church had been all week and who they’ve encountered. Maybe you know a bunch of things. The illusion of control.

Like I said, you may become infected, you may not be. 50-50, right? But do you know what’s probably a 100%? Not going anywhere and being responsible!

Act like you already have covid-19 and follow expert advice. Stay at home, practice social distancing, avoid groups, wash your hands, and protect not just yourself but everyone around you.

Every single number you’ve seen from covid-19 represents a human being. If you think the healthcare of the wealthy countries in the world struggling is a myth that can’t happen in Nigeria, “e go do you like film”

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