"Why do you keep disturbing us and our beliefs?"

That is what Christians and Muslims, Christians more though, always say whenever I challenge their "beliefs".

As an atheist, it might make perfect sense why religion is bad but also theists can also justify why they feel their religion is the best.

So, just have to this on record, I will go ahead to list exactly why I feel religion is bad for us as a nation and why it should be dumped in the trash can.

1) Religious people impose their beliefs on others: And they do that with threats . "Believe in my god or you will go to hell. Believe in my god so you can become successful." What exactly gives anyone the right to go around threatening people with eternal damnation and feel it is right really baffles me. Unfortunately, we will live in a country where people do exactly that. Imagine if your parents tell you, "respect me or I will burn you up", or if as a woman a guy approaches you and says, "baby, I like you and I will like to date you. If you don't I will kill you and burn you up".

This is a message of blackmail and not love. And these same people will cry "persecution" when you tell them to prove their claim

Christians happily "evangelize" to people in the hospital saying "accept Jesus Christ so you do not suffer for eternity in the afterlife" but I wonder how they would feel if I, as an atheist, was to go around telling Christians about to die in hospital beds that, "remember everything your pastor told you? It is all bullshit and they have been exploiting you all your life"

2) Religion divides us: It is not enough that, as Africans, we are divided into thousands of tribal groups and villages but we now have to add the religious divide to it. Christians have over 30,000 denominations and Muslims are also divided into Sunnis and Shiites. The recent killings of Muslims going on in the North is as a result of this division and is proof of what I mean.

As a nation, we will never be able to unite and stand as a voice or for any cause based on this reason. Whenever there is a political campaign, our politicians happily bring up religion to fool the people. The Christian/Muslim or Muslim/Christian proposal tag team is way more important to Nigerians than the credibility, integrity, the vision and potential of the candidates and merit is word that is alien to us.

Even when you want to get a job, your religious beliefs, in some cases, determines if you will get it or not. Are you Mulsim or Christian? What church do you attend? What parish do you attend? These questions are way more important than, "can you execute the job efficiently?" in some cases.

3) It appeals to our meanness and our selfishness: So, you happen to be in a bus with 24 passengers and you get in an accident and everyone else dies but you survive. After treatment, you head to church to give a "testimony" on how your god protected you and everyone sings "praise the lord". No one cares about the people that have died. Some people will even brag that "my god is a living god". So, even despite the fact that god allegedly created all of us, we are happy that it seems to favor some of us over other.

Lots of theists will happily tell you that as a non-believer you will go to hell and burn in eternity. The concept of hell is quite broad as not only will "unbelievers" go to hell but other people who do not believe in your particular version of god will also go to hell. In fact, over 80% of Christians and Muslims will go to hell because the guidelines to even qualify for heaven are not only ridiculous but also quite impossible to attain. Read your holy book properly to understand this.

The idea of an all-loving entity comfortable with burning humans for eternity is not bad enough, it is savage, cruel and condescending that, as humans, we love the idea and are actually looking forward to the day we will say "told you so!" and laugh while we watch billions of people burn in hell as we sing boring hymns for eternity.

4) Their claims are unverifiable and contradictory: Christians say that Jesus is the way while Muslims say Allah is the way. Aside from the fact that they cannot prove that either of these gods even exists, isn't it ridiculous that we have a Muslim president and a Christian vice president? Is no one concerned that one of them will burn in hell forever?

I am derailing.

None of the characters in the bible existed outside of the bible. They are all fairytales. Jesus, Solomon, David, heaven, hell etc never existed and there are no tangible evidence for their existences.

Islam is not better. So, god appeared to Mohammed the illiterate war lord and serial pedophile and decided to place all of humanity's faith on the message delivered in Arabic. And the angel Gabriel also speaks Arabic is utter bs. None of these things are verifiable.

We are all required to "believe". Seriously, if someone told you to believe that there is a house somewhere and asks you to pay for it without seeing it and just believe you now have a house, won't you punch the person in the face for taking you for a mugu? But for our religious folks, the promise of an afterlife that has never been proven to exist is a cool ideology to believe in.

As regards contradictions, I will leave you to read your holy book for once to figure that out for yourself.

5) It makes us unpatriotic: Christians happily declare themselves to be children of Israel and Muslims will claim that Mecca is the holy land. Apparently, none of these people feel that Nigeria is even worth it and still complain when the immigration in other countries disrespect us when they see our passports. How will people respect us when we do not respect ourselves?

How can we put in the effort to make Nigeria a better place when we are taught that "all is vanity" and that we will "inherit the kingdom of god or allah" after we die ?

Theists will happily tell you that Africa is cursed forgetting that the Europe and America we hold in high esteem also went through economic recession, experienced times of barbarism and extreme ignorance. The kind that we face now! No where in the history of developed nations did we read that there was a mass exodus of their citizens to go "abroad" in search of "greener pastures" (some people even give testimonies after getting visas) as we seem to have a high tendency of doing. Nigerians always come out the best in whatever field we find ourselves in abroad. We lead in academics, business, professional niches and even crime but we cannot seem to replicate the same thing here on our own soil.

Our leaders, mostly Christians or Muslims, will rather steal and loot our resources and go abroad to buy houses and stuff the funds in foreign accounts. Our "celebrities" feel they have achieved the pinnacle of success when they celebrate weddings, birthdays or even go shopping abroad. You will see them smiling like they have gotten to heaven when they get to Dubai. But these same people will come back home and throw away empty nylons out of their car windows

6) It kills our will to become better as a nation: "Blessed are the meek for they shall inherit the kingdom of god". The same kingdom that has not been proven to exist. "All is vanity upon vanity". "Blessed is the man who has not seen(verified) but believes".

These lines are hammered in churches and mosques around the nation and the butterfly effect is that we have become a country whose populace depend on wishful thinking, "god will do it" "only god can save us" "god will punish our leaders", and are psychologically unmotivated to be the change we seek. We are still incapable of providing ourselves with basic infrastructure for ourselves. Our Muslim president travels to Germany(an atheist country) to treat ear infections while leaving our country's health care system in shambles.

We have one of the highest birth mortality rates in the world and are also one of the worst countries when it comes to waste management among other things.

And we still have a church on every street and shout "god dey" at every opportunity.

7) It is a form of exploitation: Theists are encouraged to not only attend their house of worships regularly but these people who earn less than N18,000 minimum wage are asked to pay 10% of this and pay offerings and make donations for the "work of the Lord" or "for Allah's intervention" and in most cases, these people face the same problems, fears and disappointments like every other human who does not believe in their version of god. A lot of Christians cannot eat three square meals but will donate to their pastor with the little they have.

Imagine you donate N100 every Sunday and there are N1,000 members in your church. That is N100,000 every Sunday. Now, multiply that by all the branches of your church nationwide and you can easily understand why your pastor/imam wears so much shiny suits or drives the best cars or lives in a big mansion or flies private jets and maybe, just maybe, understand why you still live in that face me I face you apartment in the ghetto where you have to queue to take your bath before going for service or to pray at the mosque. It is a pure scam. How can an invincible, lol, god have need for millions of naira. A god that created the universe cannot build a house to ease it's ego itself? Does this even make sense?

Many Christians donate millions that have been used to build schools they will never be able to afford to send their kids to. Seriously?

From the few points I have listed, I know I didn't do much justice to them, it is safe to come to the conclusion that religion is of no particular benefit to us as a nation.

Note: This does not in any way mean that religion is totally bad. Religion has helped many people become upright and become better people in the society. Many people have been able to achieve their dreams through religion and many great achievements in the world were made by very religious people. Personally, I have many role models who are religious and I look up to them for inspiration, knowledge and wisdom.

However, the points I have raised cannot be ignored completely.

Feel free to challenge or add to the points raised. Please do so with maturity and be polite or else all the 4,200 gods will punish you and you generation

Source: Na me write am. You dey find your own?

nice one

Nice Thread!

I recommend the title changed to "Abrahamic religion" though because there are many religions being practiced in Nigeria outside Allah/Yahweh

but that's not taking anything away from this beautifully crafted OP

thumbs up bro

Shollyps:
nice one

Long time shollyps

Today is another Sunday and I just can't ignore the noise arround me in the name of service..Upon all our religions, we are still a very corrupt nation. The funny part is that if we decide to be irreligious, Nigerians would complain and cry that u would go to hell. If u decide not to be corrupt, they would tag u naive and tell u how much u would suffer in future.Someone pls help the stupidity of my people is alarming.

If u are corrupt but irreligious, u would be labeled devil's agent.If u are religious but not corrupt, u are naive and "JJC"If u are both corrupt and religious u would be given front row in the church.If u are neither corrupt nor religious u would not be allowed into the church and would still be labeled devil's agent..How then can we grow sane kids?

Points 5 and 6 do not look to be very sound points though.

kilo4sure:
Points 5 and 6 do not look to be very sound points though.

Challenge them please

hopefulLandlord:
Nice Thread!

I recommend the title changed to "Abrahamic religion" though because there are many religions being practiced in Nigeria outside Allah/Yahweh

but that's not taking anything away from this beautifully crafted OP

thumbs up bro

Done

kilo4sure:
Points 5 and 6 do not look to be very sound points though.

I actually agree with the 6

if you've ever discussed corruption in high places in the midst of the average Nigerian, you would relate to it

after talking about the billions being embezzled by our politicians, it almost always end with "God would punish them, most here on earth and all in hell"; they'll use Abacha's death, Adedibu's death etc as example of god losing Patience with them

they'll then give examples of the rich man and Lazarus to buttress the hell example, some would even talk about certain people who died, went to hell, saw our popular politicians there and god gave them the chance to come back and tell the tale

now try to imagine if there's no idea of eternal bliss after this one we all are living, Nigerians would have been much better for it, they won't look at corruption in a neutral manner but as a horrible thing that needs to be nipped in the bud fast so that this bird at hand (earthly life) you have won't be made to be so unbearable

"Religion is what keeps the poor from murdering the corrupt" has never been truer than Nigeria

hahn:

Done

and today is sunday...

for christ sake, make sense attimes nahhh

NZAGHA:


and today is sunday...

for christ sake, make sense attimes nahhh

what exactly are you tryna say here?

hopefulLandlord:

what exactly are you tryna say here?

that he should try to make sense in his reasoning...

Gerrit now

hopefulLandlord:


I actually agree with the 6

if you've ever discussed corruption in high places in the midst of the average Nigerian, you would relate to it

after talking about the billions being embezzled by our politicians, it almost always end with "God would punish them, most here on earth and all in hell"; they'll use Abacha's death, Adedibu's death etc as example of god losing Patience with them

they'll then give examples of the rich man and Lazarus to buttress the hell example, some would even talk about certain people who died, went to hell, saw our popular politicians there and god gave them the chance to come back and tell the tale

now try to imagine if there's no idea of eternal bliss after this one we all are living, Nigerians would have been much better for it, they won't look at corruption in a neutral manner but as a horrible thing that needs to be nipped in the bud fast so that this bird at hand (earthly life) you have won't be made to be so unbearable

"Religion is what keeps the poor from murdering the corrupt" has never been truer than Nigeria

So what then do you propose? How do we deal with the corrupt politicians? Do we murder them? That again is also a form of anarchy. Wisdom is the principal thing here, and if we believe in a just judge above all we must know when and how to act to help our nation. There are also times where in order not to make a sour situation worse we can do nothing but to leave it to a superior judge above all. Also the bible verses he quoted do not correlate with his points, especially the ones in points 5 and 6.
The article is well written though, and there are elements of truth in it but the author blows things out of proportion sometimes.

hahn:


Done

brother hahn hope you paid your tithe from that 10k, or you dont want pastors to eat anymore

Edenoscar:


brother hahn hope you paid your tithe from that 10k, or you dont want pastors to eat anymore

Actually, I added some cash and bought gas for my wife

Me sef must chop na. kikiki

ValentineMary:

Long time shollyps

oga val..na longest time o..lol...posting on this religion section is now difficult for me...to even read threads shef na wahala..you people still doing a great job though. especially Hahn

kilo4sure:

So what then do you propose? How do we deal with the corrupt politicians? Do we murder them? That again is also a form of anarchy. Wisdom is the principal thing here, and if we believe in a just judge above all we must know when and how to act to help our nation. There are also times where in order not to make a sour situation worse we can do nothing but to leave it to a superior judge above all. Also the bible verses he quoted do not correlate with his points, especially the ones in points 5 and 6.
The article is well written though, and there are elements of truth in it but the author blows things out of proportion sometimes.

I'm not saying we should straight up start murdering them but keep them on their toes

this "vanity upon vanities" isn't helping at all

countries that are developing and less corrupt didn't get there by telling such senseless rhetoric to themselves,

I seriously see no reason to make this world very very good if there's a promised eternal bliss already waiting for me

Vanity upon vanities + Heaven when taken seriously and literally = pathetic disaster

people in those countries held their leaders accountable for almost every penny spent

how do we help? by separating religion from politics and government totally!!

our presidential aspirants would gladly go to church and get the biggest GO to pray for them hereby currying favours amongst its members, its actually a sly tactic that has next to nothing to do with the prayers; afterall, they could've done it behind closed doors

instead of the members seeing "pastor is praying for a candidate", the message passed across is "G.O endorses this candidate"

look at the politics played by the redeem church last season and deeper life or was it winners that prayed for Jonathan




separating religion from government is a right step first and orientation by the churches and mosques themselves to encourage members keep better track of what's going on in our system and hold people accountable for their actions, see corruption trials from beginning till the end because the church has so much power over Nigeria and they can bring about this change BUT corruption has seeped into the churches and mosques already, so they also shut up and preach heaven and hell in services, take 10℅ or more of corruption loots and act like nothing happened!

also, religious affiliation of candidates shouldn't sway people in voting but their track records and their promises;

"Oh! Buhari would islamize Nigeria"

" that guy is a Catholic, I'll rather vote for the MFM candidate, they pray fervently "

there's a law banning noise but churches and mosques seem exempted, I wonder who would dare report church noise to church goer and expect a favourable and fast action

enough of my rant before I start losing my brain


NB: I'm not blaming it all on religion though (that might be unfair), just that religion is very integral in all these things and the facts are bare for all to see

hahn:


Actually, I added some cash and bought gas for my wife

Me sef must chop na. kikiki

lol..instead of you to sow a seed at any local church near you or you dont want to have your own mansion in heaven

Edenoscar:

lol..instead of you to sow a seed at any local church near you or you dont want to have your own mansion in heaven

I am building my own mansion here

Me sef na fertile ground

hahn:


I am building my own mansion here

Me sef na fertile ground

hehehe dont say i didnt warn you oo

hopefulLandlord:


I'm not saying we should straight up start murdering them but keep them on their toes

this "vanity upon vanities" isn't helping at all

countries that are developing and less corrupt didn't get there by telling such senseless rhetoric to themselves,

I seriously see no reason to make this world very very good if there's a promised eternal bliss already waiting for me

Vanity upon vanities + Heaven when taken seriously and literally = pathetic disaster

people in those countries held their leaders accountable for almost every penny spent

how do we help? by separating religion from politics and government totally!!

our presidential aspirants would gladly go to church and get the biggest GO to pray for them hereby currying favours amongst its members, its actually a sly tactic that has next to nothing to do with the prayers; afterall, they could've done it behind closed doors

instead of the members seeing "pastor is praying for a candidate", the message passed across is "G.O endorses this candidate"

look at the politics played by the redeem church last season and deeper life or was it winners that prayed for Jonathan




separating religion from government is a right step first and orientation by the churches and mosques themselves to encourage members keep better track of what's going on in our system and hold people accountable for their actions, see corruption trials from beginning till the end because the church has so much power over Nigeria and they can bring about this change BUT corruption has seeped into the churches and mosques already, so they also shut up and preach heaven and hell in services, take 10℅ or more of corruption loots and act like nothing happened!

also, religious affiliation of candidates shouldn't sway people in voting but their track records and their promises;

"Oh! Buhari would islamize Nigeria"

" that guy is a Catholic, I'll rather vote for the MFM candidate, they pray fervently "

there's a law banning noise but churches and mosques seem exempted, I wonder who would dare report church noise to church goer and expect a favourable and fast action

enough of my rant before I start losing my brain


NB: I'm not blaming it all on religion though (that might be unfair), just that religion is very integral in all these things and the facts are bare for all to see

I get your point, but l wonder why you choose to interpret vanity upon vanity this way. Indeed life is full of vanities, and most of the things we struggle for and even kill to selfishly get are vanities. We are called to be true ambassadors here on earth, we are in the world but not of the world. Our duty is to make the world a better place and not to escape the world(thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven). In the end, the bible has it that the world was transformed to a new Jerusalem and the righteous inherited it. That some decide to abuse these verses just like they abuse everything does not render the verses invalid or evil.

I agree with all the points sited. Why do I agree? Simple, we've seen the disastrous things christians and moslems do in this country.

Lemme point you to a few:

1. The little girl who was kidnapped and married off even though she's just 14.

2. The killing and maiming of moslems by their fellow moslems.

3. The hijab brouhaha that happened in Osun state, where a group drug addicts believe their religion is superior to the law of the state. Etc.

It's no news that nothing divides a people more than religion. The sooner we throw it out and alienate it from everything that has to do with state, the better it will be for us all.

kilo4sure:

I get your point, but l wonder why you choose to interpret vanity upon vanity this way. Indeed life is full of vanities, and most of the things we struggle for and even kill to selfishly get is vanity upon vanity. We are called to be true ambassadors here on earth, we are in the world but not of the world. Our duty is to make the world a better place and not to escape the world(thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven). In the end, the bible has it that the world was transformed to a new Jerusalem and the righteous inherited it. That some decide to abuse these verses just like they abuse everything does not render the verses invalid or evil.

hmmm

I agree to a large extent with the above

but we have to see that there's a verse being "misinterpreted" according to you but "well interpreted" according to someone else, this is further buttressed by so many denominations of Christianity, each claiming their own interpretation is right

who therefore is actually right?

who is interpreting "vanity upon vanities" the right way?

promise of heaven simply makes many Nigerians lazy about the here and now, that's simply a fact

seriously speaking, if I'm sure that I'll hit £1B lottery in 20 year's time, how do you think I'll put efforts in the here and now? I'll probably just do enough to survive till then, not try to better my life in the now financially since there would be no such thing as financial handicap in my life in 2 decades time,

would you see me saving? building houses? etc

why would I do that when there's a £1B waiting for me in 20 years time?


that is how the concept of afterlife affects the now of the average Nigerian Abrahamic god adherents; just talk to them for a few minutes and they'll quickly spill it to you indirectly

Shollyps:
oga val..na longest time o..lol...posting on this religion section is now difficult for me...to even read threads shef na wahala..you people still doing a great job though. especially Hahn

I swear Hahn get strength. Me sef I don tire these new theist just dey tire person.

hopefulLandlord:


hmmm

I agree to a large extent with the above

but we have to see that there's a verse being "misinterpreted" according to you but "well interpreted" according to someone else, this is further buttressed by so many denominations of Christianity, each claiming their own interpretation is right

who therefore is actually right?

who is interpreting "vanity upon vanities" the right way?

promise of heaven simply makes many Nigerians lazy about the here and now, that's simply a fact

seriously speaking, if I'm sure that I'll hit £1B lottery in 20 year's time, how do you think I'll put efforts in the here and now? I'll probably just do enough to survive till then, not try to better my life in the now financially since there would be no such thing as financial handicap in my life in 2 decades time,

would you see me saving? building houses? etc

why would I do that when there's a £1B waiting for me in 20 years time?


that is how the concept of afterlife affects the now of the average Nigerian Abrahamic god adherents; just talk to them for a few minutes and they'll quickly spill it to you indirectly

Good, the examples you gave are about the material things you can achieve in this world, such as building houses and winning lotteries. Jesus says all of these things are very good for yourself and Nigeria, but then he suggests a better way of living... Seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness... Lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, for where your treasure is there your heart would be.
All of these verses have been abused but they encourage us to live for the betterment of mankind. If we set our gaze beyond this world and beyond ourselves we would in turn beautify this world and never be limited, we would find ourselves unselfishly living for the betterment of all and enriching ourselves as well.

ValentineMary:
I swear Hahn get strength. Me sef I don tire these new theist just dey tire person.

Lol which one be new theist again, l never hear that one before o.

.

This Kind Golden thread can Never make Fp But if na Snake and the other Nonsense

Thumbs up hahn Nice Thread You get Here!
As For Me i don't Have a problem with people practicing Their Religion, But what i need is My Freedom from Religion! I was sleeping the other day B4 u Know Speakers all for corners the location was far but it still affects me i couldn't sleep throughout that Night. It seams that Yahweh Ear Don deff oh that his Followers will have to use Speaker b4 They Can communicate with Him. i just need my Freedom From religion shikena

kilo4sure:

Good, the examples you gave are about the material things you can achieve in this world, such as building houses and winning lotteries. Jesus says all of these things are very good for yourself and Nigeria, but then he suggests a better way of living... Seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness... Lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, for where your treasure is there your heart would be.
All of these verses have been abused but they encourage us to live for the betterment of the kingdom, if we set our gaze beyond this world and beyond ourselves we would in turn better this world and never be limited, we would find ourselves unselfishly living for the betterment of all and enriching ourselves as well.

the example can be changed to many other things and would still stay the same

health and well-being for instance, I would just abandon my present health if I'm sure to be at optimal health in 20 year's time no matter what


to the heavenly treasures, its obvious its not helping us as a nation

most people are concentrated so much on that heavenly treasures that they've abandoned earthly ones to wishful thinking


why would I make this world a better place with so much effort if all it takes for me to get the heavenly one is simply to believe a Jew that died in a small Israeli village died for my sins and loves me OR the Islamic version?

its obvious we want the path of least resistance, we want excess results with little efforts

making the world a better place is much more difficult, its impossible for everyone on earth to have their mansions anyways, so we simply cling on to the infinite mansions in heaven


there's a saying in Yoruba which I heard in a movie

"when a child sees honey, he simply gets rid of the bean cake" (I don't know if I translated it properly, Yoruba people can help)


it simply translates to the fact that he got rid of something that is good (Beancake) for something much more sweeter (Honey)

that actually captures the average Abrahamic religion adherents

This article is biased, at best, and stupid at worst.

How can you claim religion divides Nigeria? Nigeria has ever been divided. In fact, Nigeria came to be when three regions were amalgamated. Religion was never in the picture then.

Ask an atheist why he wants you to stop believing in GOD, and he will give you no satisfactory answer. The atheist's evangelism is one of hopelessness.

I still don't understand why Nairaland atheists are obsessed with GOD. They wake up by 2 am just to open a topic on GOD. Seriously? You're losing sleep over what does not exist?

The point that capped the stupidity of this post is the assertion that no Bible character ever existed. Even extrabiblical sources corroborate the existence of some Biblical characters!

Tacitus, the Roman historian has a piece on Jesus. It would really do Nairaland atheists much good if they spent more time reading.

ValentineMary:
I swear Hahn get strength. Me sef I don tire these new theist just dey tire person.

I no fit cope again with unending argument everyday.. I don become a gentle atheist....minding my own business... na radical atheist like you,Hahn,Johny god go punish pass. your own hell fire will be hotter...