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The Nation - http://thenationonlineng.net/web2To the religious
fathershttp://thenationonlineng.net/web2/articles/28528/1/To-the-religious-fathers/Page1.htmlOlufemi
FasanyaBy Olufemi FasanyaPublished on 12/12/2009
I hold in high esteem, men who hold religious offices because of
the impact thatreligion have on the lives of people. Every nation
of the world has differentreligion; however, one thing that is
common in the religion of the world is thatpeople are government by
leaders that they believe were chosen by God (or asupreme force).
Yes its true that some people dont believe in the existence ofGod
nor in any form of religion, yet they are government by the law of
the countrythey dwell in with fairness.
I hold in high esteem, men who hold religious offices because of
the impact thatreligion have on the lives of people. Every nation
of the world has differentreligion; however, one thing that is
common in the religion of the world is thatpeople are government by
leaders that they believe were chosen by God (or a
supreme force). Yes its true that some people dont believe in
the existence ofGod nor in any form of religion, yet they are
government by the law of the countrythey dwell in with
fairness.
I have discovered even from the Christian religion that I uphold
that people aregreatly influence by the religious fathers; I have
learnt in a hard way that manyof the sect members interpret what
they read in our Holy book from the eye of whattheir religious
fathers teach rather than like the Berean Christian search toprove
that what they are taught lined up with what is in the Holy book.
So youwill find in our sect people with varying interpretation of
the Bible. One commoninterpretation that I find absurd is that a
man should not put on a womans cloth,and vice visa means that
trousers is the clothing of men. They have forgotten thateven their
Lord in his life time had on a robe and not trousers; I have come
to a
conclusion that putting on of trousers is actually a borrowed
culture (before thecolonization of the nation, our fore fathers
didnt put on trouser). So I haveheard people preach fire and brim
stone to any woman that puts it on; how then canthey reconcile the
fact that Jesus had a robe on, all through his life and womenin his
days also had robes on. It invariably implies that, the way the
clothingare sown is what different the clothing of man from that of
the woman in the finalanalysis.
One of the most powerful people in the world are the religious
leaders; theirwords are authoritative because all in the name of
this is the command from theHoly books act according, most of the
members of their sect will not think twicebefore they carry out the
action. So I have deep respect for men who hold thisoffice because
the unity of the nation depends a lot on the words they alter.
The
government may hold the hem of affair of any nation, but the
religious leader theybelieve in, hold their hearts.
On this fact, the religious fathers ought to fear God that has
put them in thisposition of honor and do what is right by teaching
people accurately what theirHoly books say rather than allow people
who have turned heretic to their faithmiss lead the people, there
by leading them to error. The Boko Haran issue is oneI respect the
Islamic religious leaders for; they all stood their ground
tocondemn the action of the group as unIslamic (however, its sad
that I didnt hearany condemn the extra judicial killing of its
leader). I also appreciated it whensome Christian religious leaders
condemned the action of Reverend Kings and
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werent silent about the issue (however, its sad that not any
showed mercy; theyhad forgotten that the death of man is a soul
lost forever); that is whatleadership should do, they ought not to
be silent when they see injustice doneeven by members of their
sect.
Why am I writing to the fathers? The reason stems from what I
read in one of thedaily newspaper (The Punch dated, 7/10/2009)
tagged, tension in Crivers overfemale corps members murder. I read
in the newspaper how a corper was murder all
in the name of religion; she wasnt just murdered, she was raped
before her lifewas forcefully taken. What was her sin; from the
write up, indecent dressing. Shewas killed not because she spoke
profane word against the Prophet Mohammed (PeaceBe Upon Him), or
because she treated the Holy Quran with disdain; but rather
forputting on clothing that is considered unacceptable. Even the
sin of stealingisnt treated with such madness; the only sin
according to law that warrants deathis murder. In the Islamic
faith, its blasphemy on the Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him)and the Holy
Quran are the only justifiable reasons.
Interestingly, the people that raped and murdered her are
youths; the leaders oftomorrow who are lawless today (woe betide
this nation if this are the youth thatwill take up the herm of
affair of the nation in future). Who are the religiousleaders of
these youths? Who taught them that rape and murder is actionable
for
indecent dressing? Where are the religious leaders that turned
these children tolawless individuals in the nation, bringing the
Islamic religion into disrepute inthe eyes of those that are not of
the sect? If the religious leaders dont take astand and ostracize
the leader of these youth, they are laying foundation ofanother
Boko Haram saga. They should be arrested and jailed along with
thosedelinquents; if the religious leaders keep quite, they will be
partakers of theblood of the innocent that was shed. Permit me to
ask the religious fathers of theIslamic faith this question; does
Islam support what this youths did?
I have one fear though on this issue; my fear is that it will be
dusted under thecarpet like many murder cases in the country.
However, one thing I am sure of isthat on the day of judgment
religious leaders will give account of theirstewardship; everyone
of them that call white black and close his/her mouth
instead of opening it for justice both for people of their sect
or not will standto face Gods (Allah) wroth.
OlufemiFasanya 08037257479 can be contacted on
[email protected]
