Religion is the most popular business in Africa today. Because it is "written" the devil or Lucifer is the root of all evil, we blame the devil for almost all our problems. We blame someone or something we cannot even see with our eyes as the cause of all our problems. Is that wisdom? I don't think the devil is the root of all illiteracy and stupidity and I think sometimes we just over-blame the devil for no good reasons at all. Instead of blaming ourselves for our stupidity and ignorance, we blame the poor guy just because it is "written".
Some may call me the assistant "Lucifer" for making this post but I still believe sometimes we just have to say it the way it is. Religion is doing more harm than good in Africa. Religion continues to tear Africa into pieces and I don't think Africa can prosper under the dark shadows of religion.
The traditional African religion is part of our culture and traditions and there is very little we can do about it. Some people especially outsiders sometimes think there is nothing good in the African traditional religion or voodoo but the truth is that, the African traditional religion or voodoo has benefited my people more than Christianity, Islam, Judaism, etc. combined. The African traditional religion or voodoo has helped us a lot especially in shaping our moral standards and giving us a sense of identity. Before the arrival of Christianity, Islam and the other foreign religions, people were afraid to take other people's wives. People were afraid to cheat on other people. People were afraid to unjustly attack and trample upon the rights of innocent people. Children were afraid to disobey elders, etc. Why? Well, it is because the ancestral spirits we worshipped were very just spirits who rewarded the good and punished the evil.
Some may say we were illiterates for believing in ancestral spirits yet most of these so-called literates believe in saints forgetting that saints are also ancestral spirits. There was a sense of fear but discipline within our communities before the arrival of Christianity, Islam and the others. We cannot throw away the African traditional religion or voodoo because it is part of what makes us Africans and it has been with us since the beginning of time. There are some barbaric traditions that we can and must do away with. Barbaric traditions such as female genital mutilation, etc. are some of the bad ones we can and must do away with. To sum it up, the African traditional religion has done more good than harm to Africa.
The African traditional religion has done more good than evil to Africa but I cannot say the same about Christianity. I cannot say the same about Islam and I cannot say the same about the other foreign religions in Africa today. Christianity and Islam are the cause of almost all the wars and tribal conflicts in Africa today. Christians believe God is a Christian while Muslims believe God is a Muslim forgetting that God has no religion. Christians don't want Muslims to rule them and Muslims are ready to kill for Allah. That explains the tensions and conflicts we see today in Africa especially in countries like Nigeria and Ivory Coast where the Christian-Muslim populations are close to 50-50.
Every poor man wants to start a church in Africa today. Why? Well, it is because, starting a church is the easiest and fastest money-making method in Africa today. There are so many pastors, bishops and even popes roaming about in Africa today. The sad thing however is that, almost all these so-called men of God are full of nothing but evil. They come in suits sometimes in white gowns dressed like saints but agents of the devil ready to destroy Africa just to make money. These so-called men of God deceive people especially the illiterate poor in the villages and small towns and even the so-called graduates in the cities all in the name of God. Most carry Bibles which they cannot even read yet they refer to themselves as men of God and instead of preaching the good news to the people to help better their living conditions, preach hatred and fill the hearts of people with fear and evil intentions all for the sake of money.
Go to Akwa Ibom State in Nigeria right now and see things for yourself. Children as young as 6 months old are being stoned to death, some roasted on fire, some buried alive all in the name of Christianity. Instead of saving souls for Christ, these so-called men of God just kill souls for Christ in Africa today. Some so-called pastors and "anointed" men of God point these innocent children out as witches and wizards to be stoned to death. This may sound very crazy but it is very true. There are so many videos on youtube about African child witches and how these stupid men of God point them out to be stoned to death for being witches and wizards all in the name of Christianity. They come as anointed men of God but end up raping innocent children. They come as anointed men of God but end up killing innocent people for money rituals.
I may be sounding like a devil but the truth is that, I do believe in God. I do believe in God not Christianity. I do believe in God not Islam and I do believe in God not Judaism or any other religion. Why? Well, it is because God has no religion and that is what people should know. Christianity, Islam, Judaism, etc. are all full of nothing but evil and it doesn't make sense at all to trust any of these religions more than God himself. The sad thing however is that, most Africans today have eyes but they cannot see. Most Africans today have ears but they cannot hear. Most Africans today believe in these foreign religions and so-called men of God more than God Himself which is very sad. It is time we wake up and start thinking.
It is due to globalization and urbanization that we get to see every tom dick and Harry trying to start a ministry that will "elevate you to heaven with immediate effect " but it's just because they need to cope up with urbanization and see that as an escape root. Let's not blame religion, it's urbanization that's the root cause. Culture has never been static, and certainly no static culture has survived history. There's literally NOTHING TO PUT BLAME ON as change the unavoidable
This is why we must study accurate knowledge and gain valuable expertise, based on fact—find the cure to an incurable disease, eliminate human suffering, invent innovative utilization of renewable energy supplies, etc. We should spend most of our time playing our own part in valuable economic exchange, not in religious dogma. If all we learnt our whole life was religion, the human race would be eternally backward.
Religion is man-made. But just because you don't like religion, don't turn away from seeking the TRUTH about God. Your eternal life after death rests on Jesus. The Muslims' eternal destiny is dependent on Jesus - someone they don't believe is God but just a prophet. The atheists' eternal destiny is dependent on him choosing or rejecting Jesus. Everything in this life is about Jesus - all things were made for him and through him. Just because someone doesn't believe the sky is blue, doesn't mean the sky isn't blue.
Unfortunately, ancestral worship was a man-made tradition that does not please God. God is all mighty, and no one else should be worshipped besides him. The ancestors cannot do anything for you since they are dead. They cannot appreciate your respect paying or your sacrifices - they are either in Heaven or Hell based on their acceptance or rejection of Jesus. Jesus was the last sacrifice for all sins - there is no need to sacrifice anymore since he paid it all for you and for me. The choice is yours, whether to accept him and him alone, or to choose the alternate, which surely ends in hell. It's just the truth, and a warning made in love. xx
All the best