By: Oluwadara Akingbohungbe
19th Century German Philosopher Karl Marx believed that religion helped to preserve the existing class structure. According to Marx, religious beliefs serve to justify the existing, unequal social order and prevent social change by making a virtue out of poverty and suffering.
He opined that religion is the soul of souless conditions or the opium of the people.
The above implies that religion navigate the social order of Man.
Religion is analgesic to the condition of Man within a state.
According to the Holy book of Christians which serves as the tool of daily living for the Christians, the followers Of Jesus Christ Of Nazareth, it was stated according to Genesis 1:26
Gen.1.26 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.
In other words, the original purpose of God creating Man was to Dominate his world, but as a result of the fall of man, Man started finding a way of pleasing God and reaching out to God.
According to the Holy Books, it was believed that God has been sending his Prophet (Messenger) Moses, Jesus Christ, Muhammad (SAW) as believed by the two dominant religion (Christianity and Islam) in Nigeria and in the World to restore Man to himself (God).
The question is why is Man using religion (the believe and worship of a supernatural being by Man, rather a way of searching for the true God) as a tool of disunity when God himself projected himself as the mastermind behind the creation of Man.
Every human being on earth is the creation of God.
According to the Holy Books we are made to understand that Love is the greatest.
The Holy Book of Christians, The Holy Bible stated that God is Love. according to 1John 4:8
1 John.4.8 He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.
Muslims also believes that God is so loving that He recreated His attribute of love as an instinct in us. Hence true love is part of God’s love, and it is our duty to love one another truly, as indeed He loves us. Without Divine Love there can be no human love.
وَأَنفِقُوا فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ وَلَا تُلْقُوا بِأَيْدِيكُمْ إِلَى التَّهْلُكَةِ ۛ وَأَحْسِنُوا ۛ إِنَّ اللَّهَ يُحِبُّ الْمُحْسِنِينَ
And spend in the way of Allah and do not throw [yourselves] with your [own] hands into destruction [by refraining]. And do good; indeed, Allah loves the doers of good. [2:195]
Every religion claims to believe in God.
Verse 43 from surah Al-Furqan
﴿أَرَأَيْتَ مَنِ اتَّخَذَ إِلَٰهَهُ هَوَاهُ أَفَأَنتَ تَكُونُ عَلَيْهِ وَكِيلًا﴾
[ الفرقان: 43]
English – Sahih International
Have you seen the one who takes as his god his own desire? Then would you be responsible for him?
But the reality is that any Man’s formation that promote hatred, disunity, derogatory statement against man, Man’s inhumanity to Man does not believe and worship the true God.
And cooperate in righteousness and piety, but do not cooperate in sin and aggression.
(Surah Al-Ma’ida, Quran 5:2)
The use of religion as a means of division between state operation is a way of sidelining the establishment of God Almighty. Man was the first establishment of God in his continuance of Dominion on earth.
The truth is that for Man to be emancipated from eternal damnation, which both Christians and Muslims believe is going to the lake of Fire at the life hereafter is to be convinced in our heart that we are on the right track to Heaven.
Prov.23.23 Buy the truth, and sell it not; also wisdom, and instruction, and understanding.
Aside from what is being said by clerics, there needs to be proper conviction in the heart of every true worshippers of God that we are on the right track to eternal Peace and Joy.
Faith is fake if it is void of proofs – Bishop David Oyedepo.
As this serves as the time of reflection to God and Peace to our Nation and the world as a whole we need to think deep and support one another.
God first in our dealing and Man’s needs in our services.
Oluwadara Temidayo Akingbohungbe
Facebook Account: Akingbohungbe Oluwadara
Email Address: oluwadaratemidayo@gmail.com
