I Will Stop Going To Church!

Nigeria began in 1804 on the wrong foot!...Is it not better for Africa to seek development rather than democracy? why should we care about the democratization of Africa? Does it really matter? Particularly at this time when the development crisis has left many of us impoverished. undernourished and starving, our infrastructure decaying, our social consensus. Fractured irredeemably, unleashing stress, conflict and violence everywhere? The answer is that this crisis is precisely a crisis of politics; especially a crisis of anti-democratic practices. We hear repeatedly that development has failed in Africa. The point however is that it just never started in the first place because of inclement political conditions. More than anything else, it is politics (and religion) that is under-developing African." ...Read the full article.

[Anioma777]

The problem with most Nigerians is that THEY ARE LOOKING FOR WHAT IS NOT LOOKING FOR THEM.

Going to church or not going to church is a personal thing.The most important thing is that your personal relationship with God and above all your FAITH remains strong. Religion is not the problem in Nigeria or anywhere in the world, its MAN THAT HIJACKS,MANIPULATES RELIGION TO FURTHER HIS OWN EVIL AGENDA. THUS BRINGING RELIGION INTO DISREPUTE AMONGST NON-BELIEVERS.

After our wicked leaders and endemic corruption, churches/Pastors ( business centres ) are the next big killers of the Nigerian population. Spiritually killing. But a lot people claim to go for bible classes or night vigils or whatever idiotic names they call it. Yet they do not understand that no matter how long you read certain parts of the bible, you will never understand it until you experience a similar encounter. Many are too easily swayed by their pastors, friends or family as to what direction they should take spiritually. One often wonders wether most Nigerians are not subconsciously "worshipping" their pastors rather than God.

Fact of the matter is that the vast majority of Nigerians have such unstable and fragile FAITH, that I often wonder which is more secure their fragile faith or the substandard buildings due to collapse in the not too distant future.

Church destruction of Nigerian spirituality makes me really angry, but then I remember Jesus foretold many of these things will happen so only fools will let themselves be party to this nonsense. Temptation is a good sales spirit but you the buyer have the control to buy or not to buy the commodity being packaged falsely using God!!!!

[draftman]

You're very correct. Religion has been our downfall, the pastors amd Imam makes us poorer, the pastors especially makes a fool out of the followers by stealing, lieing, adultery, and thiefry. But this will go on as long as ppl fall for fraud. christianity has always been a fraud fron its inception into africa, african still believe in the white jesus with blue eyes, we still believe this man is coming to save us, we believe in the book that was written by the british as the word of god. Our mind has been polluted with all these gabbage, hence we will fight to preserve our masters, rapist, and opressions religion. If religion saves, we should a wonderful place with all these churches in nigeria. Religion has brought nothing but war and pooverty among our ppl. We got what we deserve in these scam artist pastors.

[overdryv]

One point people overlook is that if it is not for the slave master or colonialst no African could be a Christian or a moslem. So our belonging to these religions is like wearing proudly the badge of slavery. African could have had backward religions and culture but embracing foreign religions that are meant only for the educated elite is what is presently ravaging Africa. I have always told people that the bible could be a great book but certainly not written for blacks. After more than two thousand years the bible was written, the elite cannot agree on how it should be interpreted. So where is the place of the illiterate large black population in it?

@Anioma

If you agree that Jesus predicted those things when he supposedly lived, does it mean he is responsible for their fulfillment? This is the problem I have with prophecy. What are the forces behind prophecies? If we must believe in them, it automatically translates into man not having free will. If I predict that in 2010 that two brothers from Auchi would overthrow Yaradua and it happens, definitely it means there is an unseen hand at work. This line of reasoning fits perfectly what is happening on the Nigeria religious landscape. Its not quite out of place to say that most or all the pastors are under the influence of some demons. Just being curios here.

[Anioma777]

@Overdryv

@Anioma

If you agree that Jesus predicted those things when he supposedly lived, does it mean he is responsible for their fulfillment? This is the problem I have with prophecy. What are the forces behind prophecies? If we must believe in them, it automatically translates into man not having free will. If I predict that in 2010 that two brothers from Auchi would overthrow Yaradua and it happens, definitely it means there is an unseen hand at work. This line of reasoning fits perfectly what is happening on the Nigeria religious landscape. Its not quite out of place to say that most or all the pastors are under the influence of some demons. Just being curios here.

Overdryv you ask and make valid points above. The scriptures and faith is open to individual interpretation that sometimes may not be understood straight away. The prophets made predictions based on what was revelaed to them. My understanding and it is not something that was instilled or preached to me, is that God created us all with a FREE MIND. No matter what mental state humans are in, subconsciously we know what is good and what is bad. I believe God has mapped out our lives. Ok one may now argue correctly, so what is the point of mapping all humans life and yet I am saying God has given us a free mind. This human map is like having a road network from A-Z. Where A is your birth and Z is death and the letters in between are the trials and tribulations throughout your life and are like inter-state highways,roads and streets all connected. So for example if lets say an armed robber at 20 years and say is on route F decides to carry on with this life,he still can end up a good person by taking route G. I think God is in charge of A and Z and the letters in-between he is more an observer waiting for us to come back on course to a better life. This obviously is simplistic,but I prefer to look at life this way than complicating it.

@Deepthought

After reading your post I remembered an article I read on a flight a few years ago. I am not a person to always believe in surveys as sometimes the cynic in me thinks it can be manipulated to suit one's agenda. The article stated that on average most circular countries had better tolerance and kindness amongst it populace than so called over religious nations. Two countries sprung to my mind NIGERIA and USA!!!!

[lateesha]

The Church in Nigeria is driven by demonology.
Everything is demon,demon,demon
You are stressed out and have a headache due to sleeplessness,it's a demon.
You eat beans ,get bloated and have small diarrhea,demon
A bird perches at your front door or you see a stray black cat,it's a demon from Okija
God help you if you hear a cat meowing at night,it's a legion of uncountable demons sent from your village.
ah ah
you are sitting at home and hear a normal settling noise in the house,a demon is at work,you start binding and casting.
I know evil powers are real but the publicity they get amongst Nigerian Christians at the expense of praise and adoration to the almighty is annoying.

[UGOJIALOR]

Part of the reason why Africa is in a deep mess is because we fail most times to:

1. Tell ourselves the truth

2.Our inability to challenge established practices that glaringly are a setback rather than a straightforward, many that are either Christians or Muslims are so because their father or their mother was.religion is just plain politics, an intangible... Read more opium to hold and control the gullible many, it only takes a brave mind to challenge the status-quo,but really how many brave mind do we have in Africa? How many are the gullible? Until the equation changes in favour of the brave.the hope of Africa will still remain an ELDORADO.

More disappointing is the so called educated Africans who in some instances have bagged very high degrees(Masters, PHD etc). Yet no effect of the knowledge on African development.

THANK GOD I HAVE KNOWN THE TRUTH AND THE TRUTH HAS SET ME FREE AS FAR BACK AS AGE 12.

Source: written by Mr Adeyinka Ayorinde

[otito]

The Lord said to His disciples when asked about the end of the ages:

And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. Matthew 24:11-13

Well on track brethren, get rid of organised religion but seek to share the Word MAY BE THROUGH IMFORMAL BIBLE STUDIES.. THE MOST IMPORTANT PRIORITY IS THAT YOU DO NOT LET YOUR LOVE WAX COLD.

Also take into consideration, Paul’s advice to Timothy;

Neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which minister questions, rather than godly edifying which is in faith: so do. Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned: From which some having swerved have turned aside unto vain jangling; Desiring to be teachers of the law; understanding neither what they say, nor whereof they affirm. But we know that the law is good, if a man use it lawfully;

The amplified Bible version says:

As I urged you when I was on my way to Macedonia, stay on where you are at Ephesus in order that you may warn and admonish and charge certain individuals not to teach any different doctrine, Nor to give importance to or occupy themselves with legends (fables, myths) and endless genealogies, which foster and promote useless speculations and questionings rather than acceptance in faith of God's administration and the divine training that is in faith ([a]in that leaning of the entire human personality on God in absolute trust and confidence)-- Whereas the object and purpose of our instruction and charge is love, which springs from a pure heart and a good (clear) conscience and sincere (unfeigned) faith. But certain individuals have missed the mark on this very matter [and] have wandered away into vain arguments and discussions and purposeless talk. They are ambitious to be doctors of the Law (teachers of the Mosaic ritual), but they have no understanding either of the words and terms they use or of the subjects about which they make [such] dogmatic assertions.

Again,

SHUN ORGANISED RELIGION BUT DO NOT LET YOUR LOVE WAX COLD

OTITO

[lateesha]

Originally Posted by otito

The Lord said to His disciples when asked about the end of the ages:

And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. Matthew 24:11-13

Well on track brethren, get rid of organised religion but seek to share the Word MAY BE THROUGH IMFORMAL BIBLE STUDIES.. THE MOST IMPORTANT PRIORITY IS THAT YOU DO NOT LET YOUR LOVE WAX COLD.

Also take into consideration, Paul’s advice to Timothy;

Neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which minister questions, rather than godly edifying which is in faith: so do. Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned: From which some having swerved have turned aside unto vain jangling; Desiring to be teachers of the law; understanding neither what they say, nor whereof they affirm. But we know that the law is good, if a man use it lawfully;

The amplified Bible version says:

As I urged you when I was on my way to Macedonia, stay on where you are at Ephesus in order that you may warn and admonish and charge certain individuals not to teach any different doctrine, Nor to give importance to or occupy themselves with legends (fables, myths) and endless genealogies, which foster and promote useless speculations and questionings rather than acceptance in faith of God's administration and the divine training that is in faith ([a]in that leaning of the entire human personality on God in absolute trust and confidence)-- Whereas the object and purpose of our instruction and charge is love, which springs from a pure heart and a good (clear) conscience and sincere (unfeigned) faith. But certain individuals have missed the mark on this very matter [and] have wandered away into vain arguments and discussions and purposeless talk. They are ambitious to be doctors of the Law (teachers of the Mosaic ritual), but they have no understanding either of the words and terms they use or of the subjects about which they make [such] dogmatic assertions.

Again,

SHUN ORGANISED RELIGION BUT DO NOT LET YOUR LOVE WAX COLD

OTITO

If by organized religion,you mean churches,I beg to disagree.
The Bible talks about assemblyng of brethren
It talks about house of worship and place of worship.
There is nothing wrong with an organized place of worship with proper order.
Our God is a God of orderliness.
If God took out time to instruct the people of Israel on the details of building the temple,he is not against building a house of worship.
Christ himself while chasing out the money changers talked about his father's house being a house of prayer than a den of thieves.
Non organized religion whatever that means is not the solution to greed and corruption.

[M. Akosa]

Thank you Mr Adewumi, for writing this article.

Our Nigerian folks are further retarded by attending all those pentecostal churches that is preaching and teaching them how to become more passive, moronic and stupid in the face of brutal onslaught.

On the development versus democracy issue. Yes, what we need is not democracy at this stage in Africa. Countries in post colonial parts of the world are all bastard and illegitimate entities, fooling ourselves even further by engaging in western ideological driven democracy.

For your information, there is now a modern black African version of the bible, published and edited with the help of many eminent (black African friendly) scholars. It is aimed at teaching us to love, respect and nuture our nature and environments.

[Anioma777]

@Lateesha

If by organized religion,you mean churches,I beg to disagree.
The Bible talks about assemblyng of brethren
It talks about house of worship and place of worship.
There is nothing wrong with an organized place of worship with proper order.
Our God is a God of orderliness.
If God took out time to instruct the people of Israel on the details of building the temple,he is not against building a house of worship.
Christ himself while chasing out the money changers talked about his father's house being a house of prayer than a den of thieves.
Non organized religion whatever that means is not the solution to greed and corruption.

You have sense my sister and not easily led. You first post touched on some very funny aspects of Nigerian psyche, I almost brought our network down, laughing so much. Earlier this year in Nigeria, I was telling one of my our family "friend" come aunty that moving around Europe and only some weeks in a month I stay in London has not helped me to maintain and grow relationships in general, but it was not an excuse regarding ( dont you start as well ) wife matter. The next thing she came out with, was "you know your the only son of your parents, sometimes evil forces are at work". I was thinking WTF!!!! No doubt in her mind she was thinking demons had made move around with my job....hmmmm.

This SUBHUMAN MENTALITY that most Nigerians have about nothing that goes wrong in their life is without someone's hand in it..is beyond a joke. I used joke all the time about it..but I was somewhat naive or maybe playing down how prevelent it is in our culture.Even the so called enlightened ones are the worse.

You right about God and temple of worship. A friend told me of one of these "NEW AGE CHURCHES" in Florida started by a Nigerian. He had just moved house and rented a small pickup type van from RYDER. He was just parking when the pastor approached him looking on the van with disdain and said "this parking slots are reserved for church members". My friend said I am a church member. The pastor now said and your bringing this "thing" in here. I told my friend "na yer fault, you still dey go that church because of your wife". Now tell me can you imagine Jesus telling someone with rags that he has no business wanting to learn the word.

@M.Akosa

I agree with you 100%. Anyway let me stop before they start praying their mountain of fire prayer to kill me O.....

Imagine praying for God to destroy people, no be say na war front you dey for a justified war. "HOLY GHOST FIRE BURN, KILL THEM, DESTROY THEIR CHILDREN..ETC." This is typical "DEMON INDUCED PRAYING" and surely will not bare fruit. Better to not pray for your enemies than pray to wish them evil and expect God to answer you.....NONSENSE!!!

[anonimi]

Originally Posted by lateesha

If by organized religion,you mean churches,I beg to disagree.
The Bible talks about assemblyng of brethren
It talks about house of worship and place of worship.
There is nothing wrong with an organized place of worship with proper order.
Our God is a God of orderliness.
If God took out time to instruct the people of Israel on the details of building the temple,he is not against building a house of worship.
Christ himself while chasing out the money changers talked about his father's house being a house of prayer than a den of thieves.
Non organized religion whatever that means is not the solution to greed and corruption.

What do you understand by these texts:

A) John 4:

19 The woman saith unto him, Sir, I perceive that thou art a prophet. 20 Our fathers worshipped in this mountain; and ye say, that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship. 21 Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father. 22 Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews. 23 But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. 24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

B) Acts 17:

22 Then Paul stood in the midst of Mars' hill, and said, Ye men of Athens, I perceive that in all things ye are too superstitious. 23 For as I passed by, and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this inscription, TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you.

What do you also make of the rendering of the veil of the Holies of Holies on Christ's death at the Calvary?
Have you noticed that most of the sacrificial rules and way of life in the Old Testament are not very different from our traditional worship? And Christ came to liberate us from such symbolical rituals for true worship, which is simply Love your neighbour as yourself & Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.

[nijalaw]

Originally Posted by lateesha

The Church in Nigeria is driven by demonology.
Everything is demon,demon,demon
You are stressed out and have a headache due to sleeplessness,it's a demon.
You eat beans ,get bloated and have small diarrhea,demon
A bird perches at your front door or you see a stray black cat,it's a demon from Okija
God help you if you hear a cat meowing at night,it's a legion of uncountable demons sent from your village.
ah ah
you are sitting at home and hear a normal settling noise in the house,a demon is at work,you start binding and casting.
I know evil powers are real but the publicity they get amongst Nigerian Christians at the expense of praise and adoration to the almighty is annoying.

Ahhhhhh!!!!!! Lateesha. Sorry Ohhhh!!!! You have now invited multiple demons into your life. Contact me make I exorcise them