Andrew Efemini
My understanding of religion is that it is man’s effort to find a solution or answers to many puzzles of human life and about the world in totality. I am aware that prior to the acknowledgement of philosophy as a discipline, myths and godly explanations were offered to account for what then was considered ‘unknowable’. Many of those things have been and are being resolved by science.
Is it not true that religion at any stage was NEVER a product of reason in the sense of being man’s thought backed by scientific discovery. We say therefore that religion is based on faith. Any person who does not have faith one way or the other will not have direction in life. I have faith in the power of science. I expect religious leaders to hands-off things science have and can resolve. That we live in a dark age in Africa does not mean religious leaders will turn churches into hospitals.
One positive potential of religion is to support medical access by its adherents and especially the poor. I am aware of a church that offers free medical services somewhere in Port Harcourt. Kudos to them. I have no problem with prayers before and after the application of science to resolve any issue. I have a 100% problem with setting aside science in search of a medical solution. The government must in fact step in to deal with religious bodies that have become medical homes.
Let me shock many of my friends today! Do you know that many people have medical conditions that are sensitive to many religious practices? Many Muslims have developed medical complications during fasting. I had a friend whose liver ulcer got very bad during fasting and I have since lost him. I have been told that only healthy should actually fast. There are medical conditions that degenerate during long and continuous worship hours; Blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes, oedema, etc. Yet you see church services lasting as much as ALL NIGHTS, and 5 hours! You can see that there is a problem somewhere.
Because of the above, have you not seen people slump in the places of worship? I know of several deaths arising from slumps in Church. Service is such hard labour in some Churches that I had to walk away to save my life; standing alone, singing and clapping, shouting and casting the devil from Prof. Efemini demanded energy I never had. I have become reluctant to honour religious invitations because of the risks of worship.
I attended services in America; Catholic services to be specific. 1 hour the services were over. Priests never delivered their message for 2 hours like many of us see in Nigeria.
Because of the above, you hear news of deaths during pilgrimages, especially in Mecca due to the laborious nature of the exercise. I don’t find such news funny.
My thoughts on religion will now be articulated for posterity so that it will be on record that a Nigerian philosopher did so. I will continue this discussion.
Andrew Efemini is a professor of philosophy of development at the University of Port Harcourt.
