Opinions | July 21, 2008
Religion is a mere tool for manipulating African minds
Morris D.C. Komakech
Religion
Previously, I did discuss the factors that make the Western style
education unsuitable for the liberation and transformation of Africans
and Blacks generally. I argued that the prevailing learning styles are
intended to serve and refurnish the Western civilisation.
In that article, I argued that there is need to reinvent education
system that operates on pedagogical methodologies and learning styles
typical and suitable to the African styles. I did make reference to the
works of two leading scholars in the field of early childhood education
and in lingistics. These works evinced stunning details about the
differences in cognitive construct between Black children and
European-American children (caucassians).
In this piece, I will attempt to examine the role of Western religion,
religious dogmas and theologies. I will argue that Western religion has
effectively reinforced the Western education style in inflicting
backwardness and loss of the self amongst Africans. I will also point
out that Western theology has dictated the way we order our society and
imparted great influence over our cultures, traditions and norms to the
point that we are no longer Africans although we pride ourselves of
living in Africa.
Anthropologists and sociologist have established that cultures around
the world have been informed and transformed by Western religious
dogmas. When we talk about who we are, we tend to seek answers to the
question of our being by resorting to religious arguments that we were
created by God. Over the years, this “God” has fitted the standards as
presented in the Bible or “Allah” in the Quran. As such, the norms in
our societies are informed first by our consciousness towards this God
and then to mankind.
To understand the impact of religion, the Bible and any religious print
media that flood African households carry images of God, His son Jesus
and all celestial characters presented as exotic “white” figures (Angel
Gabriel) and that of Satan or witches as “black” (Mr Lucifer and witch
on the broom). Thereby branding everything “white” as the positive,
better or superior while “black” is associated and paired with
negative/evil or inferiority.
Over the years, anything traditionally African including the people
have been distanced and associated with negative or low values or as
less competitive in open markets.
To date, there has never been any universal definition of God or agreed
upon imagery; there are varied understandings of God by different
peoples; the Hindu, Tao, Chinese etc. Only in Africa do we find the
most vague form of beliefs and commitment to concepts of God that are
all imported, either by Arab Muslims or by imperialists (Christianity)
or neo-colonialists (Balookole).
As such, Western religious dominance in its various forms has remained
a formidable source of oppression for the African minds. In as far as
we relate with this complex concept of Western religion, we are forced
to grapple with efforts to reconcile the glaring contradictions between
realities of life in our physical worlds and the over-rated
hypothetical of solace in heaven.
This invokes the sense that Western religion remains a trap for the
Black man because it offers false assurances and guarantees of a better
life after oppression on earth by urging endurance. Western religion is
a formidable chain and shackle of oppression and exploitation that
should be challenged because it dictates the prospects of the Black
African.
In the book God in the Ghetto, Dr William Augustus Jones, argued quite
accurately that one’s theology determines one’s anthropology - how one
sees humans. Dr Jones argued that if one sees God as indomitable white
male and then as superior: the omniscience, omnipotence - one sees God
“over us” as opposed to “with us”.
Such superimposition reaffirms the notion that the “Western” God is
vengeful (for those who disobey Him), authoritarian/dictatorial (obey
only your this one God), sexist or misogynist, then one see humans
through those lenses - simple theory of association.
Dr Jones argued that one’s theological lens therefore shapes one’s
anthropological lens. And as a result, White males are considered
superior; all others are inferior.
That is why, for the Black African, any sight of a muzungu draws
unparalleled hysteria and such debilitating humbleness. It comes in the
form that we always accept “White expatriates” - professionals with
qualifications like those from our own universities. These are people
who do not have any Ugandan work experience(s) whatsoever as it is
demanded of say Canadian or American work experience.
One would conclude that it is because through religion that the Black
conscience has been manipulated to accept anything white - as presented
through the church, politics, economics and media - as being
automatically authentic and superior.
Because of that, we now reject our own kind and pay little attention in
understanding our own values and aspirations. We no longer think but
follow, we no longer invent but service; we no longer produce, but
consume!
Mr. Komakech is an African scholar, social critic and political analyst
based in Canada
mordust_26@yahoo.ca
http://www.monitor.co.ug/artman/publish/opinions/Religion_is_a_mere_tool_for_manipulating_African_minds_68573.shtml
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None but ourselves can free our minds - Bob Marley
Cherish today :).
Women are wiser than men because they know less and understand more. - James Thurber