Do you believe religion is a setback in African development?

[o48o]

^^^ Note that all setbacks or advancements in Africa are personal as well as being societal.

Everybody dies, both the religious and the non-religious.

Without religion, personal setbacks are great. Why? because there is no hope of eternal life in Heaven. Without religion, there can only be eternal life in Hell... though many people without religion don't realize this.

With the right religion there will be life in Heaven after death (after the Resurrection). So, there is at least advancement rather than setback for some.

Advancement for Africans in this life, with no religion at all, means setback for eternal life for all Africans. Keep the religions, because some will be saved that way.

This is such a lame excuse. And what if you have chosen the wrong religion? Or what if your specific sect of countless different christian sects is wrong? What if there's an afterlife but only atheists get in?

But wait, you have a point, you are right, i see the light now. I now regret my atheist views and choose a to be religious instead. My religion of choice will be a Satanist as that's closest to my heart.
Thanks for opening my eyes. It's great to share a religion with you. Except you are on the side of Lord's sheeps am i am on side with a rebels that think themselves.

That was sarcasm if it was unclear.

[BADecker]

^^^ Note that all setbacks or advancements in Africa are personal as well as being societal.

Everybody dies, both the religious and the non-religious.

Without religion, personal setbacks are great. Why? because there is no hope of eternal life in Heaven. Without religion, there can only be eternal life in Hell... though many people without religion don't realize this.

With the right religion there will be life in Heaven after death (after the Resurrection). So, there is at least advancement rather than setback for some.

Advancement for Africans in this life, with no religion at all, means setback for eternal life for all Africans. Keep the religions, because some will be saved that way.

This is such a lame excuse. And what if you have chosen the wrong religion? Or what if your specific sect of countless different christian sects is wrong? What if there's an afterlife but only atheists get in?

But wait, you have a point, you are right, i see the light now. I now regret my atheist views and choose a to be religious instead. My religion of choice will be a Satanist as that's closest to my heart.
Thanks for opening my eyes. It's great to share a religion with you. Except you are on the side of Lord's sheeps am i am on side with a rebels that think themselves.

That was sarcasm if it was unclear.

When you get into the definitions of 'religion', you will find that 'religion' also means 'personal religion'... the things a person believes that are different than those of anyone else. So, your religion of atheism is acceptable as a religion, even if its doctrines aren't expressed clearly and concisely anywhere. But if they are, it is even a stronger religion.

One of the strongest points for recognizing that there might be truth to eternal life is, recognizing that all people are religious beings, and have a religion going for themselves no matter what they believe.

Some of the luckiest Africans are those who were brought up from childhood in the true religion that really does give eternal life in Heaven for following it. Why are they lucky? Because it's easy to teach a child, indoctrinating him into whatever religion. Since the religion meant here is the true religion that truly gives eternal life, that's why they are lucky.

Of course this doesn't mean that they CAN'T be tempted to some other religion, one that is only beneficial for this life. But at least they have a head start with childhood training in the eternal-life religion. Why? They last forever with that religion, even if they have to die here for a while.

Just because the religion of someone else says that such eternal-life religion is false, that doesn't necessarily make it false. After all, when the things of a particular religion are proven to be real, the religion starts to come out of the designation of religion, and into the laws of nature and physics, or simple living.

[Marykeller]

Religion that was brought into African countries has significantly influenced her culture and civilization.

Religious practices and beliefs have both been a source of strength and solidarity for societies as well as a barrier to development and progress in some cases in African countries. The influence of religion on African nations is complicated and can vary depending on some factors of the religious and traditional practices involved.


Our primary religion as Africans particularly as Nigerians is a traditional belief, while other religions like Christianity and Islam have been introduced to African nations.

The harm and division that religion has brought about in African nations are unimaginable to her growth.

[BADecker]

Religion that was brought into African countries has significantly influenced her culture and civilization.

Religious practices and beliefs have both been a source of strength and solidarity for societies as well as a barrier to development and progress in some cases in African countries. The influence of religion on African nations is complicated and can vary depending on some factors of the religious and traditional practices involved.


Our primary religion as Africans particularly as Nigerians is a traditional belief, while other religions like Christianity and Islam have been introduced to African nations.

The harm and division that religion has brought about in African nations are unimaginable to her growth.

Again, the point you bring up is only a surface point. It is certainly a notable point, but it isn't the most important point. The important point has to do with which traditional belief, and if it ultimately gives eternal life. If it doesn't provide eternal life, it isn't the best.

In Axum, in Ethiopia (Africa), there is a 'church' that houses what they believe to be the sacred Ark of the Covenant from Ancient Israel. If this is the traditional religion you are speaking about, you are in the right direction, sort of.

...

According to their research the Ark was taken out of the Temple Mount in Jerusalem during the reign of Manasseh where it was first taken to a Jewish colony on Elephantine Island in Egypt.

...

Other traditions say that this was only a copy, made by Solomon, to keep the real one from falling into the hands of kingdoms that were fighting against Israel.

Whatever traditional religions are in Africa, Judaism (which became Christianity for some people) has been African religion for over 3,000 years (Formal Judaism started with Moses in Egypt.), and is the oldest religion of any significant size in Africa... considering that the Christian religion bases itself on Judaism.

[Hispo]

Religion doesn't really differ from this "magic" you speak about. Religion is just heavily organized superstition.

I won't turn this thread into an argument about Atheism vs Theism.

Yet you immediately did so i will respond.

Even from the atheist point of view, there are teachings and values from major religions which can be beneficial to a country or community in general. Atheism can also be good if does not lead to nihilism. The point is getting people to work, improve and living the best life possible in an honest way.

I am always baffled how people think any good values must come from religion, yet religions often have horrible values and history of brushing their crimes horrible crimes under a mat.
Nihilism has nothing to do with believing one less god then someone else.

When I was child for example, it was usual for our grandparents to tell us to work hard an study so God will bless us.
An atheist family could encourage their children to work and study because other obvious reasons.

Yes i am well aware that some parents want to outsource their responsibility and parenting to some all seeing god. I was a victim of that too.

In no way shape or form I would dare to deny the massacres and executions carried out against innocent people by the Church.
There were thousands of people who died just because their pursue for scientific knowledge and other even minor things.

People of religion can be aware of those horrible things and yet to practice the values of their church, the important thing is not exclude or harm anyone just because they are different, which goes against the teaching of Jesus, if I remember correctly.

Also, here (specially in the 2000s) part of good parenting was to talk about religion to children. I mean, I had to take religion classes in school and yet i have got no problem with friends who are LGBT or atheist. We simply respect each other.

[DanWalker]

It is not about religion, it is about superstition.
In my personal opinion, there is nothing wrong about following a religion. Actually, Christianity for example usually teaches about the value of working hard and living a peaceful life.

However, it is different when people opt for practices which could be categorized as "magic", they expect to success in life just because some alleged shaman or witch medic told them to partake in a ritual or consume a certain kind of plant. Africa does not need cults and idols, it needs work and solve social problems and that can be reached with the proper religious values for those who need spiritual guidance.   

I'm not from Africa so I don't really know what religion exists there, but I was really confused when I heard that religion is an obstacle for Africa. All regions of the world have at least 2 to 3 religions, and like in my country there are Christianity, Buddhism, and Islam...all direct people to good deeds, to peace... so there is no reason to say that religion is an obstacle. Are they confusing superstition with religion as you say? And possibly due to the ignorance of the people, many have taken advantage of it to spread falsehoods that are not of the orthodox religion.

[BADecker]

Yes i am well aware that some parents want to outsource their responsibility and parenting to some all seeing god. I was a victim of that too.

In no way shape or form I would dare to deny the massacres and executions carried out against innocent people by the Church.
There were thousands of people who died just because their pursue for scientific knowledge and other even minor things.

People of religion can be aware of those horrible things and yet to practice the values of their church, the important thing is not exclude or harm anyone just because they are different, which goes against the teaching of Jesus, if I remember correctly.

Also, here (specially in the 2000s) part of good parenting was to talk about religion to children. I mean, I had to take religion classes in school and yet i have got no problem with friends who are LGBT or atheist. We simply respect each other.

Much of science is science theory. When science theory is believed to be true even though it's theory, it's a religion for the scientists who believe... churches in their universities and corporations.

Do you see the big guns and missiles in Ukraine and Russia? They came about through science, scientific investigation. So, the church of science is responsible for way more deaths than other religions.

Also, regarding LGBT. It is a religion that has been around forever, even though it wasn't prominent, and even though it wasn't called by that name. Getting along with them means that you have a tolerance-of-evil religion rather than the formal religion your school tried to bring you up in.

A person in the free countries of the world doesn't have to be violent when he protests against the religions that are bad or wrong or evil. All he has to do is stop associating with the people of those religions when they won't change.

[Gozie51]

On the one hand, there is no denying that religion has been used to oppress people, especially women and other marginalized groups.

Talking in relation to women, I don't agree that it is religion that has oppressed women, no it is the society at large that has done that especially in African society. African society is majorly patrilineal and that is oppressive already but do we even say it is oppressive if that is the people's way of life. Culture is the way that people life, organise and do their own stuff so it is already settled that is the way they live.

Religious beliefs have been used to justify discrimination, and many people feel that certain religious tenets are outdated and no longer applicable.

I think the custodians and interpreters are the culprits in this. The way they present what is written in the scriptures is the issue and followers follow sheepishly.

[Gyfts]

...

Modern society is drifting a bit far from religion and replacing it with a dogma that's toxic and politically driven -- that being said, most modern religious interpretations are not the same interpretations as they were even some centuries ago so I'm personally not an advocate for traditionalist values explicitly written in religious books. The values within these books have caused the greatest amounts of violence in human history. Modern interpretations of religion are entirety different.

African countries probably have not had this modernization of thought yet, but realistically that isn't the reason why Africa is lagging behind in the world on social justice.

[Freeveto]

Religion doesn't really differ from this "magic" you speak about. Religion is just heavily organized superstition.

Religion is a mere illusion, some of the things people believes and hold very tight in various religions doesn’t exist. They keep practicing and believing in what that doesn’t exist and they call it “Faith”  Even in one religion, they still have differs beliefs like Christianity, one Bible, one God but different churches that don’t agree together.

[BADecker]

Religion doesn't really differ from this "magic" you speak about. Religion is just heavily organized superstition.

Religion is a mere illusion, some of the things people believes and hold very tight in various religions doesn’t exist. They keep practicing and believing in what that doesn’t exist and they call it “Faith”  Even in one religion, they still have differs beliefs like Christianity, one Bible, one God but different churches that don’t agree together.

But you don't really believe what you said. How do we know? You misquoted what I said at that post of mine that you quoted.

The difference between your religion of something like 'non-religion' is, God exists as the Leader of true Christianity, and any religions that practice true Christianity.

Why don't you change right now. You have a chance. You are being invited. Become a Christian and join us in the hope of eternal life.

Consider this. Nobody knows how the complexity of life works. Nobody knows the gigantic amount of complexity that is involved in life. All we know is that there is a lot there. In fact, there is so much complexity in life that it's impossible for life to have come about in the first place... except, of course, that it is here. I mean, if life wasn't all that complex, doctors and researchers would have figured out how to keep us alive for hundreds or thousands of years, long ago.

Since the complexity happened once, why would anyone think that it can't happen a second time, in the Resurrection?

Join us, for eternal life in Heaven.

[SmartCharpa]

Religion is a big setback in Africa, especially in my country, Nigeria. Churches are major factory you will see in Nigeria now; even the owners have private jets and own schools, but the average member of the church can't pay the school fees. But this school has been built with offerings from the church.

You are correct. The majority of schools are established by church members, and there may be an agreement amongst them that their children can pay half of the school fees or nothing at all.
Most schools are built by churches and have one person as the proprietor, which is why some church members no longer have to pay school fees.

[BADecker]

Religion is a big setback in Africa, especially in my country, Nigeria. Churches are major factory you will see in Nigeria now; even the owners have private jets and own schools, but the average member of the church can't pay the school fees. But this school has been built with offerings from the church.

You are correct. The majority of schools are established by church members, and there may be an agreement amongst them that their children can pay half of the school fees or nothing at all.
Most schools are built by churches and have one person as the proprietor, which is why some church members no longer have to pay school fees.

But the big question about schools remains. Are they schools that teach knowledge, or are they indoctrination centers? There might be good indoctrination, but who determines this.

[SmartCharpa]

But the big question about schools remains. Are they schools that teach knowledge, or are they indoctrination centers? There might be good indoctrination, but who determines this.

The school will continue to be a place where knowledge is taught, and all rules established by the school will be followed. Church members may make decisions as long as they agree with them.
But the reality is that some parents do not adhere to the rules, and when their children fail the school assessment, they do complain that they own the school.

[Alisha-k]

Religion is not really the problem with Africa but the individuals who practice this various religions. In every religion there are those who are core extremists and those who don't understand what the religion is all about but trust a particular person in the place of priest or what ever their religion refers to them as for directions and guidance. If African understood humanity is the top priority in every religion it would have been one of the best places in the world.

[Volimack]

Religion isn't a hedge the country is backward in all aspects due to underdevelopment and racism is more in africa than other countries. The constitution of the country gives all the citizens the right to exercise their religion freely. Every religion in africa can be said to be the happiest nonage in the world. They enjoy a degree of religious freedom in africa that's unconceivable in numerous countries profitable substance, political influence andnon sectarian social system all together can be called rich land of the country.

[Queentoshi]

In a society where you have more religious people than practical and logical thinking people it is normal to expect that religion becomes a setback to certain development and growth and this is a problem with Africa where they are more religious people who are following religion with a blind eye, than practical and logical thinking people. It is a setback. Religion is good but not to follow blindly. Not everything is spiritual, some things actually require effort to achieve, and growth is one of them. For there to be development, it  requires logical and practical thinking individuals who are not afraid to make an effort.

[worldofcoins]

Religion has been a part of African history for centuries. For many people, it has been a source of guidance, comfort, and community. Yet, there are some who believe that religion is a major setback in the development of African nations. This is an excellent topic that merits discussion.

On the one hand, there is no denying that religion has been used to oppress people, especially women and other marginalized groups. Religious beliefs have been used to justify discrimination, and many people feel that certain religious tenets are outdated and no longer applicable. On the other hand, religion can also be a powerful force for good in African societies. It can provide comfort to people in difficult times and bring communities together.

Ultimately, whether religion is a setback in African development is up to the individual. Some may see it as a hinderance, while others may view it as a source of strength and hope. Ultimately, it is up to each person to decide for themselves how to view religion and its impact on African development.

I don't believe religion is a setback in Africa's (or any other country's) development. No religion teaches violence toward anyone. These are guidelines of life and living criteria and the people's faith. So we cannot blame religion as a setback in development.

[Asiska02]

Religion has been a part of African history for centuries. For many people, it has been a source of guidance, comfort, and community. Yet, there are some who believe that religion is a major setback in the development of African nations. This is an excellent topic that merits discussion.

This indeed calls for discussion. Religions that I know are a source of guidance and a way of life one should follow in order to attain grace and prosperity from their Lord that they worship. But in today’s world, using African continent as a case study, it’s being used as a manipulative tool to convince the people, mislead the people, and deny them of their legal rights blindly without having the privilege to voice out anything. Our leaders in Africa have taken advantage of religion and used it against us, causing significant setbacks for the continent.

We can’t protest at the face of injustice we face by our political leaders because our religious leaders make us believe that the Lord we worship will intervene for everyone at the right time. This been said and not peculiar to only the ignorant ones, the educated ones also believe in this as it draws back to the level of faith they’ve for their religion and believe for what their religious leaders says about it. However, the inability to practice what religion teaches is what is affecting Africa, because all religion teaches positivity always.

[BADecker]

True religion is people helping people who need help. There is never a time when true religion is a bad thing.

Evil people will always use what they call religion to do their evil deeds. People will recognize them for what they are, by what they are doing.

The problem is how to get rid of the bad parts of religion, and keep the good.