Saturday, May 17, 2014
COMMON SENSE HAS NEVER BEEN COMMON
Common sense is a very funny phenomenon. I guess this should be the reason why people like me think that it is not common after all. By stating that we all have somewhat the same capacity to synthesize the various objects of external sense is saying that we are all the same, yet nature as we know it proves otherwise because all of us are unique entities. In this regard then, it is certain that despite this kind of sense, we also have a sense that I will rightly call “faulty common sense.”
Examine for example the Karamojong (traditional natives of North-Eastern Uganda) who, because of the extreme hot weather, choose to walk around naked. Is this some kind of common sense? For a normal or rather abnormal person like me touring this region, I’ll definitely feel otherwise. I will stick with my clothes regardless of the weather, no matter how heavy they may be. Then I ask myself, who amongst ourselves has a proper common sense and who is definitely wrong. Their can never be too rights regarding the same situation because in such a case, we’ll be falling into relativism which is not, by any standards, the best way of judgment.
It is because of the very same reason that I disagree with Immanuel Kant. By Kant arguing that morality is a duty, he negates the whole essence of free will and categorizes all people as same. This definitely is not just because although some may view it as a sense of duty, it is also out rightly clear that most people’s moral acts are out of a sense of free will. We can never have the same motives, thinking, imaginations or even dreams. We are all unique and a sense of commonality can never arise. I have already, by my own reason, refuted the idea of universal and necessary ideas, but that is for another day.
I have lately been following the developments as regards the health-care overhaul in the United States. If there is anything like ‘common sense,’ then any sane normal being would have realized that that bill has more sense than ‘non-sense.’ It is, by our human nature, our responsibility to take care of the not so fortunate in the societies we live in. That would have been some sort of ‘common sense.’ But since it is true that we can never think or act in the same way nor speak the same voice, there is all these nasty bickering and cheap politics that has clouded that part of the world. Should I blame the republicans and their disciples? Not at all! All of us, as I have already stated, are different in our own right and capacity. It is no wonder that all will differ even on a subject ‘so clear’ as the controversial health issue in the USA. Goes without saying; that bill, if passed, will be the best thing that has ever happened to the citizens of united states, of course after the declaration of independence that has eluded them up to now!! It is only through accepting that we all different that we can start living together.
Thus, I refute that there is anything like common sense. This is reducing a human being to a pure animal. We will always have opposing views and as such, no objective ideas can ever exist. If at all we want to talk of ‘common sense,’ then lets also accept that their will be a ‘faulty common sense’ along the way. For we will never be the same at any particular point!!
Saturday, February 12, 2011
faith and reason...necessary and Urgent
Since renaissance, and especially today, with the enormous growth in science and scientific technology and discoveries, many ask if faith is still relevant…and some, who see the relevance of faith wonder whether faith can be reconciled with reason. But indeed, as it has been witnessed before and as it is being witnessed now, cross fertilization between faith and reason is not only necessary, but it is also urgent. Faith without reason is ‘blind’, and such ‘blindness’ was witnessed in crusades, have been seen in the unreflected forms of ‘Jihad’ by some Muslim fanatics, the execution of famous thinkers like Galileo by the church, and many other forms of unfortunate actions committed in the name of faith. Infact, faith without reason has turned out to be some form of fanaticism, and sometimes exposing religion not just as an oppressor, but indeed as a cruel leviathan to its people. Reason without faith on the other hand is ‘ignorant’. The growth in science and technology today has left many asking themselves questions of if at all humanity would have been better-of without such ability as to think. The growing specter of global warming, largely contributed by human activities resulting from human discoveries; the many unending wars a result of the growth in human greed and military artillery and sophisticated chemical weapons; the exponential growth in classes among the inhabitants of the world; and the overwhelming extinction of various forms of life, clearly shows how reason left on her own can be misleading. Some people have now started to re-examine the benefits of science and other forms of human activities caused by the dominance of human reason. But, can reason and faith be reconciled?
The above question can only find one affirmative answer; that the reconciliation of the two is necessary and urgent. The discoveries in science and growth in various forms of human knowledge is not opposed to faith. A critical look at the evolution theory, the Copernicus discovery and Galileo’s assertions shows that reason is not opposed to science but that it tries to specify in exact terms what faith hold to be the creation of God. Reason enlightens faith in various areas as it has been witnessed in the growth of molecular biology and in the interpretation of the religious writings like the Bible or Quran, to fit the demands of today. Infact, what makes the religious writing relevant even today is that through the eye of reason, they can be interpreted to fit and serve the demands of today. While faith aims at safeguarding the creation of God, reason gives the possibility of how this can happen as it has been seen in modern medicine, in various methods of population control and in growth in transport and communication systems. Faith aims at safeguarding the dignity of humanity; reason supplies the missing-link on how this can be done. Faith states that every natural things has been created by God, reason shows how this creation is ordered through disciplines as astronomy and biology. Faith and reason are indeed, as Pope John Paul ll echoed, ‘two wings of the same bird’.
Solving world’s social-economical problems also shows that the interdependence between faith and reason is necessary. The conflict between various religions for example, can only be solved through dialogue. Thus, the unity of various faiths can only be achieved through the application of reason. As the article by Muslim scholars, ‘a Common word between us’ asserts, “The future of the world depends on peace between Muslims and Christians.” This unity can only come through logical reason and a common understanding between the various faiths. This is Faith and reason ‘flying’ the same bird. Curbing poverty and economic imbalance requires that reason and faith ‘sit’ on the same table of dialogue. Faith says that the created world has a harmony and this harmony should be maintained, as it has been seen in the efforts to conserve the environment; reason comes in to show how such a harmony may be maintained through various strategies. The Catholic Pontiff, Pope Benedict the xvi, echoed this in his speech entitled ‘if you want to Have peace, protect the environment’, in January 2010. He said, “Our present crises ... are ultimately also moral crises, and all of them are interrelated. They require us to rethink the path which we are traveling together. Specifically, they call for a lifestyle marked by sobriety and solidarity, with new rules and forms of engagement, one which focuses confidently and courageously on strategies that actually work, while decisively rejecting those that have failed.” In effect, the pope was insisting on the need to apply reason in faith and vice versa. Faith preaches equality, justices and peace; reason devises ways of reaching such a reality through dialogue and through forming various judicial structures that promote justice and peace.
Therefore, faith and reason are like two aspects of the same, self-regulatory system, and undermining one leads to subsequent undermining of the other. Indeed, faith and reason are not only like ‘two wings of the same bird’, but faith without reason is ‘blind’ and reason without faith is ‘ignorant’. The reconciliation of the two is not only necessary, but in the light of the current world situation, urgent.
Friday, October 8, 2010
Africa, learn to solve your problems!
Charity, they say, begins at home. This is one saying that Africans have to learn to employ today, more than any other day before. History has shown us that no one can come to your aid if you do not try to save yourself.
It is no secret that Africa is such a blessed continent. The untapped mineral deposit of DRC Congo alone for example, is estimated to be worth $24 trillion. This is the total GDP of the United States and almost half of Europe combined. What does this tell us? This clearly shows that Congo is the richest, or rather ought to be, the richest country on the face of the earth…this is not a myth, it is the truth and nothing but the truth! It is an open fact that Africa is becoming the biggest market for various continents; more and more countries from both the east and the West are fighting for a place in the African market. It is also true that Africa remains as the center of morality (positive morality) and the home of religion(s). Such is the story of a continent.
Yet, she is faced with serious dilemmas today. That Africa stands as the center of conflicts and wars is a fact you do not have to be a genius to know. Numerous countries today have internal conflicts and with the climate drastically changing, desertification and hunger seem to be encroaching very fast. The prospects of more wars are high and the life of an ordinary African seems to be at stake. The gap between the poor and the rich is increasing at an increasing rate and the level of morality and religious beliefs seem to be taking the reverse direction. Africa is faced with the dilemma of reconciling the progress in technology and maintaining her rich cultural values. She now has to face the problem of holding onto to her religious beliefs and taking up reason as a tool for progress in this new age. Many natives, young and not so young have been wiped away by the HIV scourge. The streets have become a home for numerous orphans who have to roam up and down in search of leftovers to call food. Africa, the richest continent on the globe, has turned into a den of beggars!
With the growth in technology and improved communication and transport systems, the world has seems to be turning into a global village: a diversified global village. The privacy of individuals is subliming into the demands of the new human community that is now growing from the new developments. The world is becoming small and smaller.
Yet it is a lesson from the previous experiences that without consciousness and unity in herself, her ordeals will never end. Learning from experience ought to be a basic human necessity! There are no greater lessons than the genocide in Rwanda, Darfu and Congo DRC. Over 800,000 people in Rwanda, six million in Eastern Congo and many more in Darfu died without the intervention of the UN or the west…and AU too. The fundamental objectives of AU today do not lie in fighting colonization and apartheid as it used to be in former times but in safeguarding the interests and the lives of not only the member states but more importantly, the citizens of the member states. Some of the objectives of this organization read in part that it will Endeavour ; “To achieve greater unity and solidarity between the African countries and the peoples of Africa; To defend the sovereignty, territorial integrity and independence of its Member States; To accelerate the political and socio-economic integration of the continent; To promote and defend African common positions on issues of interest to the continent and its peoples; To encourage international cooperation, taking due account of the Charter of the United Nations and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights; To promote peace, security, and stability on the continent; To promote democratic principles and institutions, popular participation and good governance; To promote and protect human and peoples' rights in accordance with the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights and other relevant human rights instruments;…”
If these rays of light can be made to penetrate into Mogadishu, a stable government can be established and piracy and other activities of terror will be things of the past. Piracy is only thriving at the coast of Somalia because there are no modalities on how that country can be run. Living in an organized and peaceful society is a basic right of the people. Responsibility for self and others is a fundamental necessity for any person(s). If the people who live in this country (Somalia), cannot be responsible, then it should be the work of the union in seeing to it that they are helped to become responsible, using all peaceful means necessary. If economy is the problem, then the Union ought to ensure that urgent measures are put in place to restore and protect an economy in that part of the world.
Failure in all the above attempts suggests that more and more young boys will be recruited into this trade and the region will continue becoming insecure. Since the Somalia water is necessary for the trade between the world and east Africa, her insecurity will paralyze the economy of other neighbouring countries; especially Kenya, Uganda, Burundi, Rwanda and Eastern Congo. The vision 2030, spelt out by Kenya, will sublime into thin air and their new constitution rendered rather sterile. The prosperity of this part of the world is dependent on the stability of Somalia, both politically, socially and economically.
Africa must learn to solve her problems, this is an urgent necessity!
It is no secret that Africa is such a blessed continent. The untapped mineral deposit of DRC Congo alone for example, is estimated to be worth $24 trillion. This is the total GDP of the United States and almost half of Europe combined. What does this tell us? This clearly shows that Congo is the richest, or rather ought to be, the richest country on the face of the earth…this is not a myth, it is the truth and nothing but the truth! It is an open fact that Africa is becoming the biggest market for various continents; more and more countries from both the east and the West are fighting for a place in the African market. It is also true that Africa remains as the center of morality (positive morality) and the home of religion(s). Such is the story of a continent.
Yet, she is faced with serious dilemmas today. That Africa stands as the center of conflicts and wars is a fact you do not have to be a genius to know. Numerous countries today have internal conflicts and with the climate drastically changing, desertification and hunger seem to be encroaching very fast. The prospects of more wars are high and the life of an ordinary African seems to be at stake. The gap between the poor and the rich is increasing at an increasing rate and the level of morality and religious beliefs seem to be taking the reverse direction. Africa is faced with the dilemma of reconciling the progress in technology and maintaining her rich cultural values. She now has to face the problem of holding onto to her religious beliefs and taking up reason as a tool for progress in this new age. Many natives, young and not so young have been wiped away by the HIV scourge. The streets have become a home for numerous orphans who have to roam up and down in search of leftovers to call food. Africa, the richest continent on the globe, has turned into a den of beggars!
With the growth in technology and improved communication and transport systems, the world has seems to be turning into a global village: a diversified global village. The privacy of individuals is subliming into the demands of the new human community that is now growing from the new developments. The world is becoming small and smaller.
Yet it is a lesson from the previous experiences that without consciousness and unity in herself, her ordeals will never end. Learning from experience ought to be a basic human necessity! There are no greater lessons than the genocide in Rwanda, Darfu and Congo DRC. Over 800,000 people in Rwanda, six million in Eastern Congo and many more in Darfu died without the intervention of the UN or the west…and AU too. The fundamental objectives of AU today do not lie in fighting colonization and apartheid as it used to be in former times but in safeguarding the interests and the lives of not only the member states but more importantly, the citizens of the member states. Some of the objectives of this organization read in part that it will Endeavour ; “To achieve greater unity and solidarity between the African countries and the peoples of Africa; To defend the sovereignty, territorial integrity and independence of its Member States; To accelerate the political and socio-economic integration of the continent; To promote and defend African common positions on issues of interest to the continent and its peoples; To encourage international cooperation, taking due account of the Charter of the United Nations and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights; To promote peace, security, and stability on the continent; To promote democratic principles and institutions, popular participation and good governance; To promote and protect human and peoples' rights in accordance with the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights and other relevant human rights instruments;…”
If these rays of light can be made to penetrate into Mogadishu, a stable government can be established and piracy and other activities of terror will be things of the past. Piracy is only thriving at the coast of Somalia because there are no modalities on how that country can be run. Living in an organized and peaceful society is a basic right of the people. Responsibility for self and others is a fundamental necessity for any person(s). If the people who live in this country (Somalia), cannot be responsible, then it should be the work of the union in seeing to it that they are helped to become responsible, using all peaceful means necessary. If economy is the problem, then the Union ought to ensure that urgent measures are put in place to restore and protect an economy in that part of the world.
Failure in all the above attempts suggests that more and more young boys will be recruited into this trade and the region will continue becoming insecure. Since the Somalia water is necessary for the trade between the world and east Africa, her insecurity will paralyze the economy of other neighbouring countries; especially Kenya, Uganda, Burundi, Rwanda and Eastern Congo. The vision 2030, spelt out by Kenya, will sublime into thin air and their new constitution rendered rather sterile. The prosperity of this part of the world is dependent on the stability of Somalia, both politically, socially and economically.
Africa must learn to solve her problems, this is an urgent necessity!
Monday, October 4, 2010
keen steps.
The government of Kenya has recently resolved to sending her troops to man the boarders between her and Somalia. Her navy officers have also intensified their patrol in the high seas as they endevour to tame the looming threat. Kenya, just like any other country of the world is aware of the potential threat cause by the Al Shabab together with their Pirate friends. This is particularly important keeping in mind that she has to take care of her citizens from any potential harm from the said 'enemies.'
However, she fails in one attempt, rather than taking a more vigorous and direct approach, she is acting like a spectator in a football match. Why?
For the past two decades, somalis have not had anything to call a government. They, as a result have become survivors. given that Somalia has no mineral base to earn her foreign pay nor enough rain to sustain her with enough food and water, many of the young men have lost hope. The only remaining solution is to use all means necessary to survive. These people have little to loose and Kenya should know this for sure. Secondly, the latest census results provide a sufficient proof that more than any other decade, the number of somalis has tremendously increased. They even have their 'capital' in Eastleigh. Therefore, Kenyan sending her troops at the boarders is a costly temporary measure.
Uganda on her part has sent her troop in somalia to curb the insurgency of al Shabab and other related groups. What she has however failed to recognize is that there is no known circumstance where weapons have ever brought peace. Peace can never be bought, she can only be achieved through dialogue of the people who are ready for her. Yes, there is a time when force is necessary in establishing peace, however, force is not the source of such a reality. As a result, Kampala has been bombed of recent and many more threats are coming in.
Possibly what this people want is to be recognized as human beings, so that they can live in a an organized society. May be what they want is for the world to help them establish a state of their own, to move from the Hobbean state of nature, to protect the little property they have and bury their differences.
The New Kenya's Constitution with her partner the vision 2030 will be rendered insignificant once this situation is not curbed. The world has indeed become a village and to protect 'you' is to protect 'me.'
However, she fails in one attempt, rather than taking a more vigorous and direct approach, she is acting like a spectator in a football match. Why?
For the past two decades, somalis have not had anything to call a government. They, as a result have become survivors. given that Somalia has no mineral base to earn her foreign pay nor enough rain to sustain her with enough food and water, many of the young men have lost hope. The only remaining solution is to use all means necessary to survive. These people have little to loose and Kenya should know this for sure. Secondly, the latest census results provide a sufficient proof that more than any other decade, the number of somalis has tremendously increased. They even have their 'capital' in Eastleigh. Therefore, Kenyan sending her troops at the boarders is a costly temporary measure.
Uganda on her part has sent her troop in somalia to curb the insurgency of al Shabab and other related groups. What she has however failed to recognize is that there is no known circumstance where weapons have ever brought peace. Peace can never be bought, she can only be achieved through dialogue of the people who are ready for her. Yes, there is a time when force is necessary in establishing peace, however, force is not the source of such a reality. As a result, Kampala has been bombed of recent and many more threats are coming in.
Possibly what this people want is to be recognized as human beings, so that they can live in a an organized society. May be what they want is for the world to help them establish a state of their own, to move from the Hobbean state of nature, to protect the little property they have and bury their differences.
The New Kenya's Constitution with her partner the vision 2030 will be rendered insignificant once this situation is not curbed. The world has indeed become a village and to protect 'you' is to protect 'me.'
Sunday, September 5, 2010
impaired
If impairment is one of the words employed in describing ‘sickness,’ then I am a very sick person. I am sick coz literally; I have lately discovered that I am to a greater degree impaired in unfortunately, all spheres of my life. I guess this must be a direct result of too much reading of stuff that has left me worrying either of the past or taken up too much by the future….this ain’t a good thing at all!!
Recently, I had to take one of my friends ‘out,’ that is too say, to a private spot with minimum noise and plenty of fresh air. This in normal circumstances was to involve taking a cold drink, watching some artificial pictures, that is; watching, on a screen, an image run around a pitch, chasing a ball that cannot stop. Afterwards, I was to hold this jamaa who was now too drunk, by the true sense of the word, and hire a Taxi, just to make sure that my friend reached safely back home. All this had implications!!
For the outing that is inclusive of the transport and other expenses, I had to part with enough Ugandan Mitualos, which was not an easy thing to do. Given my financial standing at the time, I realized that I was actually economically impaired. It forced me to go too deep into my pocket that at one point I had to tore them in the name of borrowing a soft loan for this very purpose. If you have ever had to incur a debt, you must know that it’s not the best of the positions to find oneself in. Apart from having enabled me to develop dodging tricks, it has left me psychologically tormented by figuring out how I should repay this loan. Truly, I’m a very sick person now.
Talking about sickness, my physical strength cannot allow me to support or lift something beyond 61kgs, this is according to a specialist I visited in an ‘international’ hospital. Given that my friend’s weight lies in the region of 80’s, my body is in torment, literally the whole of it!! I thought it was only the back, well, that was only a thought!! I am a very sick person.
My social standing now stands well below the normal levels, given that I have to always and at all times, dodge my friend whose money I still have. The dodging does not only involve the physical aspect, but also electronically speaking refusing to pick up his calls. Dear Jesus in heaven, I am impaired!
Recently, I had to take one of my friends ‘out,’ that is too say, to a private spot with minimum noise and plenty of fresh air. This in normal circumstances was to involve taking a cold drink, watching some artificial pictures, that is; watching, on a screen, an image run around a pitch, chasing a ball that cannot stop. Afterwards, I was to hold this jamaa who was now too drunk, by the true sense of the word, and hire a Taxi, just to make sure that my friend reached safely back home. All this had implications!!
For the outing that is inclusive of the transport and other expenses, I had to part with enough Ugandan Mitualos, which was not an easy thing to do. Given my financial standing at the time, I realized that I was actually economically impaired. It forced me to go too deep into my pocket that at one point I had to tore them in the name of borrowing a soft loan for this very purpose. If you have ever had to incur a debt, you must know that it’s not the best of the positions to find oneself in. Apart from having enabled me to develop dodging tricks, it has left me psychologically tormented by figuring out how I should repay this loan. Truly, I’m a very sick person now.
Talking about sickness, my physical strength cannot allow me to support or lift something beyond 61kgs, this is according to a specialist I visited in an ‘international’ hospital. Given that my friend’s weight lies in the region of 80’s, my body is in torment, literally the whole of it!! I thought it was only the back, well, that was only a thought!! I am a very sick person.
My social standing now stands well below the normal levels, given that I have to always and at all times, dodge my friend whose money I still have. The dodging does not only involve the physical aspect, but also electronically speaking refusing to pick up his calls. Dear Jesus in heaven, I am impaired!
democracy error
I have nothing personal against ‘the majority rule,’ but I think democracy is one of the worst, if not the worst, system of governance. I am sure that the Greeks had noble intentions on why they came up with such a concept of a government. I guess they were tired of their traditional governments and wanted something rather new. Looking at it critically, this concept is a combination of all failed systems of their time and ours (Monarchy, Oligarchy, Theocracy, and lastly, Dictatorship). Aristotle, a man who lived 3 centuries before we started counting down time, thought that this kind of government would bring about some sort of equality especially to women and slaves who were, as they have been, outcasts of their time (remember that he had studied 150 constitutions from different republics). Hobbes envisioned that it will bring harmony from the dangerous ‘state of nature,’ Locke’s idea was that it will help protect people’s property and establish some sense of equality and Nyerere’s view was that it would help to create leaders and not masters. Yet clearly, democracy has failed in all of these attempts.
It is democracy that has developed the campaign engines that sort to fight brothers against sisters. It is the same democracy that has demarcated time limit for ‘service’ creating prolonged desire for people to cling onto power even when it is apparently clear that they are incompetent (take for example the case of Omar Yar’Aduwa and uncle bob!). This type of rule has failed the majority by creating masters not leaders. By creating time limit for ‘service,’ democracy has built into people an insatiable greed to acquire as much as they can before they vacate their offices and thus, I will rightly say that it is the principle root of corruption, a vice that is eating up our society.
Let me explain myself on why I consider it the mother of the vice that is corruption. According to Aristotle, “democracy (is) that in which the many and the poor are the rulers.” This idea has also been shared by Locke, Nyerere and many other political geniuses both modern and contemporary. If that is true then, a state where a poor man rules ends up in poverty for he’ll try to satisfy his needs first (coz man is a greedy animal remember). A state where the majority rules ends up in anarchy for it is difficult to reach consensus. In fact, since everyone thinks that they are free, they will tend to fight each other, trying to rule oneself in the name of freedom…this basically throws us into anomie. Since, as Aristotle had already suggested that it is a system of the poor and the masses, the poor will try, by all means possible to reach at the top of the ladder with as little efforts as possible, and this my friends is the basis of corruption.
If the above is not true, then it is true that democracy has failed in the sense that, with daft and incompetent leaders, the majority rights has been placed into the hand of the minority who have taken full advantage. Democracy has for sure become the ‘minority rule’ and this for me is its greatest failure. The masses who elect have no say but the minority, who sit in offices doing nothing in particular and cruising around in some heavy fuel guzzlers.
Yet again, I may be wrong, because although the system has failed, the concept remains intact. May be we should think of coming up with another term for the ‘minority rule’…at least for our time!!!!
It is democracy that has developed the campaign engines that sort to fight brothers against sisters. It is the same democracy that has demarcated time limit for ‘service’ creating prolonged desire for people to cling onto power even when it is apparently clear that they are incompetent (take for example the case of Omar Yar’Aduwa and uncle bob!). This type of rule has failed the majority by creating masters not leaders. By creating time limit for ‘service,’ democracy has built into people an insatiable greed to acquire as much as they can before they vacate their offices and thus, I will rightly say that it is the principle root of corruption, a vice that is eating up our society.
Let me explain myself on why I consider it the mother of the vice that is corruption. According to Aristotle, “democracy (is) that in which the many and the poor are the rulers.” This idea has also been shared by Locke, Nyerere and many other political geniuses both modern and contemporary. If that is true then, a state where a poor man rules ends up in poverty for he’ll try to satisfy his needs first (coz man is a greedy animal remember). A state where the majority rules ends up in anarchy for it is difficult to reach consensus. In fact, since everyone thinks that they are free, they will tend to fight each other, trying to rule oneself in the name of freedom…this basically throws us into anomie. Since, as Aristotle had already suggested that it is a system of the poor and the masses, the poor will try, by all means possible to reach at the top of the ladder with as little efforts as possible, and this my friends is the basis of corruption.
If the above is not true, then it is true that democracy has failed in the sense that, with daft and incompetent leaders, the majority rights has been placed into the hand of the minority who have taken full advantage. Democracy has for sure become the ‘minority rule’ and this for me is its greatest failure. The masses who elect have no say but the minority, who sit in offices doing nothing in particular and cruising around in some heavy fuel guzzlers.
Yet again, I may be wrong, because although the system has failed, the concept remains intact. May be we should think of coming up with another term for the ‘minority rule’…at least for our time!!!!
religious consumerism
I am not so sure how Jesus has managed to gain billions of followers around the globe, all I know is that he has. If the same Jesus of Nazareth was to reappear amongst us today, I am sure he will sound more irrelevant to many than otherwise. Possibly, psychologists will term him a psychic case and the evangelists will turn their backs on their master. How can you convince me to sell off all my possessions and follow you? How foolish will I be? Who will take care of my uncertain future, take care of my aging parents, give me food to eat or water to drink? And how sure am I that I will attain an everlasting life just but by your words. I ‘m sure Jesus will have hard time trying to explain himself on this issues. I am also suspecting that with such radical demands and controversial way of life, he will either be a victim of suicide bombing or deleted from space by one unmanned aircraft, ones used to hunt ‘terrorists’ in Afghanistan and Iraq!
I am living in a materially possessed society. The proponents of this culture are the consumerists, whose main agenda is to make profit out of nothing and by all means necessary. They are the grandchildren of the pragmatists and the siblings of the capitalists, whose main focus is to get materially rich or die trying to reach such an end. For these groups, success and good life is assured by the amount of material wealth one amasses, and it does not matter by which means, for it is ‘God for us all and everybody for themselves.’ I guess it is based on the Machiavellian principle of the end justifying the means where man is part of those means and never at any point the end. This in brief is the society I am living in; a GREEDY SOCIETY, a consumerist culture, and it is because of the very same reason I am saying that Jesus will sound irrelevant and even look more ridiculous with such kinds of demands.
I am particularly concerned with the new product on the market; Religious consumerism! First, we have a group that preaches a gospel of prosperity, a gospel of ‘good life.’ How good that life will be is the question! There is a belief among many, that some pastors prayers are more powerful than other, that if I give this thousand dollars, the Lord will reward me with these bountiful blessings. These pastors and churches have come up as an instrument of tax collection, through the use of the gospels. The gospel has moved from being the word of life to an instrument of high profile theft, a theft without mercy! The churches are many, some will claim that ‘one suits all,’ while others only insist on the rich and the classy. Some have made it clear that they are for the ‘poor,’ of course in spirit, and that to get a little richer, in spirit, you have to pay the debts of your sins by use of your newly acquired credit card. Better still, we have a those members who choose a church according to the amount of cash they habour in their bank accounts or according to the gravity of their previous sins. It is indeed religious consumerism!
I am living in a materially possessed society. The proponents of this culture are the consumerists, whose main agenda is to make profit out of nothing and by all means necessary. They are the grandchildren of the pragmatists and the siblings of the capitalists, whose main focus is to get materially rich or die trying to reach such an end. For these groups, success and good life is assured by the amount of material wealth one amasses, and it does not matter by which means, for it is ‘God for us all and everybody for themselves.’ I guess it is based on the Machiavellian principle of the end justifying the means where man is part of those means and never at any point the end. This in brief is the society I am living in; a GREEDY SOCIETY, a consumerist culture, and it is because of the very same reason I am saying that Jesus will sound irrelevant and even look more ridiculous with such kinds of demands.
I am particularly concerned with the new product on the market; Religious consumerism! First, we have a group that preaches a gospel of prosperity, a gospel of ‘good life.’ How good that life will be is the question! There is a belief among many, that some pastors prayers are more powerful than other, that if I give this thousand dollars, the Lord will reward me with these bountiful blessings. These pastors and churches have come up as an instrument of tax collection, through the use of the gospels. The gospel has moved from being the word of life to an instrument of high profile theft, a theft without mercy! The churches are many, some will claim that ‘one suits all,’ while others only insist on the rich and the classy. Some have made it clear that they are for the ‘poor,’ of course in spirit, and that to get a little richer, in spirit, you have to pay the debts of your sins by use of your newly acquired credit card. Better still, we have a those members who choose a church according to the amount of cash they habour in their bank accounts or according to the gravity of their previous sins. It is indeed religious consumerism!
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