No individual who spreads a religious message should despise or vilify any human being for any reason. We have never heard of the founders of either of the two major religions harboring hatred towards the people they sought to reach. However, a situation is arising in Nigeria where preachers openly express hatred and vilify an ethnic group. Their followers often do this, but it is becoming more common among preachers in both the northern and southern parts of the country. This should concern anyone who understands the core principles of the religion they follow, yet everyone remains silent. Now, what I refer to as the preacher's "business" is sometimes called a "calling." So, what does this preacher's calling entail?
As the founders of the two major religions delivered a message intended for all humanity, it provides an understanding of the role of any preacher conveying a religious message. Their task is to reach out to those who are not behaving properly and encourage them to act appropriately. The present situation suggests that some preachers in Nigeria are not focused on this goal. Rather, they vilify the very people that one would expect the founders of their faith to want them to reach out to. If this continues, there will be consequences for Nigeria and its people, and this is what worries me. I will come back to this topic.
When a typical religious person dislikes another Nigerian, I'm not too worried. However, I am concerned when a preacher behaves similarly. This is highly divisive and poses a threat to peaceful living together. Nowadays, some preachers take the microphone and claim one ethnic group is better than another. Another one kept his congregation standing, stopped delivering religious messages, and instead became angry, moving up and down while responding to the necessary corrections other preachers made regarding his behavior. These preachers allow their emotions to take control. What message are they sending to their followers? These days, some preachers' words don't sound like what should be expected from religious leaders. They make statements about certain Nigerians in a way that suggests those Nigerians are beyond being convinced to act properly.
Can followers of religion point to the sacred texts they reference and show where the founders of their faith state that some people are beyond being convinced to act properly, or that there's no need to try to reach out to them to encourage good behavior? In parts of Nigeria, some preachers make no attempt to engage with members of a particular ethnic group. They act as if those individuals don't exist. They speak as though their religion is only meant for their own ethnic group, with the opposing ethnic group not welcome. Look at their places of worship, which mostly include certain ethnic groups and exclude others. Notice the growing number of empty seats in their large places of worship in major cities, while those who should be there are on the streets, untouched by outreach. Many preachers don't even make an effort to connect with them. The people they despise are nearby, yet they show no concern for them.
Some religious leaders travel to various places, yet neglect the responsibilities their vocation demands within their own region. However, they express and spread hatred when the effects of this neglect become apparent. If preachers only focus on the small number of criminals, it is less concerning. But their entire ethnic group gets demonized, and these preachers speak about them as if they are not humans that the founders of the two main religions would care about. This kind of behavior has become accepted among Nigerian religious people, and it should concern everyone. Yet, it doesn't.
Why do certain preachers become upset and make inflammatory remarks when individuals from a specific ethnic group commit offenses, yet remain less reactive when people from other ethnic groups engage in similar actions? This is due to deep-seated prejudices, which religious leaders should avoid. Keep in mind that the founders of these faiths were not provoked by anyone's actions. In fact, these spiritual leaders extended compassion to those who were despised by their own communities. Do the preachers who react strongly follow the example set by the founders of their religions, or do they simply support the "label them as enemies" strategies that some individuals promote?
I mentioned earlier – if any religious leader steps away from their main responsibilities to attack individuals, it won't address the issues that concern them. If they aim to make a difference regarding the behaviors that upset them, let them focus on the duties that the founders of their religions assigned to them for all people. I have traveled to remote northern regions of this country, and I've observed how religious individuals ignore those who don't share their beliefs until these people cause them problems. If preachers also neglect their duties but believe only the government can create peace, or think they can make an impact through attacking others, they are missing the key point. Because they foster hatred through their divisive and condemning words, and where there is hatred in people's hearts, peace will always be absent.
What benefit is there in vilifying those who don't act properly in solving real-life issues? A sensible person would question whether their actions are actually addressing the problem they have recognized. Hatred prevents such logical thinking—hatred clouds judgment. The effects of this on the country are numerous. Both the government and religious leaders have responsibilities. If religious leaders examine the sacred texts they rely on, it might coincidentally make them realize that they reside in the region they do for the very people they despise and condemn. By the way, religious leaders are given respect by the government because they are expected to unite people, ease tensions, and promote peace. Peace enables governments to maintain control. I'm uncertain about what certain religious leaders are saying nowadays, especially following the herder-farmer conflict and the widespread retaliatory attacks on communities, which aligns with the government's expectations.
No one should cause a preacher to condemn any person.
If anyone disagrees with this, they should open the sacred text they follow and demonstrate where the founders of their religion either condemned or rejected reaching out to those who acted improperly. If a religious person refuses to open their holy book and instead offers other reasons for hatred and condemnation, they should stop claiming to have a religion. I am not saying that one should not feel empathy for victims of those who commit crimes. Everyone feels sorrow for the terrible circumstances. However, I always emphasize that what has occurred cannot serve as a justification for any religious person to harbor hatred. How are they different from those without religion? I believe preachers should inform their congregations that under no conditions can they justify hatred when invoking the deity they worship. Yet, preachers often display the same tendencies. Preachers who express hate toward any individual reveal emotional instability and immaturity; some even show this through the shallow nature of their words.
They are everywhere, particularly online, where some individuals quote from the sacred text they frequently use to post offensive language, criticize those they are meant to guide, or write lengthy essays highlighting their own accomplishments. One even invites others to a popularity contest, expressing his plan to oppose another preacher's platform to determine who is more popular. His fellow preachers likely chuckled at this demonstration of what I assume they would call "spiritual" immaturity. When preachers behave in this manner, what kind of followers do they cultivate? Meanwhile, which preacher in one of the sacred texts expressed a desire to decrease so that the originator of his faith might increase?
Nowadays, we witness titles but lack the personal character that truly justifies them. Many demonstrate talents but show little or no emotional growth and development in their character. Their fellow preachers often highlight these issues online. Some even ridicule the emotional and clear doctrinal immaturity they observe. Offline, some spread information about ethnic groups they despise to preachers. Instead of allowing their vocation to shape them and display emotional maturity, preachers become upset and express hatred. So, what impact has this had on their followers? We see religious individuals filled with hatred towards other Nigerians. Worse still, religious leaders have not realized that this behavior is abnormal and have not made efforts to put an end to it.
Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc.Syndigate.info).
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