Religious extremism is the cause of our woes

olamide oni

January 20, 2016 2:27 PM

"We have also seen that doctrinal extremism easily move from oral violence to physical violence. Riots and murderous conflicts are a natural development from exclusivist fanatical rejection of the other. "

Christians, rise up and Christianise Nigeria - Cardinal Onaiyekan

The Catholic Archbishop of Abuja, John Cardinal Onaiyekan has said the rise in religious extremism and fanaticism which began two decades ago is to be blamed for our current disharmony, insecurity and crisis.

Speaking at a symposium organized by the Faculty of Law, Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) Zaria, Kaduna State, recently, the cardinal said the cordiality among the Christian and Muslim faithful in the country was smooth until about two decades ago, pointing out that the new development is not between Christians and Muslims alone, but also found among all faiths and that religious crises have become global phenomenon.

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"Some two decades or so ago, a negative development started to be witnessed by our people with regards to religious harmony. We began to see a rise in strict fanaticism, where people held so tightly to their own faith that they declared that they are the only ones acceptable to God. This leads to a total rejection of whoever does not follow their own line," he said.

At the event, which was themed "Religion for Peace and Harmony in Nigeria," Onaiyekan also expressed that the Christian and Muslim fanatics make it a point to attribute their action to some passages in the Bible and Quran, adding that this is the misrepresentation of God on the equality of people, freedom of choice of religion.

He said: "We have also seen that doctrinal extremism easily move from oral violence to physical violence. Riots and murderous conflicts are a natural development from exclusivist fanatical rejection of the other. The anomaly of the Boko Haram is a clear case in point. It is clear now that it is not enough to condemn the violent activities of terrorists who kill and maim. We must also address the grave danger posed by those who preach rejection of other faiths, whether in their Mosques or in their Churches."

Describing religion as a positive element in the society the cardinal said it is also a cardinal belief that God is Father of all His creatures, all human beings. But precisely because of that, it is the duty of every human being to consider everybody, Christians and non-Christians, believers and non-believers as brothers and sisters under God.

olamide oni