AIDERS AND ABETTORS

In my post of Friday, 27 April 2012 entitled "Don't Do God" (http://9jainc.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/dont-do-god.html), I attempted to highlight the many failings, not of religion, but of religious leaders in our society. The succeeding months have witnessed intra-religious, and intra-denominational, accusations, counter-accusations, condemnations and, you guessed it, counter-condemnations. It was delightful to see the level of passion that arose regarding this most highly emotive of issues. However, the central question in all of these has been largely ignored: What exactly is the role of religious leaders in society? I believe that it is in answering this question lies the basis upon which to assess their influence, not only on strict religious matters, but also on moral, social and political matters affecting the lives of their flock.

We must not be averse to measuring their performance, most especially in these times of severe hardship and acute moral decadence. Some of them are deserving of our respect, while most of them most certainly are not. We must not let religionism becloud our opinion of them as it is evident that the contemporary practice of religion leaves quite a lot of nasty taste in the mouth. Why do we hastily condemn corrupt politicians and public officials while we largely overlook the rank and file of the clergy who unashamedly abandon the responsibility central to their relevance? Why have they taken so much delight in being aiders and abettors?

The weak in society are being pummelled in every area of life by a toxic mix of political leadership's belligerence and religious leadership's indifference. Is it too much of an ask to expect religious leaders to speak out in defence of the weak and the dispossessed in society? Why have the love of money and political patronage overtaken the real reasons for their calling? If they have so spectacularly failed in the discharge of their duties and blatantly ignored the reasons for their essence, do we then have any reasonable need of them? These are questions I wrestle with all the time, and I'm no nearer finding answers.

In most countries of the world, religious leaders have important roles to play and they do so with panache, and an unswerving conviction, regardless of the potential dangers they face. Where they see, or even perceive, injustice, they rise as one to protest, and defend the defenceless. Government policies are railed against when necessary and they do not take a back seat when legislation is regarded as being particularly harsh on the weak and poor in society. In short, they seek to keep governments in check; they are the unelected, but widely respected, opposition. In Nigeria, most religious leaders keep mute and fold their hands behind their backs in meek submission, for fear of jeopardising their statuses among the political elite.

The war on corruption and, on unfair and unjust treatment of the citizenry, will continue to be sloganised as long as our religious leaders continue with the myopic act of debasing their calling; and measuring their spiritual wealth in terms of material aggrandisement. Flash cars, multi-million-dollar private jets, mansions all over the world will not elevate you in our spiritual minds, they, on the other hand, serve to enervate us spiritually. If you believe in the God that you purport to serve, you very well know that, in the fullness of time, you shall be held to account. Take heed.