Hypocrisy can be defined in a billion ways. I am interested in its meaning in moral psychology. It refers to failure to follow one’s own expressed moral principle or value. The first rule of Geography states that everything is related to everything else, but near things are more related than distant things.
Majority must have heard about this word in connection to a rogue religious leader who has been alleged to oversee his flock throughout some fasting until they meet their Messiah.
Hitherto, over ninety souls have already succumbed to this madness while others were rescued alive. Whatever happened in Malindi must be related to what is happening elsewhere within the republic, going by Tobler’s first law of Geography.
Religion
Scientifically, it is believed that modern humans have walked over the surface of the earth for over 200,000 years. It is not clear when current humans became religious.
Currently there are an estimated 10,000 religions worldwide. Four religions Islam, Christianity, Hinduism and Buddhism account for 77% of world’s population.
Christianity started as a sect few years after Jesus Christ was killed by the Roman Authorities. It was Mary Magdalene who claimed first claimed to have seen the empty tomb of Jesus then she relayed the information to the disciples who most of times were hiding due to lack of sense of direction or leadership after losing their leader or in fear of persecution by the Judaists who were majority among Jews and the Romans who believed in other gods.
Imported gods
In one way or the other, Christianity and Islam found their ways into the African continent. Before then, many African communities believed in Traditional African Religions. The Whiteman’s religion has been used to manipulate Africans in many ways including enslavement, brainwashing and dispossessing them of their land. Many Charismatic clerics have not been left behind in interpreting the scriptures to suit their needs at the expense of the ignorant/blindly trusting sheep in the flock. The benefits yielded from exploiting poor followers include Porsche vehicles, luxurious lifestyles, gifts in form of cash, land and real estate property.
In many instances, the life of the follower does not improve that much. And whenever it improves, it is more of the follower’s effort as opposed to the “miracles” that happen over the religious leader’s life.
Religion needs man to exist not the other way round. To borrow a leaf from Karl Marx, religion is the opium of masses. When not paraphrased, the whole statement translates to, Religion is the sigh of oppressed creature, the heart of a heartless world, and the soul of the soulless condition.
Man created religion, religion didn’t create a man. Therefore, religion needs a man to exist but a man doesn’t necessarily need it to exist. Many people prefer to endure religious suffering in hope for a better life after death, which sometime does not make sense. Why would God claim to have made man in His own image, by extension the man is His favorite then he has to suffer more than any other creature including the beasts in order to gain happiness after death?
Going by practical examples, there is no prove of life after death in the last two millennia. The last person to be claimed to have resurrected was Christ. How true this information is, is a question of one’s belief. No evidence to back it up.
Cultlike ghetto politics taking advantage of the poor and the Nation of hypocrites
To borrow a leaf from Karl Marx, religion is the opium of masses. When not paraphrased, the whole statement translates to, “Religion is the sigh of oppressed creature, the heart of a heartless world, and the soul of the soulless condition.
Man created religion, religion didn’t create a man. Therefore, religion needs a man to exist but a man doesn’t necessarily need it to exist. Many people prefer to endure religious suffering in hope for a better life after death, which sometime does not make sense. Why would God claim to have made man in His own image, by extension the man is His favorite then he has to suffer more than any other creature including the beasts in order to gain happiness after death?
Going by practical examples, there is no prove of life after death in the last two millennia. The last person to be claimed to have resurrected was Christ. How true this information is, is a question of one’s belief. No evidence to back it up.
In this country, you will have come across shitty statements like “Raila Baba,Raila Mwana, na roho mtakatifu”. Another guy was claiming that COVID-19 should not dare touch Raila Amollo Odinga, else the country should be disbanded and everyone to go home.
Low income earners especially those from informal settlement gather for some rallies purporting to be exercising direct democracy in the name of Bunge la Mwananchi. Common careless statements such as "Raila akiniambia niwachane na mke wangu, nitamfukuza asubuhi. Or I will not soma katika (enjoy conjugal rights), mpaka baba aapishwe. Raila akikwambia mke wako akona ball anza kununua pampers".
Honorable ignorance
Very senior legislators also have been reported saying ignorant things. “Raila is the fourth arm of the government"-Babu Owino”. Junet Mohamed said, “We follow Raila like cows so that we don’t end up like Duale”. Implying there should be no room for independent thoughts, whenever Rao tells you to jump, just ask how high, failure to which you will be expelled from the party.
Retired president Uhuru Kenyatta was also quoted claiming that, IEBC and Supreme Court’s pronouncements (about Ruto having won the presidency) notwithstanding, Raila will be his leader.
These kind of declarations qualify to be associated to cult-like behavior. Many Kenyans are out there pretending to condemn the rogue pastor who is accused of "counselling" his followers to fast to death, yet they are blind to this irrational behavior they exhibit towards politicians. St. Mathew urged us to take out the log out of our eye, that way we shall be able to clearly see the speck from our brother’s eye.
Honestly, Azimio guys, you can do better.
OPINION By CEPHAS MUTAI
MWINGI TIMES for timely and authoritative news.
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