Religion and People

Religion is a moving factor in our lives but so many of us has left our own Religious beliefs and embraced that of others simply for monetary reward and that is why there are so many problems and intolerance among us.

Come to think of it, i am an Africa and a West African.

In my place,we have many sects but i wish to talk about this particular religion practiced by the Igbos,a tribe in Nigeria- West Africa.

Igbos believe in God refereed to as Chukwu and we believe that Chukwu created the universe and all of its host, we also believe in Jesus Christ who is refereed to as Nwa Chukwu (son of God) but like the Hindus, Buddhists etc, we also have those who are considered pagans by the Christians, these sec are those who do not go to church but it is not that they don't believe in God.

As a matter of fact, the pagans believe in God the same God whom we as Christians worship but they call him Agbara(Spirit)....

They believe that Agbara watches over them and they call upon him in anything they do, they also have many ways of reaching Agbara.

EXAMPLE:

They have shrines built for Agbara and have its status in many forms

They greet Agbara with cola nut, palm wine or hot drink (Whiskey)

They play local musical instruments to awake Agbara

The three major tribes in Nigeria,HAUSA,IGBO YORUBA all has Christians,Muslims and those refereed to Pagans... They also have among them high priests who ordinates the affairs in the shrine or vice versa, these men are in most cases considered healers,NATIVE DOCTORS know as

DIBIA in Igbo land

Babalawo in Yoruba land

Boka in Hausa land

I am an Igbo by birth and was born into a Christian family, Dad considered all forms of paganism as fetish but come to think of it, i strongly stand on the motion as a grown up that Religious belief is a man's principal that means that as humans we are guided by what we belief.

Those who believe that Allah is God

Those who believe that god Sheba is God

Those who believe that Abgara is God

Paganism is all over the world and the the Yoruba Babalowa practice has spread all over the world.

What if there is Religious tolerance?

They use music as a symbol and all the tribes has ranges of musical groups and sometimes masquerades masked by mainly men in recognition of their activities and spiritual beliefs.

Historically, the Nigeria or rather Paganism dates back to many centuries B.C, the practice of worshiping another god instead of the FATHER ALMIGHTY is refereed to as Paganism and every one who is not a Muslim is refereed to as a Pagan by Muslims and the same apply to the Hindus. Furthermore, pagans believe in different gods like

god of thunder

god of the sun

god of the rain

god of venegance

god of purity

I wish not to write more than i was taught or more than i know in this hub but what i intend to do here is to highlight on what so many people all over the world believe but as a Christian and a believer of the new Testament, one cannot be a Christian,believe in God and adopt Paganism at the same time.

There were sacrifices of Animal for God the supreme master which was practiced in the old testament by Christians, pagans generally offer animal sacrifices to their gods but like the Bible made us to believe in (Romans 1:22-24).

What is really the problem?