Which is the right religion?

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congregate in their temples, lodges or pronoas to chant vowel sounds while facing the East, from which the Sun rises in the tradition of ancient Egyptians. The Pentecostals dispatch their prayers by speaking in tongues which, to them, is an open sesame to God.

All these differences notwithstanding, all these religions are unanimous in upholding good deeds, promoting good behaviour and avoiding evil acts as prerequisite for good life in the hereafter, be it in paradise, heaven, attainment of Nirvana, union with Cosmic Consciousness or good repose in the spirit world of our ancestors.

I have tasted different religions. I was brought up as an alter boy in the Catholic Church, in the “Hail Mary” tradition. I wedded in the Anglican Church where I worship to date, but I still resort to my rosary to recite my Hail Marys when I want. I have had cause to chant vowel sounds in Rosicrucian temples in my teenage years. And I still chant them when I want. I still meditate in the Rosicrucian fashion when I feel like even though I abandoned Rosicrucianism at the age of 19. Three of my best friends are Muslims who respect my faith as I do theirs. In all these, I see no contradiction because the motivation is the same: the endless search for God as result of the unknown.

In this business of searching for God, nobody is wrong, not even our ancestors whom we have been compelled to dismiss as idol worshippers. Everybody is right, including our ancestors who, while pouring drinks on carved objects called on Chineke (God the creator) to answer their prayers.

Kevin Ebele Adinnu, a Chartered Accountant, writes from Anambra State (ababio38@gmail.com)