RELIGION MUST UNITE AND NOT DIVIDE

AFTER the arrest of rape accused televangelist, Timothy Omotoso, it is clear that religious tolerance is a necessity.

We must not just tolerate each other, we must get involved in religious activity, and speak against disparaging and evil acts where they exist.

Peace building is an essential part of human life in many countries today. To that end, faith, courage and kindness are necessary human efforts.

Conflict has taken over so many communities across the world, including our own, South Africa. The coronavirus pandemic has exposed religious institutions for being unprepared to deal with global challenges.

The virus didn’t target Catholics or Presbyterians, it affected human beings and while we still exist in racial and religious silos, the virus doesn’t.

Religious conflict is one of the issues that have gone deep into the marrow of our societies. Structural religious conflict has been sanctioned by some Christians and Muslims in the country. This makes it difficult for people of one faith to speak out on issues of another, even when it’s necessary to do so.

With the fleeing of fraud accused Shepherd Bushiri, it’s clear that obsessive and occultic faith actions have become a vicious circle that manifests itself in politics and traditional authority. There is no way Bushiri could have fled the country without the assistance of some in government.

For religious leaders, there is the overarching task of establishing peace in our societies. Religious leaders are the closest to the citizens at the grass roots.

For those of us in the media fraternity, we have closer influence and should therefore bear the burden of striving for the peace and equality of all citizens. If we are to be non-racial and non-sexist, we must be “non-religionist’’.

With the vile injuries on humanity disguised under religion, we cannot simply ignore religious institutions because they are not part of “our faith”.

We must all get involved.

“Learning never exhausts the mind

Leonardo da Vinci