Let me start with a disclaimer. I was born and raised by staunch Catholic parents. I was an altar boy in my primary school years. So I grew up in the Catholic doctrine and have brought up my children in the church’s tradition. Indeed, Catholicism has played a big role in my character formation.
As Proverbs 22:6 says, direct your children onto the right path, and when they are older, they will not leave it. But if you have noticed, the young generation globally is sliding fast into secularity. For reasons that are now apparent, traditional religions are losing their credibility as the truth about their origins, nature and role emerge.
The challenges facing religion in general are not mainly issues of sects, religious extremism, violent extremism and cultism, as the task force led by former NCCK secretary-general Mutava Musyimi indicated on Tuesday. All these are symptoms of religions that have failed to live up to their calling. They are byproducts of the deep penetration of secularism and corruption in religion.
By default, Christianity is the worst hit in this growing malaise. A quick search on the internet reveals that contrary to perception, Islam is the fastest-growing religion in the world, while Christianity is declining at the highest rate. According to the US-based Pew Research Centre think tank, by 2050, the number of Muslims and Christians will almost be at par.
While much of this widely predicted outcome is based on the massive population increase of the Muslim demographic in some regions of the world where they reside, it is also based on the fact that many Christians are deserting their religion and are not being replaced by a comparable number of converts to compensate for this loss through attrition.
The truth is that today, there is a fine line between many religions and secularism. Religious leaders have increasingly become part of the evils that they condemn from the pulpits and other hallowed grounds. They preach water and fasting, but are drunk with wine as they gorge themselves.
Just like our greedy and selfish political class, some clerics and other religious leaders are done pretending and cannot hide their vices anymore. They have become as carnal as the guy next door, as randy as the typical male, and shamelessly play the field of their congregants.
The biggest casualty of the emerging trend is Christianity. You will realise that it is only in Africa where we still have solid Christian communities. In the West, which gave the religion to Africa, churches have been turned into pubs and brothels, as the number of congregants constantly diminish.
Let me end with a couple of recent comments from colleagues in one of my media practitioners WhatsApp groups. Chris said that the problem with our churches is that we have many pastors and religious leaders without God’s calling. The bicycle-riding village pastor of yesteryear is no more. Today, many are here to make money. The worst are educated Kenyans with postgraduate degrees fleecing congregations, driving big cars and enriching themselves. In the process begging and threatening Christians, while selling their souls to politicians for huge donations.
Chris opined that to some clerics, it is no longer a vocation or calling, but rather a professional course just like medicine or engineering based simply on the masterly of Bible verses and attendance of a theological college.
Eliud said that there are times he feels very disappointed to see gullible Christians in church fighting to outdo each other in cash contributions over dubious projects started by pastors. For an informed believer, this is the lowest moment in church when you realise that money generously donated does not go to any worthy project but directly to the pastor’s stomach. Very sad indeed.
— The writer is a PhD student in International Relations
