Religion is one of the major factors that has affected our civilization and our way of life.
Northeastern Nigeria is a core Muslim territory with a Christian minority. It’s the part of Nigeria that gave birth to Boko Haram – and many Islamic bandits – who have killed thousands and destroyed billions worth of property. They have also kidnapped people for ransom and abducted innocent school children, notably the Chibok girls, and used them as sex slaves.
These things have not only set us back; they have influenced the thinking of adults and young people alike. Knowledge and understanding have increased due to improved internet connectivity and the spread of computer skills. People are beginning to use logic and critical thinking to analyse both the good and the bad sides of religion. Their eyes and their minds are opening and the influence of religion on the youth in the northeast is gradually fading.
A church in my area has been trying to work out why its membership is falling. In the past, if you arrived even a few minutes late for a service you would have had to sit outside because the church was full. Now there are many empty seats, even on Sundays and on special occasions. The youth are braving up like never before and most of the remaining church members are elderly – which means the church will be out of members once they pass. This will be a setback for religion but a win for humanity.
This is not only going on within Christianity but in Islam as well. A local mosque used to be very active and constantly disturbed the neighbourhood with its noise. But now, due to a lack of interest from the youth, the mosque is sometimes locked. This is another example of the silent revolution that is happening in the northeast. Based on my experience, the time is coming when many people will be free of religion and things will then change for the good. The signs are clear – religion is becoming a thing of the past.
Finally overcoming religion will not be an easy task. It will take courage, patience and time, and it’s not for the weak. But it’s much better for someone to make sacrifices today for the sake of a better tomorrow than it is for them to do nothing so that future generations continue to suffer. In the end, religion will be a thing of the past and humanity will take over.
Leaving religion is a bold and risky step for anyone to take, but I can say that it is a risk worth taking. Even if I fall during the struggle I will still be happy because I am laying the foundations of humanism and building an army which will take up the work from wherever I stop.
Religion takes everything from us and so we lack resources. But with courage we will in time make the change and free our people from religious bondage.
By Nigerian Survivor