July 2, 2009
The issue of religion and state is unarguably one of the most complex and sentimentally felt topics on planet earth today. It is in light of this fact that we must agree that examining this subject from a purely objective point of view will indeed be a challenging task. The extent to which religion should matter in the implementation of purely state affairs and state in purely religious affairs has become the subject of contention in different political circles. Take the Chinese on the one hand who believe the state has a right and obligation to control and regulate religious activity within its jurisdiction and the Iranians or Saudis on the other hand who believe that religion is the most defining factor of state. However, of all the arguments and concepts proposed in the treatment of state and religion, the most prevailing and convincing is for the complete separation of the two. Unfortunately, I cannot point to a single nation on planet earth that has successfully managed to separate the two.
From very early in history, religious leaders recognized the need to employ very questionable political antics, and political leaders began to see the potential of religion in being a tool to control people. One can point to the organization of the Vatican and the Catholic Church as a whole to being the perfect example of religion employing political tools. The establishment of most European and Middle Eastern kingdoms and empires in history can be said to be perfect examples of the state using religion as a tool for control and often manipulation. The historical tendencies of religion and state are unfortunately still very evident in today’s “modern” world.
The establishment and rise of a new age of “prosperity preachers” who are fundamentally concerned with self enrichment personal image advancement is indeed very troubling to say the least. These individuals are crafty politicians using religion to exploit the people. How these individuals have managed to exploit their congregations with little to no opposition is astonishing in my opinion. They have become such smooth politicians and sweet talkers who have managed to convince their congregations that they cannot progress unless their pastors progresses. This leads to members of the congregation giving the little they have in the hopes of opening up the gates of prosperity from heaven. Take the situation in Nigeria for example where many of the heads of large churches have accumulated so much wealth that they buy private jets and expensive cars all at the expense of the church. The bulk of the congregation lives in abject poverty and still don’t see the need to question the wealth of their religious heads. At this point I must state that I do not think nor am I trying to say that every rich preacher is a con man or woman, just a few who appear to be increasing because not enough people are asking questions.
On the growth and prosperity of religion in politics, one can point to politicians who are very quick to evoke religious sentiment often in collaboration with religious leaders just to protect selfish political interest. In the United States for example, extreme right wing elements within the country are well know to fall back on religious institutions to protect political interests. The right wing politicians rally up the religious conservatives using sensitive issues like gay rights and abortion, and use the same support to push other agendas such as reducing taxes for the rich and deregulating the financial industry. In Nigeria, politicians are widely known to spark religious wars by inciting people to turn on others of different religious affiliations. All of this is done in a bid to maintain ciaos and keep the people divided, so the political elite can continue to rob and loot the treasury. They manipulate the populace using religion while they get a free ride to do whatever they want.
Advocates for the separation of church and state have made a dynamic and logical argument on why this should be so. Unless those who practice contrary to the prevailing thought can make a superior argument on why we should practice otherwise, people must begin to confront and question blatant violations of basic conduct done under the guise of moral and religious consciousness.
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