Saturday, November 18, 2006

Of God(s) and Us: Aimless Fluid being shot from the hip

I have a religion, which has no name, attempts no definition of God or Gods and is unconstrained by what has been and what is being. I’m often asked this question, “what do you believe in?” and I always reply, “I believe in the after-life”. I’m usually probed further “are you a Muslim or a Christian?”(As if these are only two existing religions, I’m sorry, I mean “ways of life”). I often find myself retorting with a sharp “neither”. Before I get crucified, I believe a quick clarification is appropriate.

There exist countless images of God(s). We have the Muslim perception of God, the Christian, the Hindu, the Yoruba, the Tao, not forgetting the image according to Judaism and countless hordes of others. These images often elicit conflicting and passionate arguments (like the Palestine question). And as we have it today, there is a tendency for the proponents of one of these images to confer on it the title “This is the only way” and the others; “The others way”. I sincerely hope this ascription is not in relation to the ascendancy of Western civilisation. Remember “The clutching of strangers’ gods is one trademark of a spiritually conquered people” so says W.B. Yeats (An Irish nationalist poet).

It is Nigerian to see success at material accretion as being synonymous with spiritual probity (albeit, this is the posit of the SAP induced modern day Dr.’s of Divinity and or Theology). There is no business that succeeds like one that exploits our fears. But, all I have said is by the way. I feel, the Universe being so large and we a tiny almost dispensable spec (in relation to the Universe that is), are in no position to comprehend the totality of God. Let alone being proxy to God’s thoughts, or passing, pronouncing and or carrying out judgement on his behalf. I think our image of God has sometimes being one big pretentious excuse for human actions. No wonder that good man said “Man made God in his own image”.

I hope our religiosity is not all an act. Finding ourselves being swarm by momentous feeling of insecurity (that is being accentuated by the economic recession), we dive deep into our repertoire of “arts of survival” and we get born anew, emerging in an actor’s robe.

Hollywood doesn't know this yet; Nigerians are the greatest of actors the good Lord ever created. How I just wish that they will tap from the immense talent that are bound in Nigeria and Arnold Schwarzenegger will suddenly become a third rate box office hit. No, don't get me wrong, it is not that we posses innate talent. It is just that our bare existence has been reduced to surviving, we are left no recourse, but to act, and act, we act well! Nothing matters any more except the response we elicit from our audience (those we look up to and those that look up to us). Even the revered aspects of life have been reduced to an art form. I guess a lot of us deserve to be nominated for an Oscar, if for nothing else, for wearing a smile like Nero while Rome burns. It really does take an act to survive in this Nija cauldron.

Prayers often offered in the public domain, repeatedly comes across as a recital with a distinct signature of feigning, or at best a display of simulated gross eloquence. This frequently appears as an attempt at the finest form of religious oratory that is in reality directed to those humans listening, and is shrouded in an ambience of false piety. When praying gets reduced to an art form, then where lies conviction? Without conviction how will our prayer get answered? Herein lies the Nigerian “molobikan” (spiritual stalemate).

Behavioural exhibits might lead someone to erroneously think that being religious should only be relevant and limited to spiritual enclaves or that which is directly associated with such enclaves (or other enclaves on similar platforms). In matters of business, office manoeuvrings, etc. here we are free to engage survival instincts, the amoral man in us should take over. All seems fair in our war. There appears to exist this clever arrangement in man’s favour, in his relationship with God(s). When it suits us we believe him/her; when it doesn’t, he/she does not matter. I guess our gods are pliable. Fredrick Nietzsche maybe just is right “Man is not a moral being” after all. It is all about “survival of the fittest” employing any means suitable and adaptable, Darwin no vex.

Our economy has been deregulated (or is it guided deregulation). We are now in a seasons of “laissez-faire”. It seems fair for the spiritual theatres, to also employ promise of prosperity on a horse back of greed, corruption and immorality, at sourcing for customers. A vehicle for traversing the labyrinth of the Nigerian economy, no doubt. Well, they are also subject to same market forces that affect gari and rice. In this era of active competition and commercialisation, it is just as well to employ an advertisement jingle that reads, “God only worships here”. It is hard not to be a cynic. Uhuru still lies at the end of a road unknown.

The handwriting of the Gods with us

It so happens that the frequencies of the Gods are very difficult to tune into, not because the Gods have refused to transmit, but because we have preconceived ideas on the channels through which the Gods bring forth their messages. Such notions lead us to hear our perception (or is it distortions or filtered versions), of what the Gods are saying. The beliefs (or is it myths) we live by may often be dictated by our feelings for that which we hold is “true”. The following statement thus readily comes to mind “is it true because we believe; or because we believe, it is true”.

One positive thing standing in favour of the belief system however, is its purpose as an anchor in what sometimes appear as an earthly envelope of nothingness (apologies to the existentialist), in the metaphysical/spiritual realm. Another reason being its provision of a seemingly functional degree of certainty in an ocean of reasonably vast minutely understood (or non-understood) phenomena in the physical sphere.

Throughout history of civilisation, man has been confronted with experiences, which constitute a direct affront to his life long held (and handed down) beliefs. Such confrontations often lead to a shattering of such beliefs (theories). Consider what would have gone through the minds of the Native American on setting eyes on Christopher Columbus and his troops. The response of man to shocking realisations (or new revelations), is often one of initial inertia associated with disbelief or complete bewilderment.

Man finds new truths disturbing, an anomaly to his ordered chaos. So, he tenaciously clings on to the safer and predictable former truths. Casting our minds back into history, images of religious persecution, faced by the great sages comes into view. In science, the denouncing of scientific truths by the “discoverers” in the face of public (or institutionalised) outrage is another picture, that comes readily to the mind’s eye. These indignation in recent past, have taken departure from their aggressive nature of ancient times, being subdued in the physical sense but acquiring dangerous dimension in the psychological realm. Humans have always resented that which is inherently part of us; that is change. These “most probable changes” fortunately have over time always won, and all are now enjoying the positive consequences of these changes.

We marvel at the courage and passion exhibited by the sages in fighting for and instituting these changes. These great men and women have left their legacies in the fields of religion and science. While they tried to fashion out the new notions, they were regarded as mad by the rest, who were then blinded by their traditional beliefs. These lesser mortals were unmindful of the fact that “madmen are people gifted by Gods with a vision denied to others” and that “genius and madness are near allied”.

Arthur Koestler did say “true (original) creativity starts where language ends”. Extending the boundaries in any field of human endeavour it seems has always been the preserve of the great-ones. Their ability to see farther than the rest, not only rest on the fact that they stand on the shoulders of giants in their respective chosen fields, but they were/are not limited by what has been. In addition, they passionately continue the pursuance of conquering the immense unknown. Well, it has often been said “A tree does not make a forest” but I believe one good seeing tree does make a hell of a difference.

Returning to belief systems, the need for a belief has always been an essential ingredient for living. Our beliefs should not only give us a sense of purpose, but should be a platform for listening through the infinite messages. We should not be held bound by such beliefs in the face of mounting contrary evidences. In order to arrive at the most probable truths at any epoch of human existence, we will continually require a refinement of our beliefs (theories). Lets us strive to batter our theories (beliefs) to accommodate new observations rather than “panel-beat” the observations to suit our theories. Arthur C. Clarke once admonished us to be aware that “When distinguished elderly scientist say something is likely to be wrong, it might just be right”.

The foot-prints (signatures) of the Gods are bound in nature; our sacred duty is to discover them and decipher their meanings, so that we can utilise the acquired understanding for bringing forth hidden treasures that will be of benefit to the entire humanity. Through such passionate sojourn we may find that “which is for the sake of itself and itself alone..Happiness”, so says Aristotle.

Friday, November 17, 2006

Rebels without a focus

In this age,
the young ones are looking to stage.
They turn a page,
but only let out a rage.
They try a gage,
but it offers no wage.
Now they are in a cage,
their freedom only known to the sage.

Still…

The young ones cry out,
lunging at ripples of water, they shout.

Consumed by our fear,
we, busy to hear.
fright in their outstretched hand,
their plight they are left to bear,
we, dance the tune of the beer.


They find…

Nothing to believe,
renders them without a vision,
at the sea level of anonymity,
their humanity is condemned to wallow,
the drowning ocean offers only,
mass confusion.

In the stifling darkness,
at the sea bottom,
lunging and groping,
in desperation for something real.

The real life-buoy cannot hold sway,
false ones clutter the way.
The only ones left to steal,
leaving them so unreal.

And now….

Out of the blue,
a lifeline comes anew.
With slime the line slings,
slippery, their desperation cannot hold,
illusion it only brings.

And yet,

The void waiting to be filled,
embracing another,
delusion becomes their creed.

But alas,

for some,
A path is shown,
a leverage is known.
New blossom of thermal energy,
devouring the thawing darkness,
impelled by the gravity drag.

They are shot at relativistic velocity,
from the black-hole,
out and out,
they come off the bag.

Weary,
Realising,
a closeness to nothingness,
a trip of foolishness.