After over a century of the amalgamation of the entity called Nigeria, and just over six decades of the Nigerian state becoming an independent nation and a republic, we still have very different stories about how we came to be a Nation. That we are independent is a different matter, but the truth is that we came to be by the will and interferences of external forces. This is not a political discussion, hence we need not talk about the reasons, the crux of the matter here is that it is difficult to get the facts of the matter; about the truth behind this (Nigerian) arrangement, and it is impossible to get one clear voice on why we are here or must be here, together. What we hear are different stories/versions of the creation of Nigeria which is less than 2 centuries old.
The question then is, why do we have different versions? Are persons deliberately peddling the wrong versions? Or is it a case of lack of detailed information that they have less accurate versions? Are some versions promoted to achieve some ideals while others have different goals? How do we get the absolute truth or undiluted and unadulterated version of the history of Nigeria (which does not promote or champion any ideal except, to tell the truth)? It is almost impossible.
Hence, what or who you choose to believe as your ancestors is only a result of the story you have accepted.
The first fact of the matter is, if we cannot get a fully detailed and unbiased account of the history of Nigeria which is less than 2 centuries old, how can we get a detailed account of the creation of the world, or more recently, the history of Christianity which is over 2 millennia ago?
About the existence of the world and the attempt by various religions to give an account of how it all began, we can say we have very interesting accounts. It is now subject to faith because there is actually nothing to unequivocally prove any claim. Hence, what or who you choose to believe as your ancestors is only a result of the story you have accepted.
Should I say therefore that, we need not be worried about the postulation of science on how the world came to be. If we check the word postulation in the dictionary it explains it as a suggestion or assumption of the existence, fact, or truth of something as a basis for reasoning, discussion, or belief. The fact of the matter here is that the position of science about the creation stories (the evolution theory or the big bang theory) is a form of belief based on the suggestions or assumptions presented. Some scientists accept these theories and some don’t. Surprisingly, it is still subject to belief.
We often depend on what we know to chart the course of our path, … but what we do not know ( or have control over/or can fully describe) has a way of taking us to our destination.
This takes us to the next fact of the matter, which is, there are contending forces seeking man’s acceptance or maybe approval based on the depth and effect of what we know or don’t know. Our knowledge alone has not guaranteed our success, neither has ignorance guaranteed our failures. For example, in the area of health, we keep discovering new knowledge about the human body and better ways of bringing healing to the body(the same human body that we have always had with us keeps bringing new discoveries). However, there are several accounts of inexplicable (or should we say miraculous) healings that occurred outside the provision of human knowledge or assistance.
In the same way, there are health cases that have gone beyond human knowledge or understanding. In the spectrum of human knowledge, nothing can be deciphered, seen, or diagnosed, but the (health) problem is there. This tells us one thing for sure, our knowledge and ignorance have constantly fashioned the fabric of our existence and survival. We often depend on what we know to chart the course of our path.
Unfortunately, how much do we know and ought to know? How much don’t we know? At this point, the term mystery can be burrowed, or the word metaphysical, or the term spiritual. Do they affect the fabric of our existence and survival? The answer is yes they do. The question should be how much. And I would say, in more ways than we can imagine. In effect, what we do not know (or describe fully) has a way of taking us to our destinations.
At this point, you would be expecting me to pour out facts from world history books, sacred books, or maybe quotations, scientific proofs, data, or research. No, I wanted us to have simple deductions and reasonings. I want us to present facts based on what is obvious in our surroundings today without recourse to a certain writer of whom we can’t tell who or what was influencing his/her write-up. Let us get our facts from what we are experiencing in our environment. Are you following?
Earlier, we presented details from history and explained why it may be difficult to follow or accept them because of the different versions. From this point, I will now slide into Christianity. What version of the Christian story do you have? Have you noticed that even the Gospels present different versions of similar stories? For some persons, this alone is a turn-off and brands Christianity as false. They expect 4 persons to give the same story verbatim without alteration. The fact of the matter is that the gospel stories are perspectives or accounts of different writers but ultimately with the same message.
Their versions are slightly different based on the source of the story and/or the participation of the narrator. I am pleased to tell you that it is not a tidy presentation of people’s accounts, history never is. At home, your place of work, or school, ask 2 persons to give a narrative of an event or even a movie they watched, and you would be amazed at how narration works. Narration is an opportunity for a person to weave personal experience, understanding, interest, perspective, belief, and language into a description of a character, an event, or a place. In literature, the term world-view could be adequate.
We would consider yet another interesting event. In the recent past, there was a conspiracy theory about Holocaust Denial. (You can look up Holocaust Denial) online. Holocaust is an account of history that occurred in the mid-90s. Less than a century ago and people are already denying that it happened. Is this denial to claim the innocence of a people and/or denial of a crime? In a similar fashion, we get several write-ups, stories, or lectures stating that Jesus Christ was a criminal, while some say he never existed. Some say it is just a myth. Some others claim it is a tool for colonization and many other theories. Sure, we can’t be surprised, the story of Jesus Christ dates back to 2,000 years ago, and we should expect more theories as the years run by. What we should be interested in is, why the incessant drive to prove the denial of the story or person of Jesus Christ.
The fact of the matter is Christians do not just believe that Jesus Christ was alive and died and becomes a significant symbol in Christianity. No, we believe that Jesus Christ is alive. He lived, died, and rose from the dead. And he ascended into heaven, maybe not as dramatic as Elijah’s ascension. But he is alive and we commune with Jesus every day. This is an interesting part of Christianity (amongst many others) that distinguishes it from many other religions. In the attempt to recount or re-enact the events of Jesus’ life on earth, as well as encourage the beliefs and practices over the centuries, the Church identified special days or holy days or what we now call holidays to recapture the essence of our faith, if not, much of our beliefs would have been lost to conspiracy theories over the centuries.
The fact of the matter is that I choose to believe the story of Jesus Christ as it is accounted for in the Bible is true. My acceptance of this belief is primarily based on the version of my experience, which doesn’t account for all that can be seen or fully comprehended. I understand that my knowledge is limited and my ignorance doesn’t make me less adequate. Just as science continues to explore and discover, the unseen and unknown about my belief are infinite and I am disposed to receiving more knowledge.
The fact of the matter is that we can only believe…
God loves us, God created us and God wants us!
What we must now contend with are the external forces that bring us to be. Either as individuals, a society, and even a belief system. we contend with several beliefs about what is true or right about being good or godly, we get fewer or no debates from the other side of the spectrum about what is evil or what embodies evil. As it is usually said, we have many gods but one devil. That should raise our suspicion, why should we be contending with what is good but almost unanimously agreeing on what represents evil? I have never heard an atheist say there is no devil, but s/he is quick to boast that there is no god. Does this not impress on us that there are negative forces geared to keep us from the fact of the matter? And the fact of the matter here is, there is a God and He is all that we need!
Our knowledge of God brings us closer to the understanding of why we are here in this world. Our knowledge of God is not geared to be academic but experiential. This is so because God created us (an external force that brought us to be) and desires us to know Him, love Him, and serve Him so that we can find the true meaning of our purpose and existence. Outside this fact, we may just be products or prisoners of unimaginable conspiracy theories.
One may begin to wonder if the story about the Christian God is the story of love; How does the story of love fail to find purpose? Let me explain further, how can / why should people be offended by the narrative that God loves them and created them for a purpose? Which other narrative is more compelling and believable? What theory of your existence or version of your religion makes you ponder at night, and ask the question – why me? The fact of the matter is that we can only believe… God loves us, God created us and God wants us!