I like Francis. He is so dispassionate. I can't figure out where he stands politically.He is neither here nor there but submits the truth. Kudos, Francis. I would love to be your student.
I like Francis. He is so dispassionate. I can't figure out where he stands politically.He is neither here nor there but submits the truth. Kudos, Francis. I would love to be your student.
V. Populi 7 years ago
A good read. Dispassionate the author might be but I think that Ghanaians must be told the truth. It is surprising that many of our so-called men of God, because of personal gains, do not see the evil that is in the NPP and t ... read full comment
A good read. Dispassionate the author might be but I think that Ghanaians must be told the truth. It is surprising that many of our so-called men of God, because of personal gains, do not see the evil that is in the NPP and their flag bearer, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo. These are people who still believe that people from resource-rich regions of the country should have the right to rule, whereas people from resource-poor regions of the country should have no business in aspiring to rule. In other words, in spite of the inventiveness and the technological achievements of Japan, a Japanese man or woman working anywhere outside Japan should not aspire to any position of leadership because he or she comes from a resource-poor country. Such warped thinking is medieval and wicked but our men of God endorse it wholeheartedly. It is a shame and a great disservice to the One who created all of us and by whose grace we have all been brought together to live within the same geographical boundaries. Nana, the NPP and their cohorts of clergymen shall NOT succeed. Not if by our collective behaviour we allow God to truly shower His blessings and love on us.
.
Adonis 7 years ago
I couldn't agree with you more, my brother.We have a typical George Orwell Ghana.Some can misbehave & get away with it,others cannot.It's a pity!!.
I couldn't agree with you more, my brother.We have a typical George Orwell Ghana.Some can misbehave & get away with it,others cannot.It's a pity!!.
G. K. Berko 7 years ago
Francis, we must simply settle for the understanding that so long as folks every so often misread the intentions and actions of the Almighty Jehovah, we can always expect them to claim such special standings with him that are ... read full comment
Francis, we must simply settle for the understanding that so long as folks every so often misread the intentions and actions of the Almighty Jehovah, we can always expect them to claim such special standings with him that are not proven practically.
Your point for separation of Religion and Politics is well taken. What we see among the Parties now reminds me of the indolent resort to spiritualism for victory in Soccer Matches in Ghana by some Teams.
Such sporadic invocation and reliance on 'Spiritual Agents' by Soccer Clubs, in particular, was very widespread in Ghana when I was growing up in the 60's and 70's. When we were that young and inexperienced, we thought the holier we kept our physical bodies before a Soccer Game, the more God would reward us with victories in our Soccer Matches. Elementary and Secondary Schools were seeking 'Spiritual Agents' of all kinds to give them victory in their Soccer Matches. Did it ever matter how we lived our lives in many other ways outside the Sports contests? Or, God would suddenly forgive all our flaws and judge us for only what we do in a few days before the Games? Lol!!
Then, when I grew up and became wiser, I realized that God would not intervene in such petty interactions of folks unless to teach us a certain universal lesson, probably.
So, ordinarily, if two opposing Teams all decided to seek God's help to win their Match, and they all prayed as hard as they could, who should we expect God to help win? And on what basis? If Team A won over Team B, for instance, would it be because God considered Team A more pious or obedient to Him?
I remember the Colt Team that I played for, in the 60's, at Berekum, B/A, was owned by a staunch Catholic who would always have us convene a 'Friends Night' at the Chapel where we would sleep overnight before Matches. He would even have our Team's list blessed on the Altar by the Catholic Priest overnight before our Games. Yet, we would get beaten badly sometimes by our Opponents.
In restrospect, I came to realize, all that sudden closeness to God, if we could even claim to have been, wasn't what would give us a win in a Soccer Game, especially, when we were technically terribly unprepared as Soccer players, or our opponents might have prepared better.
I then, also, remembered that God's direct intervention in our daily lives might have abated after the Manna From Heaven Episode in Jesus's time.
God does not partake in our frivolities, folks. But He expects everything we do to follow an already laid-down set of principles that we ought to live by, or face the natural consequences therefrom.
Our failure to apply ourselves as skillful as we ought to would not give us a victory in any contest with another. The perceived win of Satan over us in many instances does not necessarily mean God has forsaken us. Rather, it might well be because we did not match certain expectations and became more vulnerable to the 'Devil's mischief'.
The tandem that holds our physical lives to the Spiritual side of us is not as simple as most of us think it to be. Many of our Priests or Imams, even do not understand that. And they mostly reduce it all to the simple basis of failure being Satan's inducement, and victory being God's superior intervention. Duh! How about our personal responsibilities? The Bible even told us to 'consult with' the Ants, observe them to gain an insight into the rewards of hard working, and penalties of laziness.
Have the NPP folks ever asked why Nana Akufo-Addo's trip to the 'Wailing Wall' in Jerusalem to submit his supplications to God in the 'Holy Land' could not win him the Elections, the last time?
They probably forget that Jesus even admonished his folks to give unto Ceasar that which is Ceasar's, and unto God that which is God's. Do they understand what that really means? Herod even did understand that and so washed his hands in a symbolic gesture to dissociate himself from the charges the Jew betrayers of Christ brought against him. Herod saw the linkage of Politics with the Religious demands of those Jews which was used to indict Jesus as inordinate, at best, and untenable.
The current Religious interference in our Politics is only part of a cheap, puerile way of getting us hold these Spiritual leaders in some exceptional, superhumanly divine stead, so that we would listen to them alone, and not even try to communicate with the Divine ourselves.
Anyway, I'd like to end this here for fear of drifting too far into that philosophical realm, now.
Long Live Ghana!!!
Francis kwarteng 7 years ago
That was an insightfully "long" though teachable lecture, Brother Berko.
And you never drifted as you claim. You are a wise, intelligent and knowledgeable character...it is always a pleasure to read your thoughts on issue ... read full comment
That was an insightfully "long" though teachable lecture, Brother Berko.
And you never drifted as you claim. You are a wise, intelligent and knowledgeable character...it is always a pleasure to read your thoughts on issues affecting our dear country and continent.
I have been educated by your extensive erudition on topical issues.
Thanks to Zuri and the other reader. Please all of you should also have to accept me as your student.
Read my next article on a short review of a book on investigative journalism. It is titled:
THE HEARTS OF DARKNESS DECODES WESTERN MEDIA'S RACISM.
Thanks.
MARCUS AMPADU 7 years ago
The conservatives in US who are avidly evangelical believe God is on their side more than those Christian who are not conservatives, and think the other Christians in the other party, i. e. Democratic Party are largely ungod ... read full comment
The conservatives in US who are avidly evangelical believe God is on their side more than those Christian who are not conservatives, and think the other Christians in the other party, i. e. Democratic Party are largely ungodly; and view the worshippers of Allah as not worshipping the real God. They are quick to label them as 'radical Islamists'.
The Almighty is classified as God by Christians and Allah by Muslims, unfortunately, with political, theological, and socio-economic implications.
Francis kwarteng 7 years ago
What's up Brother Marcus?
What's up Brother Marcus?
Kwame Joe 7 years ago
Who is heaven bound?
Who is heaven bound?
Atinga 7 years ago
The problem is not whether these latter day prophets know about God/Allah or if they know they are deceiving themselves and the people.
The problem is that the people believe in such things. Religiosity has increased in G ... read full comment
The problem is not whether these latter day prophets know about God/Allah or if they know they are deceiving themselves and the people.
The problem is that the people believe in such things. Religiosity has increased in Ghana in the past years without any better proof of the existence of a divine entity being given. And these believers are the masses who are going to vote!!! There are some simple minded Ghanaians who will vote for Akufo-Addo because he visited the wailing wall.
The reality of the situation on the ground is more important than the truth status of what is being preached. We may rightly castigate these money loving pastors and expose the ridiculous in their pronouncements but unless we also educate the masses not to take these people seriously, we may fail in our endeavors.
The type of Ghanaian who needs to be so educated will not even read this article to learn a thing or two. Even if he does, he won't understand.
It's a hopeless situation we're in and the spiritual and political charlatans are not going to disappear...
I like Francis. He is so dispassionate. I can't figure out where he stands politically.He is neither here nor there but submits the truth. Kudos, Francis. I would love to be your student.
A good read. Dispassionate the author might be but I think that Ghanaians must be told the truth. It is surprising that many of our so-called men of God, because of personal gains, do not see the evil that is in the NPP and t ...
read full comment
I couldn't agree with you more, my brother.We have a typical George Orwell Ghana.Some can misbehave & get away with it,others cannot.It's a pity!!.
Francis, we must simply settle for the understanding that so long as folks every so often misread the intentions and actions of the Almighty Jehovah, we can always expect them to claim such special standings with him that are ...
read full comment
That was an insightfully "long" though teachable lecture, Brother Berko.
And you never drifted as you claim. You are a wise, intelligent and knowledgeable character...it is always a pleasure to read your thoughts on issue ...
read full comment
The conservatives in US who are avidly evangelical believe God is on their side more than those Christian who are not conservatives, and think the other Christians in the other party, i. e. Democratic Party are largely ungod ...
read full comment
What's up Brother Marcus?
Who is heaven bound?
The problem is not whether these latter day prophets know about God/Allah or if they know they are deceiving themselves and the people.
The problem is that the people believe in such things. Religiosity has increased in G ...
read full comment