Faith, Iniquity and the State - THISDAYLIVE

ENGAGEMENTS with Chidi Amuta, e-mail: chidi.amuta@gmail.com

Ordinarily, an overdue revision of a jaded companies registration and regulation law should be welcome news. After all, ease of doing business and an enlightened regime of regulation of business practices are part of the new catechism of capitalist reform around the world. A cut and paste government like the one we have has little choice but to appear to be doing something in the right direction.

It is hard to fault the overriding need to bring religious and other non governmental organisations under some regulatory framework with government oversight. While acknowledging that faith belongs in the private domain of social life, organized religion is a social phenomenon whose practice directly bears on the harmonious relations among citizens. It involves interactions among citizens and between groups of citizens that may not hold the same beliefs.

In addition to conspicuous consumption, exhibitionism and an exploitative relationship between religious entrepreneurs and the multitude of their congregations, some religious leaders are also taking advantage of their positions for political advantage and visibility. These excesses are the factors that have invited the attention of government to the realm of religious organisations especially of the pentecostal ‘prosperity’ church variety.

However, the nature and scope of the state’s intervention in the affairs of religious organisations is a treacherous terrain. The realm of faith does not lend itself to mechanical organizational tidiness or interpretation. The dividing line between divine blessing and enterprise is hazy in matters of success and failure in any enterprise including religion. Quite often, the foundation and subsequent prosperity of the largest congregation may be the fruit of one man’s inspiration and vision.

Nigeria Latest News, Nigeria Headlines

Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.

Fuel Hike: Group Urges Nigerian To Keep Faith With PMB, Says Price Regime Not Permanent | Leadership NewspaperFuel Hike: Group Urges Nigerian To Keep Faith With PMB, Says Price Regime Not Permanent The Coalition for Good Governance and Change Initiative, CGGCI, has called on Nigerians to keep faith with the President Muhammadu Buhari-led
Source: LeadershipNGA - 🏆 4. / 77 Read more »

Wike: States Can Hardly Fund Development Projects with Little IGR - THISDAYLIVESegun Awofadeji in Bauchi Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike yesterday lamented the declining internally generated revenue (IGR) across the federation, noting that state governments could hardly fund development projects with meagre IGR. Wike made this remark at the unveiling of construction work of 11 township roads in Bauchi State, thereby calling on the people of …
Source: THISDAY LIVE - 🏆 14. / 51 Read more »

How to open heaven’s door – Part 2The fervency of our prayer and force of our faith often show how important our request is to us. Coming back to the illustration of knocking, the desperate man who is knocking at the door to meet a pressing need will knock differently from a casual visitor with no definite purpose. Those who knock casually […]
Source: GuardianNigeria - 🏆 1. / 94 Read more »

Fuel Hike: Group Urges Nigerian To Keep Faith With PMB, Says Price Regime Not Permanent | Leadership NewspaperFuel Hike: Group Urges Nigerian To Keep Faith With PMB, Says Price Regime Not Permanent The Coalition for Good Governance and Change Initiative, CGGCI, has called on Nigerians to keep faith with the President Muhammadu Buhari-led
Source: LeadershipNGA - 🏆 4. / 77 Read more »

Depressing state of the statesDEEPER than ever, many Nigerian states are on tenterhooks, relying more on vain optimism than proved scientific keystones to escape the social tension and economic doom. Their incapacitation accura...
Source: MobilePunch - 🏆 8. / 63 Read more »

The Resurrection Of APC | Leadership NewspaperThe Resurrection Of APC To those still harbouring weak, doubtful and clouded faith in the strength of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the leading party in Africa’s most
Source: LeadershipNGA - 🏆 4. / 77 Read more »