By Adedokun Boluwatife Loyce
Biologically, parasitism is a kind of relationship between organisms in which one organism benefits at the expense of others; a non- mutually beneficial between the host and parasite. Interestingly, this concept can be aptly be applied to the state of the contemporary Christendom in Nigeria as it had apparently developed over the years with the consistent proliferation of ‘modern churches’ with their attendant observable regularities. Besides spirituality, Christianity should be a medium of social, moralistic, economic and political solace for its acolytes and also the church, as its main institution, should act as the conscience and an informal check of its nation as it had been, until recent, since the antediluvian time; then the relationship between the church and the society can be said to be symbiotic. From the Marxist perspective, the church has abruptly gone capitalistic; capitalism as a mode of production is based on a relationship of interminable economic subordination of the working class (proletariats) by the owners of the capital (bourgeois). Also, it involves the concentration of the means and instrument of production in the hands of the minority at the detriment of the masses, in fact, it is a parasitic relationship. Ironically, the Nigerian ‘Christian proletariat’ does not only provide labour is also the perpetual provider of ‘capital’ but not its owner. ‘Religious capitalism’ is accurately akin to ‘religious parasitism’
It is very evident that the foundational creeds of Christianity are becoming trite and fictitious as they are being continuously overlooked in favour of the ear soothing messages. Doctrines such the Second Coming Of Christ and other creeds that serve as the map of the ‘pilgrim’ such as restitution, holiness, forgiveness, no divorce and remarriage are swiftly losing their prominent positions to prosperity, business expansion, fame and other corporeal things of this world. However, this preceding notion does not infer one as an ‘anti-prosperity’ advocate as even God had already promised wealth and prosperity in abundance; the affluence of the biblical patriarchs like Abraham, Solomon, David, Job et al is an attestation to God’s munificence but a common denominator to these hitherto mentioned patriarchs is that they sought the kingdom of God first before other things of this world were added unto them. As much as it not a crime for one to succeed (even the Bible affirms success) but in our worship in our various churches I do not think the church should lose sight on its focus- The Second Coming Of Christ. Continue reading “Parasitic Capitalism and Contemporary Christianity in Nigeria”
