Ghana Deserves Recognition as the Role Model for Religious Tolerance and Peace: Happy Eid-ul Adha, 2023.

By Benjamin Pulle Niriwa, 28.06.2023

Figure 1: Celebration of Religious Seasons Can Promotes Global Peace for Quality Health and Entrepreneurship

It is true that no one earth can please God if he/she has no faith! God rewards people who diligently worship Him with pure hearts (Hebrews, 11:6, KJV, 1611; Quran., 5:9; Quran, 2:82; Quran.., 45:30). Having faith alone is not enough for one to inherit eternity, but how faithful one is to God and humanity. How one treats his/her neighbor is as important as going to the house of God to worship Him. A truly God fearing and faithful person should have no reason to justify why someone should be attacked for allegedly disrespecting God or a religion. Such behavior is not an act of faithfulness but an act of lawlessness: the children of God are law abiding people but not law breakers.

If am always proud as a Ghanaian, one of the reasons is because Ghanaians understand religious tolerance and practically apply it in their various religions. So, during Christmas or Easter every Ghanaian is a Christian irrespective of one’s religion. When it is Eid-ul Fitri or Eid-ul Adha too, every Ghanaian is a Muslim. These beautiful picturesque scenes are worthy of being emulated by the rest of the world for Global Peace, Quality Health and Entrepreneurship.

There are evidences around the globe where differences in religion are used as tools for promoting violence instead of the opposite. Akua Serwaa Bonsu, a Ghanaian gospel musician, re-affirmed in her album “Ebeye Yie” that faith is what really makes one pleasing in the sight of God. She said this by saying in the most popular Ghanaian local language, Twi, that: “Gyedie nnim a obi nti mi nso a ni” (Bonsu, 2020). To wit, without faith no one can please God. Violence is not the right to way to proof that one is strong in his/her faith or loves God. It is the ability to love and tolerate your neighbor irrespective our religious differences like a Ghanaian believer.  

The Holy Books warned against condemnation or judgment: it is not only because when anyone does it the same would be measured unto the person (Matthew, 7:1-3. KJV. 1611). It is also because it can breeds anger amongst people (Konishi, 2017)! No one likes being judged or condemned. The best way to avoid being condemned or judged is by not condemning or unnecessarily vilifying others. Hence: “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you” (Editor., 2019). That does not means that when someone does something that is unethical or bad no one should talk. Target the issue that is creating the problem, by letting the person(s) understand why there is the need to stop it. But do not condemn or judge the human being(s)!  

If believers genuinely apply the teachings and celebration of religious seasons, most societal problems on earth would be solved. There would be no need for one to hate another because the Holy Books preach against hatred but rather promote peace. Example; forgiveness are paramount in these religious celebrations (Long et al., 2020). But forgiving others their wrongs do not only touches God’s heart to forgive us our sins, it also helps us to have peaceful minds that promote personal and inter-personal wellbeing. During the celebration of these seasons children of God are always advised to live peacefully with all manner of people. Repeating my post: “No matter how porous our environment is, if we want we can change it!” Thank you for READING!

References

Bonsu, A., S. (2020, April 14). Ebeye Yie. Retrieved from KKBOX: Retrieved from https://www.kkbox.com/my/en/album/5a4zInSTPUe4D0F4JQUC009H-index.html on 16.12.2020 at 7:45AM

Editor. (2019). Faith in Focus: The Golden Rule in All Faiths. Faith, Retrieved from https://naijaavenue.com/faith-in-focus-the-golden-rule-in-all-faiths/ on 15.01.2021 at 6:34PM.

Hebrews. (11:6, KJV, 1611). THE EPISTLE OF PAUL THE APOSTLE TO THE HEBREWS. In K. James, The Holy Bible, King James Version (KJV) (p. 1118). London: Cambridge University Press.

Konishi, N., Oe, T., Shimizu, H., Tanaka, K., & Ohtsubo, Y. (2017). Perceived Shared Condemnation Intensifies Punitive Moral Emotions. Sci Rep, 7:7289. Doi: 10.1038/s41598-017-07916-z.

Long, K., N., G., Worthington Jr., E., L., VanderWeele, T., J., & Chen, Y. (2020). Forgiveness of Others and Subsequent Health and Well-being in Mid-life: a Longitudinal Study on Female Nurses. BMC Psychol, 8:104. Doi: 10.1186/s40359-020-00470-w.

Matthew, (7:1-3. KJV. 1611). THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. MATTHEW . In K. James, The Holy Bible Containing the Old and New Testaments (p. 890). London: Cambridge University Press.

Quran. (2:82). Surah Al-Baqarah 2: Ayah 82. The Gloriou Quran. Cairo: Printing Press of Bulaq, 1924.

Quran. (5:9). Surah Al-Maidah 5: Ayah 9. The Gloriou Quran. Cairo: Printing Press of Bulaq, 1924.

Quran. (45:30). Surah Al-Jathiya 45: Ayah 30. The Gloriou Quran. Cairo: Printing Press of Bulaq, 1924.