By Ahmad Shuaibu Isa
In many African communities, where different religions are part of everyday life, faith should bring people together. It should encourage humility, compassion, and clear moral thinking. Faith is meant to guide us personally and help society grow through justice, kindness, and love. But today, in many places, there is a clear gap between what people say they believe and how they actually behave. Some people look religious on the outside, but carry harmful traits like judgement, pride, exclusion, and intolerance. This damages relationships and weakens society.
Sometimes, I ask myself: why does this gap between belief and behaviour still exist—and sometimes even get worse—especially in religious spaces?
To answer this, we must look beyond individual behaviour. We must also consider things like low self-esteem, selfishness, and ignorance, as well as bigger ideas about how identity and power work in today’s world.
Is this crisis just about bad behaviour?
People with low self-esteem may hold tightly to strict religious rules to feel important. Instead of facing their own doubts and fears, they show off their religious values to look better or avoid being judged.
In the same way, selfish people may twist religion to suit themselves. Their faith becomes a way to gain power, praise, or influence—not to serve others or grow morally.
Ignorance, especially about religious texts and the value of diversity, lets people misuse religion. Some pick certain verses or follow beliefs blindly, without understanding the message of love and justice found in most religions.
But these are not just personal problems. They reflect bigger issues in how religion is taught and used today.
Should we ask: is religion more about image than meaning?
Jean Baudrillard, a modern thinker, said we often live in a world of copies—where the real meaning is lost. Today, many religious actions are like that. They look like faith, but don’t carry its true spirit.
People may wear symbols, quote scripture, or attend religious events—not because they’ve changed inside, but to look good in front of others. Being seen as religious becomes more important than actually living by those values. Religion becomes a mask that hides hypocrisy and pride.
When this happens, faith loses its power to change people. It becomes a show, used to get attention or control others. But this kind of religion can never bring peace—because it has no connection to truth.
Who has the right to say what is ‘righteous’—in a world full of selfishness, confusion, and emotional pain?
We can look at Michel Foucault’s ideas. He said that the powerful often decide what is ‘normal’ or ‘true’. In religion, those in control sometimes use their power to silence others and protect their own position—not to spread truth.
That’s why the harmful behaviour we see in some religious people isn’t just a personal issue—it comes from how religious teachings are controlled and used.
When self-centeredness deepens itself in religion , compassion is often lost, and division grows. Religion stops building community and starts to exclude people—going against the unity it should bring.
Do these problems affect society?
Yes, very much. This kind of fake, power-driven religion causes:
A loss of trust in religious groups and more conflict between believers and non-believers.
Increased tribalism, where identity is based on narrow views instead of shared values.
Disconnection among young people, who see religion as fake or unfair.
Some youths, trapped in ignorance and rigid unthinking mode, become a danger to peace in society.
In such a divided world, we lose our shared sense of right and wrong. What’s left is suspicion, conflict, and a lack of care.
How do we move forward? We must choose real spirituality based on kindness, humility, and justice. This change starts with individuals and spreads to families, schools, and cultures.
We can achieve that through:
1. Self-Awareness – Instead of judging others, we must look at ourselves. Does our faith make us more loving and patient? If not, we must change.
2. Religious Understanding – Knowing the background of holy texts helps us avoid blind belief. Education gives us the tools to practise faith wisely, not use it to harm.
3. Action Over Appearance – True faith shows in what we do: helping the poor, standing by the weak, and spreading peace. It’s about values, not words.
4. Celebrating Differences – Unity grows when we see different beliefs and cultures as gifts, not threats. Every faith has something to teach. We must work together across boundaries.
5. Good Leadership – A leaders who heal, not harm. Who practise what he preach and live with honesty and care.
The thoughts of Allamah Murtadha Mutahhari support these ideas. He spoke about the importance of understanding both religion and society. He believed real faith should go beyond symbols and lead to justice, unity, and compassion.
Mutahhari taught that we need both knowledge and action to make faith real. When we connect spiritual truth with social understanding, we build a stronger, kinder society.
In Conclusion:
Today, when pictures matter more than meaning, and power often hides the truth, we must return to the heart of faith—not with noise, but with character. Not by pushing others out, but by embracing them. What we need is not just religious performance, but real people of conscience—rooted in love, reason, and humility.
Religion should not divide us. It should help us see our shared humanity. We are all part of one human family. Our future depends on learning to live—not just in tolerance—but in true unity.
Ahmad Shuaibu Isa