TALES OF ILLUSION AND WORSHIP
The attempt to “strike the bull’s eye” in using the appropriate term describing majority of theist Nigerians is always befuddled with unsatisfactory options. In this quest, not only did many discover the dilemma to be long-existing, but it also isn’t exclusive to any of them.
From the variety of options, it came down to a final two — “faithful” and “worshipper”. There is no third option. In deference to the most factual of available evidences, the later of the two came tops and I agree, without being impish. There is no dispute to the existence of “faithfuls” — “We” just don’t have the numbers. I know this because of happenings in the Muslim community to which I belong. Many blatantly stand faith on it’s head with their acts of worship. Ironic.
Photo Credit: reddit.com
Have you at any time been in a situation where someone proclaims to everyone and everything in his environ, about sighting the image of a dead revered religious figure? The image could be on the wall of a building or “appear” beneath a flowing stream or be “sketched" in the clouds. If you haven’t witnessed such, you must have heard such tales, read it in a newspaper, heard over the radio or even seen TV stations broadcast the hassling of people trying to receive “blessings” from such.
This phenomenon never fails to attract several hundreds to gaze and sometime, engage in deliberate servitude. Scientists named it “pareidolia”– It is pronounced “parr-i-DOH-lee-ə”. Yes! That’s it. It attracts people in box office numbers, so easily than you can ever think of and from unimaginable distances – a typical example of “OG before IG” (if you know what that means… winks).
Pareidolia is described to be a form of apophenia – which refers to an erroneous perception to interpret unrelated patterns and phenomena as having meaningful connections. Pareidolia is described as “visual apophenia” in which recognizable patterns are perceived in random or obscure stimulus. In 1958, a German neurologist, Klaus Conrad coined the term “apophenia” in the report of his research on schizophrenia.
Photo Credit: teamjimmyjoe.com
Happenings, though with varying acts but with similar storyline to the illustration previously made, occur severally and ultimately make it to the media at no cost. Muslims and Christians alike, have been prominent propagators of such “wonders of God”. These revered figures appear on anything ranging from light bulbs of street lights to walls of uncompleted buildings.
There is an adage of the Yórùbá people in south west Nigeria which says “Kárìnkápò,
Yíye ní n yeni” meaning “Elegance is the signature of walking in group”. Sometime in 2013, a blockbuster that shattered box office records was live in Lagos, three revered Muslim figures were said to have appeared, all at once at a mosque in Ikorodu area of Nigeria’s mega city.
The perpetual discussion around Nigerian scenarios is deliberate. There is a near constant attachment of such events to religion. Beyond the shores of Nigeria, the aspects of life involved vary. Examples such as having a woman appear in the clouds above Nagasaki, a chicken nugget resembling George Washington (America’s first President) to the famous “face on the moon” and a house resembling Hitler in Swansea, UK. The examples are numerous.
Theism has been proven severally and is not in need of amateur theatrics projected as miracles. While many subscribers to such “wonders of God” claim to do so, in reverence to faith and entrenching notions as to the existence of God, what has been proven at various times by these acts, is the deification of persons and hero worshipping. In return for this worship, they seek favours usually with the intention that they deserve quick compensation for their “faith” — “I don try now”.
As the days pass by, many including myself undoubtedly understand worship to differ from faith but affirm the connection between them. Also, knowing worship may necessarily not be a result of faith. The examples in our communities are more than enough. In my monotheistic religion — Islam, worship is ONLY eligible for acceptance when faith is casted in the armour of conviction.
THROW IN
Photo Credit: AFP via news.bbc.co.uk
In 2004, a decade-old grilled cheese sandwich which was said to bear the “image” of Virgin Mary was auctioned on eBay by a Florida resident Diana Duyser and finally sold out for $28,000. The sandwich was also scheduled to be taken on a world tour by the buyers.
Can you see the “Angry man” ?
Go and have a second look at each of the images that appear in this article. This time, carefully. Are you see what am saw? (Apologies to Nigerian comic thespian, Zebrudaya). Make your findings known to “angry man”, if “he” would listen. I await your feedbacks right here or you could send me a mail via [mailmeridwan@gmail.com].
