the Humanist view

It fascinates me how, as I believe in the logic that it is possible to deduce and or decipher ones moral compass not only from the words one chooses to use, but also how they use words; and the actions they actually take – words and actions.

It fascinates me, how my fellow countrymen and countrywomen, I dare say a significant section of my fellow Africans, seem oblivious of the ‘exogenous moral compass’ that they have internalized and they live by.

It fascinates me, for example, that today, Sunday, churches of all denominations in my homeland will be filled to capacity.

It fascinates me that in church, ‘the sheep’ will be reminded and partially re-encoded to be like the Biblical Pharisees. To espouse and live their lives in “strict adherence to both written (ancient texts) and oral law (tradition).

It fascinates me how many among ‘the sheep’ will absorb messaging in and from church. And will enforce it in a pedantic manner, without questioning the origin and original purpose of the law that they are extolled to strictly adhere.

It fascinates me how seemingly many of ‘the sheep’ will ‘bend the law’ and quote from ancient texts to justify a ruse of personal piety. They need not do a great job of it, by the way, after all, it appears, churches have already set a low bar.

It fascinates me how on Sunday ‘the sheep’ will outcompete each other to be Jesus-like, while at the same time pedantically Pharisees. Moreover, history holds that Jesus and Pharisees did not mix well.

It fascinates me how ‘the sheep’ in our part of the world seem oblivious to historical accounts that:

“Pharisees opposed Jesus, primarily because he challenged their religious authority, exposed their hypocrisy, and disregarded their strict oral traditions.”

It fascinates me how ‘the sheep’ in high leadership places, politicians and technocrats alike, justify seeming violation of human rights, while packaging their actions in emotive ‘like-Jesus’ religiosity of a certain kind.

It fascinates me, for concrete example, how ‘the sheep’ seem generally okay with legislation and legal action, which sound legal minds warn against as, in fact, harmful to ‘the sheep’:

• “This is not justice, it is a judicial lynching rally,” the Uganda Law Society (ULS) describes the trial of Onyum via Mobile Court. A City News report on the trial gives a good snap short of what I describe. Read “A trial in a tent..”

• The on-going debate of the “sovereignty bill” that ULS educates could potentially further disenfranchise ‘the sheep’ is another good example of what I describe. Read the Nile Post “Law Society slams sovereignty bill …”

It fascinates me, irony laden discourse and action, in which our moral compass blinds us.