Opinion: The last few days were auspicious for the major religions practised in South Africa.
Hindus celebrated the birth of their deity, Hanuman, who dedicated his life to the fight for good over evil. Jews celebrated their freedom from slavery with Passover. Christians commemorated Easter, remembering the crucifixion of Jesus Christ and their belief that he arose from the dead. Muslims were in the midst of Ramadaan – a month of spiritual cleansing.
But, given the loss of life and devastation the floods had caused, the existence of God has been questioned.
Eusebius McKaiser, a political analyst and writer, raised a question many would have pondered: “If God exists, why didn’t he or she or they prevent the hundreds of deaths in KwaZulu-Natal over the past few days? It doesn’t make sense to hold on to the idea of an all-loving, all-powerful, and all-knowing God if natural disasters, like the KwaZulu-Natal floods, cause such untold suffering.”
While we can’t answer for God (if he, she or they does/do exist), we should reflect on whether or not God would want to be associated with us. Let us examine what we, as a society, have become:
- Year after year police stations in this city and province record the most murders countrywide
- Of the rapes that are reported countrywide, most of the cases are recorded in eThekwini
- For the last few years, we have opted to kill and maim people just because they were not born in South Africa
- In July last year, we went on a looting spree taking things that did not belong to us
- It was not a once off incident because every day hundreds of people appear in our courts on charges of theft
- We burn buildings and destroy infrastructure on a routine basis just because we don’t get what we want
- We resort to violence when we don’t get contracts and prevent others from working
- Bribery and corruption have become a way of life from parking fines to multi- million-rand contracts
- Jobs are no longer based on ability and, as a result, standards have fallen
- Those that have are often happier to give charity than empower
- In too many homes there is no harmony and, all too often, the young and old are ignored
- We disrespect our bodies by not exercising and becoming addicted to drugs, alcohol and even sugar
- We have little regard for our environment as can be seen by the tons of rubbish the flood waters dumped on our beaches
This is who we are. It reflects a society where law and morality has broken down. Why then would God or anyone for that matter want to be associated with us?
But, irrespective of how lost our society may seem, there is hope. That, together with love, are themes every religion has in common.
Let us remember that when things were at their worst, when the water was rising and buildings were falling, it was ordinary men and women who braved the odds to save lives. Then they provided shelter as well as food and water for those in need. It reflected the humanity that exists in everyone. As long as this spirit exists, all is not lost!
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