By Akpeli Othuke Andrew
The church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem which is acclaimed the “holiest” Church in Christendom has been plague with religious strife, acrimony and hostility. This is believed to be “where Jesus Christ is supposed to have been buried and to have risen from the dead.” This supposed revered place has witness violent confrontations. Six different “Christian” denominations including Monks and Priests have violently attacked each other over the Church usage right to the extent that riot police with assault rifles have had to intervene to restore peace and subsequently taken temporary control of the Church.
This unpopular event at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre is just one of the many instances of bloodshed credited to religious violence. The book Violence in God’s Name in a review of violence around the world says, “From Indonesia to Northern Ireland, the Middle East to Kashmir, India to Nigeria, The Balkans to Sri Lanka, Christians, Buddhists, Jews, Hindus, Muslims and Sikhs justify the use of violence on the ground that they are protecting their religious identity and interest.”
All religious groups, be it Christians, Buddhists, Jews, Hindus, Muslims and Sikhs embrace peace and harmony as their central tenets. Through the ages, these tenets and some other altruistic principles such as neighbourly love and sanctity of human life had been preached or better put been paid lip service.
The big question is this. When will religious groups stop these lip service and exercise there formidable stand on behalf of peace?
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