A bit on the controversial side of things, but with the recent Pastor Paul Mackenzie scandal and, possibly, many more instances of false religious beliefs, I wanted to explore this topic some more. If you aren't in the know, Pastor Mackenzie is known to have led a doomsday cult that convinced people to starve themselves to meet Jesus.
Many did fast. And many did die. Mackenzie was arrested and charged with terrorism-related offenses. He remains in custody. To this day, bodies are still being dug up, with signs of starvation post-exhumation. The death toll currently peaks at over 400 people, with claims of around 600 people still missing.
It's tragic. So tragic it gets worse. Apparently, children were first in line. They were asked to sit in the scorching sun to hasten the fasting process. Then, they were locked up in huts for five days without food or water. The ones that didn't die were wrapped in blankets and buried in secret mass graves - still alive.
Why would someone do such a thing, you ask? Well, apparently, a woman, an air hostess, was lured into the cult. She sold her land for over $50,000 and gave the money to Mackenzie, finally returning home when her son died while fasting with her parents.
I can't ascertain whether all this is true. But it's certainly a fact that there are mass graves. And the people buried within them were starved to death.
To Fast or Not to Fast
I go to a church that often has days or weeks of fasting. It's not stringent. You can choose to do so or not. You can choose to dry fast, meaning have no food or water, or the opposite, meaning allow yourself to have water (or liquids).
But you can't promise spiritual healing through fasting and then tell people that it's a choice. Because I wouldn't blame anyone who fasts, even though their body cannot sustain the process. Jesus himself fasted for 40 days. But not everyone will last that long. Even though they probably will force themselves to do it.
I feel there's something dangerous with matters of faith and religion. Because it's believing in a higher power. But at the expense of foregoing the normal functioning of the human body. Sure. Faith works miracles. If you believe it, that's your choice. But, if a human body goes without food or water for a certain period of time, it will die.
To Give is to…..Receive!
It's not just the physical body, though. I have seen people in my church give up their land. Their cars. Because they believe they will receive more in return. Believe it or not, if you give up your entire financial worth, you will go broke. Give up your sanity, and you will go mad. Give up your dreams, and you will suffer. Christianity, as far as I know, is never meant to be a giving up something so you can receive something more. No. Never.
It's about charity. Only if you have it in excess. If you have excess food, give some to those who starve because the excess will only go bad. If you have money in excess, give some away. Expecting nothing in return. That's charity. If you have too much of something, give some away. Or not. Because it's not a necessary thing. Not if it represents a transaction. But for love and compassion. For a better society. That's the more that I like to think of.
Are you religious or spiritual? What do you believe is the right way to give and receive? Meanwhile, feel free to check out our “How to Choose a University and Degree in Kenya: Factors to Consider, Potential Obstacles, and First-Hand Experiences” article, and let us know of any questions or concerns.