Ignatius Kaigama, the metropolitan bishop, Abuja Archdiocese, says Nigerians should deploy the positivity of their cultures to drive morality in line with religious teaching.

Mr Kaigama, in his homily titled “A trusting faith that never fails”, held at Our Lady Queen of Nigeria Pro-Cathedral, Abuja, said there is an interconnection between faith and culture.

“Faith is not against culture, and culture is not against faith, even though sometimes the two may be difficult to reconcile,” he explained.

He added that though some cultural practices and beliefs run counter to religious beliefs, there were a lot of areas of convergence between the two.

He recalled that the early catholic missionaries permitted the people to have their drink, dance and marry as they were used to but gradually catechised them.

“The positive aspects of culture can enhance religion. In our culture, worship was more than merely getting rich materially.

“Doors were left wide open without fear; farm products left on the farm were safe; respected elders would sit under the tree to resolve problematic issues.

“Life was considered sacred, hard work an imperative, and even if people went around naked, there was a high level of morality, it was a cultural shame to become pregnant before marriage.

“Festivals such as new yam, “new year,” wrestling competitions, prayers for rain, kola breaking ceremony, including our native languages, must not be abandoned in favour of so-called civilised foreign tongues,” Mr Kaigama admonished.

The archbishop also urged Nigerians not to lose hope as Nigeria marked its 62nd Independence anniversary.

He said although innocent people were still in captivity, millions traumatised by hunger and poverty, students kept out of school for over seven months, “till we are convinced that God never fails and those who trust in him are like Mount Zion that cannot be shaken.”

“We shouldn’t love or serve God only when we have plenty of money, food or enjoy good health and other blessings, and the moment hard times comes, we become angry, indifferent or even atheistic,” he warned. 

(NAN)