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SILAS OLA ABAYOMI





Songsoptok


SONGSOPTOK: «Belief is simple acceptance that a proposition is true, without regard to reason(s) while faith is the acceptance of a proposition rather than an epistemological (evidence-based) reason.” Does this reflect your understanding of the two words? If so, why? If not, then how would you distinguish between the two?

SILAS OLA ABAYOMI: Belief is  multi-dimensional; in one clime, belief may be what you hold sacrosanct, something you can't challenge, because generations before you believe in it, your society and community believe in it, opinion leaders, and those you have  respect  for believe in it. And as a product of the society, your are compelled to do same. In another clime, belief is premised on a scientifically backed or supported matter; something  that had been proven in laboratory; matter decided by law,  concern settled several years ago, adopted and recognized by social and cultural  institutions  as part of  society framework. One is bound to believe and live by it.


SONGSOPTOK: Each person can inherit, adopt or construct her own set of beliefs and faiths, or it is a combination of the two. How would you qualify your own personal set? Were your faiths and beliefs handed down to you by someone? Who? Or were they acquired? If so, how?

SILAS OLA ABAYOMI:   My beliefs come from a combination of what generations before me passed down; what I learned, and  what I see every day. In a general sense, my belief revolves around everything or anything accepted as statement of truth, fact, pass-down practices, culture, tradition and something that exists.  Belief also includes transcendence, believe in existence or experience beyond the normal or physical level. In most cases, if not in all case, majority don't have choice over what they believe, because they're victims of age-long practices, which societies impose on them because of accidents of birth.


SONGSOPTOK: In your own personal sphere, do you consider worship as a religious act involving rites, rituals or other types of practices? Or is it related to something that transcends religion? Can you explain your position with some examples?

SILAS OLA ABAYOMI:  Simply put, worship should be a devotion, fidelity, constancy, and allegiance to Supreme Being without fanfare and outward show, but rather through faith based on work and service to humanity.


SONGSOPTOK:  “Faith takes over where reason leaves off” – do you agree? Can you explain your point of view?

SILAS OLA ABAYOMI:  To a reasonable extent, it may be so; at times, faith and reason may overlap; in another development, faith and reason may be parallel lines that will never meet. However, these three related concepts: circumstances, situation, and incident do give validity to faith on one ground, reason on another ground,  and both at a different time. Whatever being the case, faith and or reason will always be major a determinant to socio-cultural and political behaviors of people in a defined setting or environment.


SONGSOPTOK: Did you ever face a conflict between your beliefs, reason and knowledge? How do you react to such situations?

SILAS OLA ABAYOMI: Many a time, I had found myself between faith and reason conflicts; always, I manage these conflicts within the confines of circumstances, incidence,  and situation.


SONGSOPTOK: Are you a believer? What do you believe in?

SILAS OLA ABAYOMI:  I am a believer; my believe revolves around one God, the creator of the universe and his son, Jesus Christ. Even though, I had read and researched on many world religions-past and present-I strongly feel most religions belie their claims. Blame the congregations or adherents not much, but blame organized religions, their different clergies for centuries of deceit, and for leading many astray. My contribution to this  topic titled:  "In Search for God" detailed the hypocrisy in world religions, which explains the crises mankind face today.


SONGSOPTOK: Do you think that it is essential to convince and convert others to your own system of beliefs and faiths? Why? Can you please describe the reasons for your answer?

SILAS OLA ABAYOMI:  As said earlier, majority of mankind today have no choice on what societies and accidents of birth placed upon them as beliefs and faiths. When one sees the level of confusion in the name of religion, the crimes and evils being committed daily in the name of God and religions, then, mankind needs a rethink. Through persuasion, however, someone may be helped to give a second look at his or her beliefs and faith. However, anyone who forces a faith or an opinion on another person acts contrary to the letter of law; therefore, his or her action becomes illegal, whatever legal options available should be taken against such an individual.


SONGSOPTOK: Do you think that each individual has some form of faith or belief, whether related to religion or not? If yes, then what do you think are the main reasons?

SILAS OLA ABAYOMI:  Beliefs and faith should not be anchored on religion alone. There some individuals, who practice no faith, but subscribe to certain beliefs-they learned or acquired over a period of time. Non religious beliefs adopted by many people today may be the consequences of hypocrisy in world religions; more so, it could be a result of failure in religions that fleece on adherents rather than feeding them spiritually.


SONGSOPTOK: “A man can no more diminish God's glory by refusing to worship Him than a lunatic can put out the sun by scribbling the word, 'darkness' on the walls of his cell.” said C.S. Lewis. Do you agree with this view? Or do you think that some form of worship is indispensable for humans? Why?

SILAS OLA ABAYOMI:: Even, if mankind refuses  to worship God, His creative works will do it. At least, the sun will rise and set at  the appointed time; the moon will appear and disappear at agreed time;  the twinkling stars of heaven will come at dusk and go off before dawn;  the oceans, seas, might rivers will not go beyond their set bars. The wildlife small and big will praise their Creator instinctively. The water cycle will follow its course to give precipitation; The symbiotic relationship between plants and animals will continue; earth re-cycling and cleaning process will never stop; the planetary heavens with billions or trillions of stars, galaxies, clusters of galaxies will continue to marvel man, a worship in literal and symbiotic ways.


SONGSOPTOK: You may or may not choose to answer this – but nevertheless we would like to know who do you worship? Why do you worship? How do you worship? And above all, in what way does it help you in your everyday life?

 SILAS OLA ABAYOMI:  I worship God, his name is Jehovah; I proclaim him to others. My faith in him has been very rewarding;  though, no ritual and formality; faith centers on Bible, practice of worship patterned after first century Christians, those that carried on evangelism where Christ stopped.



ABOUT YOURSELF: SILAS OLA ABAYOMI IS A POET, HISTORIAN, AND CULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGIST; HE LIVES IN UNITED STATES.


We sincerely thank you for your time and hope we shall have your continued support.
Aparajita Sen

(Editor: Songsoptok)

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