Religion and Fraudulence

By Apolinario Villalobos

Religion is about the belief in a divine or superhuman power. It is about worship of whoever is believed to be powerful than man. The so-called ministers are supposed to represent such powerful being, on earth. For thousands of years since the first religion was practiced, many branches have been established.

During the Middle Ages, however, the spirituality of its essence has been overcome by selfishness, resulting to bloody skirmishes among groups, and prominently featured during this era was the struggle between the Christian Crusaders and the Islamic advocates. In time, the two major religions suffered from schism resulting to the formation of different sects. Also, the prevailing environment over which doubts hovered led to the founding of other religions by those who claimed to be “enlightened” ones and prophets.

Some religions employ elaborate paganistic ceremonies in their worship, others with songs and dances that induce worshippers to fall into trance, still others, use magic to enthrall worshippers who expect miracles. Some groups make do with heartfelt readings from their Holy Scriptures, that some chant for soulful effect, while others use eloquent and dramatic discourses that drive their listeners to tears.

There is nothing wrong with religion. It is an important spiritual instrument for unity, although, originally intended as a form of worship to pay homage to the Creator or Protector. What spoiled the essence of religion is the fraudulence that man developed to satisfy his selfish motive. It cannot be denied that there are fraudulent priests and ministers who abused their authority.

Some ministers even go to the extent of fooling followers to believe in financial gains if they will just be faithful in paying their tithes on schedule. There is a story about a minister who, in the middle of his oratorics, would tell his mesmerized followers to invert their umbrellas to catch blessings from heaven!  There’s another story about the same minister who told his followers to open their windows and doors as soon as they have come home to welcome blessings which they did. Unfortunately for some, however, burglars broke in, instead!

To date, churches are undergoing cleansing by getting rid of unscrupulous ministers and priests. This is some kind of a relief because the world today is beset with political unrests and the people regardless of race are suffering from intermittent onslaught of natural disasters, as well as, prosecution by fellowmen. Expectedly, these disheartened people have nothing else left to cling to as their hope but the One who made everything, because it is only to Him that mankind belongs. Every desperate man who has gone astray, is practically retracing his step back to where he worshipped once. It is a fulfillment of an adage that says, “there is no other hope…but Him”.