Religiosity Without Spirituality

The Crisis of Nigerian Christianity

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Growing up in Nigeria, I was always surrounded by the influence of numerous Christian prayer ministries. Everywhere you turned, there was a pastor, prophet, or prophetess claiming to have direct access to God’s solutions for people’s problems. These ministries thrive by offering promises of prosperity, healing, and miracles rather than focusing on genuine spiritual growth. Their services are filled with dramatic testimonies, sensationalized prophecies, and exaggerated claims of divine interventions. Many even go to the extent of staging miracles just to attract followers and establish their ministries as powerful.

One of the major reasons why these ministries have flourished is the failure of the Nigerian government to provide basic necessities of life. In a country where poverty is widespread, healthcare is inadequate, and economic opportunities are limited, many people turn to religion as their only refuge. The themes of their prayers — or what they call ‘prayer points’ — often revolve around escaping hardship rather than seeking personal transformation. People pray fervently for quick wealth, instant visas to leave Nigeria, miracle marriages, healing from sicknesses, and deliverance from evil forces. However, many of these problems do not require prayer but proper governance, education, and personal effort.

I recall when my visa to travel out of Nigeria was approved. During a conversation with one of my brothers, he jokingly remarked that if I had been a devoted follower of these prayer ministries, I would have gone to testify that ‘Daddy’s’ prophecy and prayers had miraculously secured my visa. We laughed about it, but it struck me as a sad reality of how deeply ingrained this mindset is in Nigerian society. Many people are deceived into believing that religious rituals alone can solve problems that require practical solutions. The most painful part is that when you try to enlighten them, they resist, fiercely protecting their ignorance and defending their pastors as though questioning them is blasphemous.

This misplaced faith has led to a version of Christianity that is more about spectacle and personal gain than about true spiritual growth. Instead of fostering a genuine connection with God, religion in Nigeria has become a tool for manipulation, profit-making, and blind devotion.

A Brief Historical Perspective of Religious Landscape in Nigeria

Nigeria’s religious history predates the introduction of Christianity and Islam. Various ethnic groups had well-established traditional belief systems that shaped their worldviews and way of life.

• The Igbo people believed in Chi, a personal god that guides an individual’s destiny. Their religious philosophy revolved around a supreme being (Chukwu), ancestors, and deities who acted as intermediaries.
• The Yoruba people had a rich spiritual tradition centered on Olodumare, the supreme deity, and a pantheon of lesser gods (Orishas) such as Ogun, Sango, and Ifa. Their belief system emphasized balance, destiny, and moral order. Priests, known as Babalawos, played an essential role in interpreting divine messages and guiding the people.
• The Hausa people, prior to Islam, practiced a form of animism and spiritual worship with a strong reverence for ancestors and nature spirits. However, the influence of Usman Dan Fodio’s Islamic Jihad in the 19th century firmly established Islam as the dominant religion in Northern Nigeria.

With the advent of colonialism, Christianity spread across the southern and central regions, while Islam continued to thrive in the north. The introduction of these foreign religions was not always seamless, as they often clashed with indigenous beliefs and local customs. Instead of a harmonious integration, many Nigerians struggled to reconcile their traditional values with these new faiths.

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The improper introduction of Christianity and Islam in Nigeria led to varying interpretations that have fueled religious tensions and violence. Religion was often imposed rather than taught with understanding, causing people to adopt dogmatic views rather than fostering genuine spiritual enlightenment.

Karl Marx famously stated, “Religion is the opium of the people.” This assertion resonates strongly in Nigeria, where Christianity, in particular, has been reduced to a transactional faith system rather than a means of cultivating a deeper relationship with God. Many Christians practice their faith not as a journey of personal transformation but as a tool for solving life’s problems — be it healing, miracles, or financial prosperity.

Nigeria has witnessed countless religious crises, many of which stem from extreme devotion to religious ideologies without understanding their spiritual core. Some examples include:

• Religious riots between Christians and Muslims, especially in Northern Nigeria.
• The emergence of radical Islamic sects like Boko Haram, which weaponize religion.
• The rise of controversial Christian denominations that manipulate followers through fear and deception.

The Crisis of Nigerian Christianity: A Religion Without Spirituality

Christianity in Nigeria has evolved into an institution driven more by spectacle and personal gain than by genuine faith. The rise of prosperity gospel, where preachers promise wealth and miracles in exchange for offerings, has turned many churches into business ventures rather than places of worship. This has led to:

• Blind Followership: Many Nigerians follow self-proclaimed prophets without questioning their teachings, even when their doctrines contradict biblical principles. This has led to the rise of fake miracles, false prophecies, and deceptive spiritual practices.
• Religious Exploitation: Some church leaders exploit their congregations financially and emotionally, using fear and manipulation to maintain control. The emphasis on tithes, seed sowing, and first-fruits offerings often overshadows teachings on love, humility, and righteousness.
• Fanaticism and Intolerance: Without true spirituality, religious adherents often become intolerant of differing beliefs, leading to sectarian violence, inter-religious conflicts, and persecution of those who challenge dogmatic teachings.

One of the most significant problems in Nigerian Christianity today is the shift from God-centered worship to pastor-centered devotion. Many worshippers idolize religious leaders, treating their words as divine mandates rather than testing them against biblical truths.

The Difference Between Religiosity and Spirituality

Many Nigerians fail to distinguish between being religious and being spiritual. While religiosity focuses on external observances — church attendance, fasting, and adherence to religious laws — spirituality is about an inward transformation and a sincere connection with God.

Characteristics of Religiosity:

• Emphasis on rituals and traditions
• Blind obedience to religious authorities
• Seeking rewards (miracles, prosperity) rather than personal growth
• Sectarianism and intolerance of other beliefs

Characteristics of Spirituality:

• A personal, intimate relationship with God
• Living out faith through love, humility, and integrity
• Seeking personal transformation rather than material gain
• Tolerance and understanding of different perspectives

In Matthew 5:48, Jesus instructs, “Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” This perfection is not about performing religious duties but about striving for moral and spiritual excellence. Unfortunately, many Nigerian Christians are more interested in religious formalities than in embodying Christ-like virtues.

Restoring True Spirituality in Christianity

To move away from religious fanaticism, Christians must reclaim the essence of true spirituality. This requires:

1. A Shift from Religious Dogma to Personal Transformation — Faith should not be about rigid doctrines but about inner renewal. Churches must prioritize teachings on love, justice, and humility over prosperity and miracles.
2. Critical Thinking and Biblical Literacy — Christians should be encouraged to study the Bible independently and discern truth rather than relying solely on preachers. A faith rooted in knowledge is less susceptible to manipulation.
3. Holding Religious Leaders Accountable — Pastors and prophets must be scrutinized and held accountable for false teachings and exploitative practices. The culture of worshiping religious figures must end.
4. A Return to Service and Humility — Christianity should be about serving humanity, uplifting the poor, and standing for justice rather than accumulating wealth or seeking personal gain.

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Religiosity without spirituality breeds fanaticism, and Nigeria is a glaring example of this reality. Christianity in Nigeria has largely strayed from its spiritual roots, becoming more about showmanship, wealth accumulation, and blind obedience than about personal transformation and a genuine relationship with God. To restore balance, there must be a deliberate effort to shift the focus from religious rituals to true spirituality — one that embodies love, wisdom, and moral excellence. Only then can faith fulfill its true purpose: guiding individuals toward a meaningful and transformative relationship with God.