RELIGION IV: SUPERSTITION, FICTION

IT is estimated that 80% of the Zimbabwean population are Christians.

IT is estimated that 80% of the Zimbabwean population are Christians.

(Kuthiwa kayisibo bonke abathi, “Nkosi, Nkosi,” abazawubona umbuso wezulu). One can assume, therefore ,that most Ndebele people will understand what religion is if any religious discussion is compared to Christianity.

After all it was the Christian religion that supplanted our indigenous religions, not because it was superior, but because it was carried by a stronger culture.

But now that there is freedom of thought and expression (relatively), political and military freedom (sadly not economical), analysis can be made to see which aspects of Ndebele religion were worse and which were better than the Christianity.

Firstly, let us discuss the topic of superstition and fiction because Ndebele religion is built upon these. By comparison fiction is less harmful than superstition, but fiction stands to reinforce superstition.

Fiction really is a projection of superstition which it reduces to written or spoken narratives and folklore.

But superstition is a belief embedded in the mind where it receives a spiritual interpretation. Christianity is no less superstitious and fictitious than Ndebele religion.

We have not said that superstition and fiction are false as some definitions may want us to believe. That is left to each individual person to decide.

Think of the underworld, the world of the dead (elabaphansi) as compared to heaven, also the world of the dead.

In each case, it is the world of the living dead, a world of pleasure and happiness (a Ndebele man’s happiness — meat, beer, women and white man’s happiness — bright lights, streets of gold, green lawns).

All these are material things that are enjoyed here on earth.

Read 2 Kings 2:11. Can you see in your mind the chariot of fire with all its heavy material construction and the strong and brave stallions with Elijah triumphantly perched inside.

There he goes. Bravo! Today we would be talking about a Mercedes-Benz cruising in space. Fact or fiction? (Do not forget that every word or dot in the Bible was commissioned by God)

Consider also this example: When a Ndebele man dies he is buried with his spears and shields and other necessary equipment. You see, the journey to the underworld (phansi, phansi le!) is long and hazardous.

A man must be armed against any eventualities. Can you see him darting up and down in the bowels of the earth fighting a pitched battle: Ngadla! Ngadla mina ngenkomo yami emnyama (ukhwelo!).

Kuzwa mina umfoka Ngonyama owachitha amadoda eNyandeni! (Ihlathi laseNyandeni kwaZulu). Today we would be talking about AK 47s booming in the deep unknown.

Talking about death, both the Ndebele and the Christians say that there is life after death. So where is the deference – yes, a difference of details like going to the underworld and going to heaven.

Both merely imagine the existence of these destinations and both say they are sure and will give you “their evidence”.

There are so many imagined stories that are narrated about the underworld so much so that the superstition is reinforced to become a strong belief.

Similarly, there is so much literature about heaven and so much preaching from the pulpits that it is believed to be a fact.

Of course, these are religious /spiritual matters that call for belief and nothing more. The Ndebele will laugh at you if you start arguing that there is no underworld – something is wrong with your mind.

Christians also will call you names if you say there is no heaven: Heathen, infidel, ungodly person or even call you the agent of Satan. That is how strong one’s religion is.

Then there are the religious practices of sacrifices, holy sacraments, religious rites, worship ceremonies and so on. They differ vastly, but each religion has them one way or another.

The starting point which should get into everyone’s head is the fact that the Ndebele do not worship ancestors, but worship uNkulunkulu through their ancestors.

Unfortunately, this error has been rammed into some people’s head that they argue it as a fact.

The understanding and interpretation of transubstantiation, the holy mass or holy communion is a source of misunderstanding among Christians themselves whether man-made bread and wine does indeed change to become the real substance of Jesus’ flesh and blood.

As for the Ndebele, they offer actual meat and beer to the ancestors and although the meat and the beer never get consumed, it is claimed that the spirits would have partaken of the feast.

Some Christian groups put much stake on baptism and believe that it has the power to transform an individual into a new spiritual being. That may be the reason why they practise infant baptism.

Follow the life of the individual who was baptised as an infant. You wonder whether they would have lived their life differently if they had not been baptised.

Some churches would rather baptise adults who make their own choice to have their lives spiritually transformed.

Compare this to the Zulu/ Ndebele practice of scrapping insila (dirt) from the father’s armpits and mixing it with other medicines to form a concoction that was given to the infant to drink so that he would automatically acquire all the good physical and spiritual qualities of his grandfather and of his clan.

Superstition can go very far.

Both the Ndebele religion and Christianity are deeply concerned with the moral behaviour of man here on earth.

Wrongdoing — theft, murder, adultery or lies — is not allowed and is punishable by uNkulunkulu or by God. The Ndebele uNkulunkulu punishes wrongdoing here on earth and he does not keep grudges.

Misfortunes of all kinds may befall you and may be followed by great suffering in this life. When you die that’s the end, you go into the world of bliss, the underworld.

The Christian God keeps grudges. Wrongdoing is called sin and is punishable after death — the punishment is cruel and everlasting, no more forgiveness!

It is a religion of fear — fear of a great retribution after death. Maye babo!