Better Societies

 SPEECH DELIVERED BY RT HON YAKUBU DOGARA, GUEST SPEAKER AT THE APC NORTHERN CHRISTIAN LEADERS SUMMIT, ABUJA 2022 ON THE THEME, “RIGHTEOUSNESS EXALTS A NATION, BUT SIN IS A REPROACH TO ANY PEOPLE”, HELD ON FRIDAY 29TH JULY, 2022 AT THE NICON LUXURY HOTEL, ABUJA Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people. Proverbs 14:34 Protocols: 1. I consider it great honour and privilege to be invited as the Guest Speaker at this all-important August summit of eminent religious leaders and top-notch politicians from across all the States of the Federation. Permit me to start by profusely thanking all those involved in putting together this summit and all the delegates who have sacrificed time and their busy schedule in order to honour us with their presence, which we do not lightly esteem. I understand we are here to talk about our nation and how political choices may impact our faith and likely exacerbate the escalating parlous security situation and stymie our match towa...

 The Soaring Horrors By Michael Matthew, PhD (Written in 2020). Our deaths--are soaring, Multiplying our debts to sorrows, Like the sorry prices of garri  and the perishable tomatoes  the numbers of the deaths  are now increasing competing daily  with the inflations of a Naira in decline  to Almighty dollars. Our deaths are soaring Like the foreign debts of the state And the dubious subsidies on the rising price of fuel, and dreaded gas. Our deaths are soaring Like the inflated numbers of NCDC  Corona cases, the rising numbers of online conspiracy theorists, And the digital mischief makers of 5g technology, Our deaths are soaring, Like the rising cases of corruption, the increasing numbers of scammers And the hybrids of Hushpuppies' children, stealing Bread and crumbs from Uncle Sam's bakery. Our deaths are soaring, Like the proliferations of  Christian houses of prayers, the rising of false spiritualities and the increasing merchandise of the...

 IS THE NEW TESTAMENT BETTER THAN THE OLD? by Zwandien Bobai This is a question for Bible and theological students. Lay readers of the Bible may not wrestle with such questions. In the history of Bible interpretation in the Church, the New Testament has always received premium. Many members including pastors hardly would deliver a single homily from the Old Testament claiming that it has some difficulties or mysteries that are hard to explain. But they are still carrying the same in their Bible! As early as the second century, the Church struggled with heresy spearheaded by Marcion (see von Harnack, 1920) who was greatly influenced by Gnostic teaching on dualism. Marcion separated the two Testaments. The New was never to be understood in terms of Judaism (Old Testament) in which there were many offensive things. To him, the Old Testament God is another inferior being, the vindictive God of the law that is completely opposed to the gracious God of the New Testament (Bright, 1975). T...