After what feels like an eternity of not letting the ink flow from my pen, mwo kagira Imana mwe, muraho! (loosely translated - Greetings to you, blessed with the grace of God). It’s been a while since I sat down to write, and there’s a lot to catch up on. But let me cut straight to the chase, today I would like to talk - religion. Rwandans have countless sayings, names, proverbs, and greetings that reference God, often claiming Him as their own with phrases like ‘Imana y’i Rwanda’ (God of Rwanda). But it ought to be said that the way we “do God” now has tremendously changed over the last few years. And I’m saying this as someone who was practically born just yesterday. I’ll admit I’m sloppy to focus on Christianity; which is a narrow piece of religion. But, it’s hard to ignore how Christianity dominated my upbringing in Rwanda. A fact backed up by the numbers—Christianity still holds the largest share of believers in our beautiful hills. Just that we have invented new ways to say our prayers and sometimes, on which days. I grew up Catholic, and as a child, those long services... Let’s just say sleep was inevitable. So, I would often go outside to play with other children. After a couple of well-deserved beatings for that, I found salvation in joining the choir, the dance group, and basically any volunteer team that kept me awake. To be honest, I didn’t fully understand why we went to church—I just knew we had to. And as I had come to read in the children’s Bible, God could be that old-school—send a plague your way if you don’t follow his rules. Skipping meant divine punishment, or worse, parental wrath. So, grace before meals and bedtime became routine. Even now, I feel a pang of guilt if I skip it. But these days, God’s job description seems to have shifted. He used to control floods and droughts, now he’s out here giving permits and husbands, building houses, and buying cars for people. All it takes is a 10k offering (or more, depending on the “prophet” you’re dealing with). And if you’re unlucky, you might have to climb a tree or crawl into a mine shaft just to find your God-ordained partner. Or so say the lately self-appointed prophets. Honestly, it’s become a bit of a circus. Take my neighbour Clementine. She went with our household helper Jeremy to pray together the other day, because, well, they pretty much liked each other. But the pastor’s wife took one look and said, “Nah girl, God’s got someone better for you.” Now Jeremy’s heartbroken, and worst of all, the man hasn’t made his signature yummy sauce in weeks. When I asked him what’s up, he sighed, “God’s not fair to me. I was born poor, still poor, and now he’s taking away the only girl I’ve ever loved.” Ouch, God! Then there’s the elderly woman I saw during my permit exam. She told me if she didn’t pass her fifth attempt, she’d give up because it clearly wasn’t in God’s plan for her to drive. And for a second, I wondered if God was up there with a permit list, deciding who would make it that day. But how could I compete with someone who’s paid extra, a little offering to grease the heavenly wheels? What if the permits were limited only to those who had paid tribute to Pastor K down the road? But seriously, sometimes let’s take a moment and question things! I recently saw in the news about a so-called pastor who was assaulting his followers, claiming it was a ‘cleansing ritual’ to rid them of evil spirits. How do we even begin to tell the real ones from the frauds anymore? Obviously not the ones assaulting you or stealing your little hard-earned money, no. If this is it, is religion still relevant in this day and age? Some argue that its influence is waning, but well, from flashy mega-churches to secretive cults, religion continues to shape lives and society in ways that are hard to ignore. We see it in political movements, social media trends, and even in the rise of new-age spirituality. It’s evolved, but it’s still very present—I will explain. Remember how, back in the day, people proudly hung those big portraits in the living room that said, “As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord”? Well, these days, the modern badge of faith has shifted. Now, it’s a Bible verse in your Instagram bio, a worship song on your TikTok videos, and gospel stickers plastered on your laptop. Thursdays are reserved for youthful worship sessions (you know where), and naturally, we keep our snap streaks live on the way back. The new flex is cross tattoos, ripped jeans, and “God First” T-shirts. When someone says, “Wow, you must be super into God,” we smile and casually reply, “Oh, I don’t really like religion, but I love Jesus.” Gen Z isn’t all style without substance, though! We organise meetups, chip in for school fees for the less privileged, and post selfies with #JesusisCool #Savedbygrace. Secular music and movies? Not on our radar. Worldly memes on your WhatsApp status? Muted immediately. As for slipping back into old habits or worse, well, no stress—God loves us just as we are, sinners and all. And then, our parents are just grateful we’re not out there abusing drugs or sinking into depression. And whether we do or don’t, well, only God knows what’s really in our hearts, right? Besides, “who’s ever been perfect anyway?” We say. See, the concept of God isn’t news to Rwandans. Even before Christianity arrived, we had our beliefs. Our colonisers simply told us our ancestors were barbaric, so they baptised us (and killed us if we refused), all while preaching that murder was a sin. Even in the darkest chapter of our history—the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi—religious figures were on both sides. Some fought, helped, or died fighting against the wrong. Others betrayed their flock and allowed mass murder in the very churches meant to be sanctuaries. So, it’s not the institution itself—it’s the people. The ones who preach one thing and live another, who take advantage of desperate souls looking for hope, snatching away even the little dignity they have left. As President Paul Kagame remarked at the recent Thanksgiving Prayer Breakfast, “How is it even possible for reasonable people like you, who have lived through the tragic history we endured, to allow yourselves to be misled?” At this point, it feels like there are many Gods, all at odds with each other. It’s no wonder some people doubt if any of them exist. But that’s not the point. Everyone is free to practise their faith however they see fit. But while we do, let’s be vigilant. Don’t let the good we’re seeking be drowned out by the noise of false promises and scams. If it’s spiritual guidance you crave, don’t be afraid to go to God yourself. And if you need help, seek those who have truly dedicated themselves to mastering the art of theology, not the ones selling fast-track blessings. Even so, the true Holy Spirit ought to hurry, and free us from the shackles of our own ignorance, please! The writer is a socio-political commentator.
