Who are the people you always remember most in your life? If you have or had parents and children, I guess they come first. Then if you were lucky to receive an education worth talking about, your teachers come next. And in discussing God, sex and politics, I am inclined to recall the influence some of my teachers have had on my thinking and outlook. One of my professors (may the he receive a bountiful reward) told me that most people had an opinion about God, sex and politics. And so if he was taking a class and nobody seemed interested, he would turn to one of these three themes. ‘Believe me Sam,’ he said, ‘everybody thinks they know a lot about these three things.’ My Professor was spot on and it has always intrigued me how people are fixated by these themes.
And so first to God. The jury on his existence has been out so long, they are probably never going to come home with the verdict. The matter of God evokes deep emotions amongst men and women, it is not surprising that this matter of the supernatural is the cause of so much distress, plunder and murder. Just this evening I saw on Al Jazeera Television, pictures a woman who had been stoned to death for adultery! And I wondered, what kind of God would allow his creatures to be treated in such a manner for indulging in the most basic of instincts – sex.Why would Christian kill Moslem, or why would Moslem kill Christian? Is this the way of Jesus and Muhammad (peace be upon him)? Karl Marx called religion the opiate of the people. If it is anywhere near opium, then small wonder many are called to sin in the name of God! Perhaps your best answer to God is Pascal’s wager. The long and short of it is that you should wager on the side of God’s existence. If he exists and you believe, you will go to heaven. If he doesn’t, you lose nothing. I guess being liberal about matterspertaining to God’s existence or non existence is a safer option.
And now to sex. Well again everybody has an opinion about sex. Most of us think we have enormous sexual prowess. Even when we can’t stay the course for three minutes (to beep according to one Ugandan tabloid), we still think we are God’s (there you go again!) gift to the world. Many more of us think that other people’s sexual orientations are taboo. Africans (especially the bishops and politicians) cannot countenance one man coveting another’s behind, or a woman getting down on her sister. And there has been a second schism in the church because of people’s sexual orientations. Do not be surprised, because the first schism was also caused by bedroom matters. So you see how sex gets in the way of God’s affairs! The West on the other hand, would deny Africa aid for not respecting gay rights. I say with tongue in cheek, let the West legalize polygamy, and we Africans shall legalize homosexuality. It never hurt to negotiate a win win! Since its not my butt, and not your sister involved in the settlement, we could cut each other some slack!
To negotiate a détente about God and sexual orientations, we need politicians. Now these come in all shapes and sizes. To understand them you have to have read Jeremy Paxman’s ‘The Political Animal’. According to Paxman, they are either untrustworthy, power-hungry, hypocritical misfits or hopeless idealists! Now who would want such a set of ‘dysfunctional’ people negotiating for him matters regarding God and sex? Politics matters, but for the most part brings out the worst in human beings. Politicians care less about whether God exists or people’s sexual orientation. What they would really care for in this case, is their role in deciding whether God exists and whether we can lock up people of a sexual orientation that we do not approve of. Again according to Paxman, politicians would rather be on the stage losing, than off the stage winning. Put another way, their business is not to solve the problems of the world, but rather what bit part they played in solving or not solving the world’s woes. Pity, any of us can jump into the fray, for as with God and sex, we all have an opinion; even Sarah Palin has one!
And so the jury will be out for a long time. For you see there is no correct answer to matters pertaining to God, sex and politics. Every one has an opinion and which opinion can be wrong if it is just that – an opinion. The problem is that some people begin to believe that their opinions are factual. That they are the truth and we must all live by them! The best we can all do for each other is to be more tolerant and empathetic. That way we would make the world a better place.
Will be nice if many of us will begin thinking positive of other folks opinions. Nice piece, Sam. Thanx!
Great article Mr Sam,
It reminds me of such debate of whats wrong OR right (Ying Yang?), some believe in self righteousness (who determines whats right or wrong? is it church, tradition, culture?)
Lets say we just go back to the basics, sex in one’s butt or with animals, surely man as mentally advanced as he is, is this debatable?
Is there a God? I see the splendor of the universe, the stars and the sky, the galaxys and all the other planets that don’t have life on them…i know it’s not a mistake that i too, i am here at such a time, my finger print can prove that there is none like me…not a mistake at all. I once asked someone to prove witch craft scientifically, he just conceded that its real…and being born again? I feel him.
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Dtbs Alumnis Sebo Omukulu Sejjaaka, simanyi oba ye gwe gwemanyi but I have loved your libertarianism when doing your analysis. I am sure many an intellectual reason like you but how many are willing to come out in the open and say such. In fact even u could be exposing yourself here while in public u want to pose as a complete Godman who harbours no doubts of his existence. I have really loved your give and take demand on gayism and polygamy but I for one think the problem stems from people being wiseaces and narcisit as to assume that there should always be wrong and right on an issue. Its also most probable that whoever designed this life system was so wise as to tag sex to procreation otherwise the way some people in the world try to behave or purport to project ‘puritanical’ ways, they could have have made sex something abominable and sacrilegious but then reproduction goes through it and so it survived. As for Politics and the animals that roam in that kraal i wont say a lot as there will be a clash of interests. God whatever name u may give him is that mystery where human understanding stops and at that point every society will have their description of the illusion beyond their comprehension and so u will find Katonda ,Ruhanga,Imana,Jah,Jehovar,Buddha,Allah and so on. However am one of those who anticipate the day i will appear at his court and during my trial i do hope to ask him what kind of material his heart is made of? For being such an unbothering being that people can butcher one another over him while he just sits back and takes no trouble in directing who is right and wrong i.e if he really has the capacity as depicted. So that at once makes him a wicked no give a damn fella. If he doesnt have the capacity to stop such mayhem then he is impotent and as such a dead cowboy which I dont think he is. On an end note if teaching at MUBS also never forget to invoke Golola and Badblack as these can also stir debate.