Cardinal John Onaiyekan, the Emeritus Catholic Archbishop of Abuja, has stated that calling God’s name a thousand times while killing people is not religion.
According to him, religion should be peaceful and not about war and conflict.
Onaiyekan, who spoke on Thursday, February 1, 2024, during the celebration of his 80th birthday and book presentation, said religion should be used to promote peace.
The cardinal said he is very happy that people keep talking about the need for peace in Nigeria, adding that the country cannot make progress without peace.
He further said that religion has a major role in promoting peace contrary to people’s opinion that it’s one of the causes of conflicts in Nigeria.
“They even blame religion for our situation. But my position is that true religion must be about peace,” Onaiyekan said.
“Whatever you do, even if you shout the name of God a thousand times, and you are hurting your neighbour and killing the innocent, that is not religion,”
“If religion is presented in a way that is not peaceful, then it cannot succeed in bringing the peace we expect. Many talk religion but are talking war and conflict.”
