The dangers of foreign religions in Africa: 3 Christian case studies

Case study 2 – mass murder in Uganda

In Uganda, in the year 2000, a Movement for the Restoration of the Ten Commandments of God motivated by Mary of the Bible set 500 people on fire until they died Kanungu District, and about 400 other bodies were found buried at different locations killed by stabbing or poisoning. by the Christian church. The leaders were ‘told’ by God that the world would end at the start of the year 2000. When this did not happen they changed the date to March 2000, before then they killed people and on 17 March they set a building with over 500 people on fire, doors and windows locked.

Case study 2 – Indoctrination and mass death in Kenya

In 2023, Kenya village of Shakahola in Kilifi county, Christian Pastor Paul Mackenzie of Good News International Church led a cult that forced people to starve to meet Jesus, more than 200 were found in mass graves, 600 missing. Paul Mackenzie instructed his followers to quit their jobs, drop out of formal schools, stop feeding on worldly food, and not seek medical treatment in hospitals when sick. They met on Saturdays under a tree from 9am to 5pm for ‘life lessons’. They were not to mingle with anyone from the ‘outside world’ if they wanted to go to heaven and were to destroy all documents given by the government, including national IDs and birth certificates”.

Case study 3 – rich evangelists and prophets, mass deaths and deceit in Nigeria

In Nigeria, a charismatic ”prophet’ and televangelist whose popularity became global but mainly in Latin America, Temitope Balogun Joshua, better known as TB Joshua founded a church that resulted in deaths of hundreds of people through withdrawal from medical treatment mainly HIV and cancer but also collapse of a poorly built 6 storey ‘patient’ house for people who visited his shrine from Africa and abroad. The court found him guilty of the collapse of the building because he did not follow rules, personally asking builders to add two additional floors to the building. Over 115 people seeking healing were killed in the collapse, at least 84 were from South Africa. Poor people paid money to get healing, success or prosperity – enabling Joshua to buy $60m Gulfstream G550 private jet, build. large church and pay for international visitors, mainly white people to market his ministry. Evidence of his sexual and physical abuse of ‘disciples’ has been shared globally. Joshua claimed to be the second Jesus of the Bible.

There are many other stories case studies, not only in Christianity but also Islam, a key one being the deaths that have resulted from conflicts between Christians and Muslims.

What this means for social workers and development workers

• The key issue here is how to protect life, and prevent these deaths.
• Ensuring social justice for those negatively impacted by these religions.
• Preventing poverty resulting from indoctrination and payments made to religions institutions and prophets.
• Preventing deaths as a result of Christian and Islamic medical advice.
• Protecting the devaluing of Africa religion and protect it from the competition from foreign religions.
• Community counselling and rehabilitation.

More importantly, we should not be silent because its religion. Sacredness in social work and development does not override justice.