Looking for God with loudspeakers 

By Levi Obijiofor 

Friday, 13 February 2009 

Why would a nation of reasonable men and women allow a group of religious charlatans disguised as pastors and preachers to abuse their freedom to peaceful night rest with the use of microphones and noisy loudspeakers? This is the question that continues to nag my mind. There is perhaps some truth in the expression that Nigeria is a nation of noise makers. The increasing and indiscriminate use of loudspeakers by religious leaders at odd hours of the night coupled with the willingness of the public to tolerate that insensitive behaviour says a lot about how easily we surrender our rights and freedoms to just about anybody in religious robes.  

Is Nigeria a nation of cowards? Or has religion gripped us to the point that we have lost our sense of judgment? Consider this. Each time you visit a Nigerian city or village, chances are you will be mauled at night by loudspeakers used by pastors and preachers in their desperate attempt to reach God in the dead of the night. These Christian religious zealots are so inconsiderate and unconcerned about other people’s right to enjoy their sleep at night. Why is this practice getting out of control? Is God easier to find in the middle of the night with microphones and loudspeakers?  

Peace has eluded our rural areas once regarded as pristine holiday destinations. The cities are even worse. In the name of religious worship, pastors and preachers, men and women on a mission to find God, have snatched microphones and loudspeakers and mounted them metaphorically at the entrance to our bedrooms. Unspeakable terror of a different kind has now been brought to our doorsteps. And no one seems to bother.  

There are troubling questions that should concern us all. Is it right for church leaders to pray and worship late in the night with the use of loudspeakers that disrupt the peace of other people? Does the use of loudspeakers by late night worshippers hasten the process of reaching God? Does God attend faster to pastors and preachers who scream at night with the aid of microphones and loudspeakers? Is the God we worship more at wake in the middle of the night than in the day? Is the thoughtless use of microphones and loudspeakers designed to reach God or to advertise the overzealous commitment of pastors and their flock to their religion? 

It is indeed an honourable thing to worship God. But it is evidently dishonourable to disrespect the rights and freedoms of other members of our society. We seem to make a mess of everything we adopt from other cultures and civilisations. The missionaries who introduced religion to our part of the world recognised different times for different purposes – a time to worship God and a time to take a break; a time to work and a time to rest; a time to play and a time to sleep; a time to eat and drink and a time to abstain. Our new age pastors have no regard for time or anyone’s responsibilities. 

National leaders proclaim publicly that Nigeria is a multi-religious nation in which everyone enjoys the freedom of religion. How ironic! This is the same religious freedom that has been abused significantly by people who believe they know what is good for us more than we do.  

On a yearly basis in some parts of the country, innocent people are regularly slaughtered because someone else not known to them has uttered profanities about another religion. What happened to our freedom to worship or our freedom not to worship? What has happened to our freedom to belong to a religious group or our freedom not to belong to any religious faith? 

It is okay for everyone to sermonise about their right to various freedoms, such as freedom of religious worship, freedom of association, freedom of communication, freedom of speech and freedom to make noise when and where they choose. However, the freedom we claim becomes an impediment to another person’s freedom the moment our freedom violates another person’s right and freedom. That is precisely why you will not find in any society laws that promote absolute freedom. In a robust sense, there is no absolute freedom anywhere in the world. 

This is why we must check the indiscriminate use and abuse of microphones and loudspeakers by religious leaders, especially the use of these instruments late in the night. Late night use of loudspeakers by pastors and preachers disrupts our sleep and therefore harms our health. It is a major nuisance that must be addressed before people take laws into their hands to reclaim their freedom to sleep at night.  

A few lily-livered people grumble quietly about how some pastors have turned their nights into nightmares. But they are too frightened to do anything to reclaim their right to peaceful rest at night. Should things continue this way? No! 

Any society that is guided by laws should be able to curtail the reckless use of loudspeakers to disturb everyone’s peace at night. These abuses can be curbed by strict bye-laws that stipulate when loudspeakers should be used and when they must be turned off. To be clear, a ban on use of loudspeakers at certain times of the night does not represent a total ban on religious worship at night. People can still worship anytime they choose but, for the sake of our sanity, the use of loudspeakers at odd hours must be strictly monitored.  

There is something improper in the deliberate use of loudspeakers to preach and worship late at night. The God we worship is not deaf. He is omniscient. A pastor does not need to use a microphone and a loudspeaker late in the night to pray and to venerate God. After all, before the introduction of microphones and loudspeakers, pastors, preachers and members of religious congregations were able to worship and propagate their religion.  

Legislators must defend the rights and interests of members of their community. A ban could be placed on the use of loudspeakers during religious worship after 10pm every day. Everyone is free to worship 24 hours, seven days a week, but the use of loudspeakers after that time should be deemed illegal.  

The pastors who shout loudest at odd hours of the night are not necessarily the holiest and most certainly are not without blemishes. Anyone in doubt about the deliberate use of loudspeakers by pastors and preachers at night should observe the hours during which the instrument is used. Usually, singing and dancing starts early in the evening and gains momentum as the night progresses. Surprisingly, by 4am (as if ordained by God), the microphones and loudspeakers go silent as the worship comes to an abrupt end. It is a practice that is repeated two or three or more times every week. In some cities and in some churches, this is practised every night. You must sympathise with people who reside near these churches.  

Perhaps the most provocative aspect of this late night noise (for that is exactly what it is), is that, if you peep into the house of worship at the peak hour of business (say 1am or 2am), you would be shocked to find fewer than 30 members present at the time. And yet, judging by the riotous sound emanating from the loudspeakers, a visitor might feel that the entire town or city was worshipping at the time. 

It is this deliberate and insensitive routine adopted by some pastors and members of their congregation that constitutes abuse of other people’s freedom to rest at night. If the strategy is to antagonise non-members of the congregation in the community or to create the impression that the church is so popular that everyone has chosen to worship there, it has had a damaging effect on the image of the church, the integrity of the pastors and their congregation. 

Robot  # 1 | 13.02.2009 08:16

Looking for God with loudspeakers By Levi Obijiofor Friday, 13 February 2009 Why would a nation of reasonable men and women allow a group of religious charlatans disguised as pastors and preachers to abuse their freedom to peaceful night rest with the use of microphones and noisy loudspeakers? This is the question that continues to nag my mind. There is perhaps some truth in the expression that Nigeria is a nation of noise makers. The increasing and indiscriminate use of loudspeakers by religious leaders at odd hours of the night coupled with the willingness of the public to tolerate that insensitive behaviour says a lot about how easily we surrender our rights and freedoms to just about anybody in religious robes. Is Nigeria a nation of cowards? Or has religion gripped us to the point that we have lost our sense of judgment? Consider this. Each time you visit a Nigerian city or vill...Read the full article.

nijalaw  # 2 | 13.02.2009 09:45

Perhaps the most provocative aspect of this late night noise (for that is exactly what it is), is that, if you peep into the house of worship at the peak hour of business (say 1am or 2am), you would be shocked to find fewer than 30 members present at the time. And yet, judging by the riotous sound emanating from the loudspeakers, a visitor might feel that the entire town or city was worshipping at the time. It is this deliberate and insensitive routine adopted by some pastors and members of their congregation that constitutes abuse of other people’s freedom to rest at night. If the strategy is to antagonise non-members of the congregation in the community or to create the impression that the church is so popular that everyone has chosen to worship there, it has had a damaging effect on the image of the church, the integrity of the pastors and their congregation. Empty churches make the loudest noise. I even have one right next door but fortunately they only operate during the day. I do peep in on Sundays & apart from the Pastor, his wife & kids there are not more than 5 more worshipers. It baffles me why someone should open a church & continues to operate when the congregation never exceeds 15 persons. Is it vain hope or doggedness. Clearly the intentions of these churches goes beyond the spiritual harvest of souls. The increasing and indiscriminate use of loudspeakers by religious leaders at odd hours of the night coupled with the willingness of the public to tolerate that insensitive behaviour says a lot about how easily we surrender our rights and freedoms to just about anybody in religious robes. Nigerians always too easily surrender their rights. Is it the gun totting, koboko wielding & siren blaring convoys; touts & miscreants masquerading as revenue collectors & task forces or our rights to choose our leaders via the ballot box & much more. The late Fela aptly put it in his famous song - "Sorrow, Tears & Blood"; where the populace are too afraid because of petty fears. A few lily-livered people grumble quietly about how some pastors have turned their nights into nightmares. But they are too frightened to do anything to reclaim their right to peaceful rest at night. Should things continue this way? No! This is basically out of spiritual fear or unwillingness to confront the church authorities. Just this morning on the radio, some comedians were discussing with a RVSG official in PHC & when the issue of Loudspeakers by religious organizations was thrown, he just clammed up. A Friend of mine owns a bar & restaurant which he has been running for years & then all of a sudden a church opens up directly. It now became a battle of the loudspeakers. Dbanj & 2-Face & co. were wailing along with worship songs & prayer into the night sky. It was a crazy time. The owner was cursed in prayers not to talk of his patrons. Fortunately the bar is still on & thriving & the church has calmed down. To me who on earth would want to open a church directly in front of a very popular joint, it should have been in a secluded area & without the loudspeakers. It was clearly a wrong move & decision. Legislators must defend the rights and interests of members of their community. A ban could be placed on the use of loudspeakers during religious worship after 10pm every day. Everyone is free to worship 24 hours, seven days a week, but the use of loudspeakers after that time should be deemed illegal. I believe there are laws that are already existing to tackle noise pollution , it's just for those who are adversely affected to rise up & challenge it via the courts. I might be wrong & lawyers on the forum could shed more light.

icglobalsystem  # 3 | 13.02.2009 09:54

Good point!I wonder what our lawmakers are waiting for before enacting laws to ban these noise makers from polluting the enviroment.How an individual choose to relate with the supreme being should be a private affair. We can't wait any more to have strict laws that will curtail the activities of these churches and mosques.Afterall,they are not making any significant moral impact in our society."The more the churches and mosques we have, the more the crime rate and other anti-social behaviours".Who is fooling who? Noise pollution is dangerous to human health.It can cause insomnia,dementia,chronic headache,Schizophrenia and even trigger other ailments that can lead to premature death.

akuluouno  # 4 | 13.02.2009 10:14

Villgers, Just one observation before I go into my general remarsks. LO, I dare you to also write about the mosques. It is not only churches that are into the cacophony and public disturbance business:rant: Having said that, let me add that in Nigeria, I belong to the religion is the opium of the masses brigade :eek:for very obvious reasons. Every Sunday in my hood, we entertain ouselves listening to the preachments of a pastor/ress and wonder why they use a loudspeaker to talk to a mere classroom sized congregation and wonder if that noise will not harm the little ones among them. But we regale in the moment because for the rest of the week the mosque in the corner takes over with the loudspeaker nuisance at the rate of seven times per day all week starting in the wee hours of the morning. So we have accepted the madness until the day reason and like a villger said the law takes its course on these matters and, most importantly the secularity of Ngeria restored as in many serious countries such as Dubai:clap: Until then we shall continue to look for god with loudspeakers because the Nigeiran god is deaf while the real God is a spirit and those who worship him do so in spirit and truth.:D

dele26  # 5 | 13.02.2009 10:48

Levi Obijiofor, please ignore the harmless ringworm and address the emerging symptoms of leprosy. How does the noise from the speakers contribute to the political and economic disasters Nigerians are facing?

Law Mefor  # 6 | 13.02.2009 11:35

The problem is in the lack of appreciation of the deep difference between religiosity and spirituality, and in the growing incoherence in doctrines of the rival Pentecostal churches in Nigeria and their inability to address what is purely African needs. Beyond our profane religiosity, there is something 419 about the leaders of churches in Nigeria. What with the prosperity teaching that is clearly unchristian that they have make the bedrock. In fact, a lot of today’s church leaders employ witchcraft to draw and keep congregations. Christ will definitely be shocked to see Nigerian churches and the wrinkles they etched in His Christ.

datuouwadaberechi  # 7 | 13.02.2009 11:36

On a yearly basis in some parts of the country, innocent people are regularly slaughtered because someone else not known to them has uttered profanities about another religion. What happened to our freedom to worship or our freedom not to worship? What has happened to our freedom to belong to a religious group or our freedom not to belong to any religious faith? A few lily-livered people grumble quietly about how some pastors have turned their nights into nightmares. But they are too frightened to do anything to reclaim their right to peaceful rest at night. Should things continue this way? No! @author are the bolded and underline parts of urs above not at odds with each other? christians are called by name in ur accusation but we now have the "in some parts of the country...... " speech. @akulonu, thanks for the challenge thrown out. @dele26, i understand the inclination to leave the ringworm to fester, when indeed it is clear that a severe and fatal form of leprosy has invaded the system. but the thing be say, where does one start with naija??? there are toooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo many battles to fight. if each of us concentrate on one battlefield, there may be hope. as it is, clearly, evil appears to be having the upper hand. would someone not comment frustratedly on the appointing of virgins as goodwill amabssadors, when male virgins are sidelined?? would someone not bemoan the arrest of goats while armed robbers roam freely? would someone not regret that school pupils made to sit for the common entrance exams since last year have been denied admission becos the govt suddenly woke up to the fact that there is now UBE? would ppl not complain about the fact that the speaker has been given a clean bill of health concerning the 4.5-5.6 million naira cars bought under questionable circumstances? would we push aside the fact that aso rock budgeted 3 billion for feeding the household there for the year? would we ignore the fact that d jos crisis is being treated with such levity, while the main and very urgent nationality issues surrounding it are just swept aside in the face of religious sentiments? would we say that a governor pictured naked at a shrine, recently reinstated as governor should continue becos there is serious leprous cancer all over the nation, with the niger delta on fire, practically uninhabitable??? which one will we talk about, which one would we leave???!!! it is a battle on all fronts. anywhere a soldier can tackle, should be faced, let us see if this leaking bucket called nigeria can be salvaged!!! before d life blood drains out completely!!!

TiOluwanile  # 8 | 13.02.2009 14:57

=nijalaw;324956> A Friend of mine owns a bar & restaurant which he has been running for years & then all of a sudden a church opens up directly. It now became a battle of the loudspeakers. Dbanj & 2-Face & co. were wailing along with worship songs & prayer into the night sky. It was a crazy time. The owner was cursed in prayers not to talk of his patrons. Fortunately the bar is still on & thriving & the church has calmed down. This scenario just cracked me up. Can't stop rofl:D

ajede  # 9 | 13.02.2009 17:30

I wonder how a seance of cursing in prayer looks and sounds like.

Ochi Dabari  # 10 | 13.02.2009 22:41

Akuluouno, Please do not dare LO to take on the mosques ooo. Wetin de worri you? Levi is in far away Australia but we know that if he ever mentions mosque or moslems or islam by name, the financial crisis will seem like child's play. At least he was "courageous" enough to mention how people are slaughtered each year in a part of Nigeria, and we know who he is referring to. Don't dare him further. Nigeria is a backward country and will remain backward until Jesus returns. We have people who think that God is a fool - christian priests embezzling church money, imans who wash their mouths with whisky, paedophiles who marry girls that are younger than their youngest children, etc. As the murdering crowd cannot easily get to me, I can add for LO that mosques should be banned from calling for prayers 5 times a day from mighty loudspeakers. It baffles me that in a small community as Samaru in Zaria, 60 mosques will need to call out for prayer before the islamic "faithful" can hear the call. Are they deaf? We all know that virtually every moslem carries a watch. We are in a world in which all timers exist that enable the user to set a reminder. Even backward Nigeria joined the GSM revolution more than 5 years ago. I don't know why moslems cannot set reminders on their sets. But for prayer calls to be issued through 60 loudspeakers for the suburb is an overkill. Mohammad lived in an era of no watches, no cell phones, etc. But we are now in 2009, yet the world has left us behind. I am not going to leave LO's main message and spare my christian brothers and sisters. Guys, God works in mysterious ways - you do not need to keep the neighbourhood awake all night for Him to work. It actually turns off many people in anger when you disturb them. If you are really righteous, your good deeds will get more followership than a thousand megaphones. As Peter Tosh said: Let your good work be seen. ochi =akuluouno;324976>Villgers, Just one observation before I go into my general remarsks. LO, I dare you to also write about the mosques. It is not only churches that are into the cacophony and public disturbance business:rant: Having said that, let me add that in Nigeria, I belong to the religion is the opium of the masses brigade :eek:for very obvious reasons. Every Sunday in my hood, we entertain ouselves listening to the preachments of a pastor/ress and wonder why they use a loudspeaker to talk to a mere classroom sized congregation and wonder if that noise will not harm the little ones among them. But we regale in the moment because for the rest of the week the mosque in the corner takes over with the loudspeaker nuisance at the rate of seven times per day all week starting in the wee hours of the morning. So we have accepted the madness until the day reason and like a villger said the law takes its course on these matters and, most importantly the secularity of Ngeria restored as in many serious countries such as Dubai:clap: Until then we shall continue to look for god with loudspeakers because the Nigeiran god is deaf while the real God is a spirit and those who worship him do so in spirit and truth.:D

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