By: Tekalign Nega Angore (PhD)_[1]

A common saying in Ethiopia when religion and nation are discussed together is, “Religion is private; the nation, however, is communal.” Emperor Haile Selassie I is credited with first coining this maxim. This statement can be seen as a double-edged sword, both enabling and restricting. On one hand, it appears to grant religious freedom to individuals. On the other, it seems to exclude religion from playing a role in public affairs.

In a diverse country like ours, those who believe that religion should remain a private matter often view this saying favorably, seeing it as a path to freedom, wisdom, and tolerance – a perspective that is certainly understandable.

However, if we consider our religious identity and its inherent values as more than just something we can casually adopt and discard, the restrictive aspect of this saying becomes more apparent. We naturally resist the implication that religion should be set aside when it comes to public concerns.

Historical Fear

Why are we, as religious individuals, hesitant about our faith entering the public sphere? This reluctance stems from our history. Our nation’s religious diversity and the way we have navigated it over time are key factors. For centuries in Ethiopia, not all religions have been treated as equal. There were periods where some faiths were favored, while others were marginalized or even persecuted. No one desires a return to such times.

While the current law proclaims equality for all, progress has been uneven. Though we now possess the legal right and the courage to advocate for our rights, a genuine spirit of mutual respect among our religions remains elusive. Our interactions often resemble conflict, with different religious identities viewed as threats. It is understandable that those who witness superficial public displays of respect alongside private disdain might conclude that religion’s entry into the public sphere would generate more discord than positive change.

The New Change

Despite this historical context, a shift is undeniably underway. The notion that “Religion is private” is losing its dominance. Even religious leaders who once advocated for a strict separation between religion and politics are now re-evaluating their stances and mobilizing their followers. Phrases like “Our country’s image has been swallowed by others” or “it is our season to possess the public square” are increasingly voiced by religious individuals. Leaders are actively encouraging their congregations to engage in the political arena to advance their perceived interests.

This internal drive has led to the emergence of individuals, previously known primarily for their religious conservatism, in political and other social domains. We are witnessing the active participation of individuals accepted within their faith communities at various levels of society. Across all religions, to varying degrees, we see the deployment of influential members into our shared public spaces.

The Religious Voices

However, we must critically examine the nature of these individuals we send from our religious communities into the public square. What positive impact has their presence truly had? To answer this, we need to carefully analyze the voices of religious individuals who have stepped into the public sphere.

Three characteristics suggest that these individuals, while motivated by their faith, often lack a broader perspective. Firstly, sectarianism is prominent. Despite entering the shared public space, many remain confined within their former religious boundaries. Their words and actions often fail to acknowledge the existence or validity of other perspectives. A clear bias towards their own religion is evident. Their advocacy seems driven not by universal truths or righteousness, but by their own group’s perceived advantages. Their ultimate aim, it appears, is to reshape the nation in the image of their own faith.

Secondly, these religious individuals often exhibit a limited vision. They seem unaware that life encompasses more than just religious concerns. While they passionately debate minor theological points, their voices are conspicuously absent on broader social issues. The pervasive poverty, oppression, lack of freedom, widespread corruption, and the deep sense of hopelessness and meaninglessness that afflict our society do not seem to register as their responsibility.

Thirdly, there is a significant inability to effectively communicate their religious message to those outside their immediate following. They are accustomed to preaching, not engaging in dialogue. Their focus is on being heard, not on listening. They struggle to articulate the underlying values and meanings of their faith beyond ritualistic practices. They often lack the necessary language and communication skills. Ironically, those within their communities who do develop such skills often face suspicion and opposition from their own religious circles.

What do these three characteristics reveal? They suggest that our foray into the public sphere has been driven more by strategic maneuvering than by a genuine sense of mission. We have sent individuals not as representatives of God’s way, but as adherents to the pursuit of power. Both the religious leaders who initiated this and those who were deployed seem motivated by a fear of losing influence and a desire to indirectly secure perceived benefits through political allies.

If we genuinely desire for religious individuals to play a meaningful role in our public sphere, a fundamental shift within us is necessary. Firstly, we must cease entering the public square with narrow perspectives that fall short of God’s all-encompassing love. Our constant focus solely on our own concerns must end. Our own issues, however pressing, should not blind us to the needs of others. We must understand that being God’s representatives does not equate to presenting our desires as divine mandates. We need introspection, examining our own desires in the light of God’s principles.

What would happen if we intensify our public engagement without these crucial improvements? By boldly speaking in God’s name with limited perspectives, we risk portraying the God we claim to represent as being as narrow-minded and partisan as ourselves. Our presence will not improve the social fabric, which is in dire need of repair. If we fail to replace our narrow sectarian viewpoints with an inclusive vision for all, our religious intrusion into the public sphere will likely breed more conflict than peace.

Furthermore, if we continue to ignore issues beyond our immediate religious concerns in our public discourse, we risk depicting God as indifferent to His creation beyond our own group. This marginalizes truth and justice, which are central to God’s concerns. The message from faith communities should consistently affirm God’s ongoing care and sustenance of His creation through His grace. If religious involvement in the public space fails to illuminate God’s love for all creation, the value He places on truth, and His commitment to justice, then our efforts are ultimately futile.

Even when the contributions of religious individuals are rooted in our religious teachings, they must transcend narrow self-interest and address our broader social responsibility. If our religiously informed social engagement is to be truly beneficial, it cannot be solely focused on securing our own rights. Any struggle we undertake must consider the well-being of all. Otherwise, it devolves into a narrow pursuit of dominance or preferential treatment, amounting to nothing more than religious nationalism.

If we aspire to a more impactful religious contribution, our voices should not only rise when our own community feels threatened or our leaders are criticized. We must recognize the emptiness of speaking in God’s name while neglecting the cries of the poor and the oppressed. If the erosion of our society’s moral values leaves us unmoved, yet we react disproportionately to minor slights against our own, neither God nor humanity will find favor in us. Our inability to address shared concerns appropriately within the public sphere is both troubling and regrettable.

As religious individuals and communities, we have struggled to engage in meaningful dialogue and offer constructive solutions to the challenges we collectively face. Our approach often resembles a struggle for conversion rather than a genuine exchange of ideas. We have yet to forge a social unity that extends beyond our own religious boundaries on matters of common concern. Consequently, we are rarely seen questioning religious issues or actively participating in broader societal concerns like justice, beyond the confines of our own faith communities.

But why?

Many of our problems originate from a distorted understanding of God, ourselves, and our mission. We tend to perceive God as exclusively ours, imagining Him echoing our sentiments and celebrating our joys. However, our God’s feelings and desires transcend our own; He is the One who hears and cares for all. Our mission, then, is to share the loving, just, merciful, and compassionate perspective of God that we have come to know.

Our second major challenge is fear. The fear that grips us, the religious individuals, is amplified by the pervasive fear within the nation. Our reluctance to speak out on common issues stems from a fear of experiencing the same negative consequences that others have faced. Consequently, we hesitate to speak inclusively on a wide range of topics, fearing the potential loss of our current “freedom of worship” or the disruption of our comfort.

Ultimately, we often seek the honor associated with being a prophet, without embracing the persecution that a true prophetic mission might entail. Therefore, while we have entered the public square in God’s name, we have often failed to embody the true voice of God. This mindset has not only limited our positive impact but has also inadvertently made us tools for injustice. Our silence and our pronouncements have, at times, condoned the very inequities we should be challenging. We have been hesitant to offer our people the hope that God provides. Instead of actively supporting calls for justice, we have often been among the first to condemn any form of opposition.

Way forward

If we desire our participation as religious individuals to be truly meaningful, we must first understand the heart of God. Let us never forget that our God is the God of all and cares for all. Let us constantly remember His passion for truth, justice, and the oppressed. Let us also remember that we share a common existence with those we perceive as vastly different from ourselves. When we engage with others, let it be not only to speak but also to listen. Indeed, if we are to be true representatives of God, let us cultivate a willingness to expand our hearts to the very measure of God’s own.

Reference

[1]  Given that the article was originally written in Amharic and then translated into English using AI, it’s important to be mindful of potential nuances that might have been lost in translation.