Cleric identifies wrong belief system as bane of underdevelopment in Africa

Apostle-John-Okoriko-jpg

Apostle John Okoriko

Founder of Solid Rock Kingdom Church in Akwa Ibom State, Apostle John Okoriko, has identified wrong belief as a major factor militating against development in Africa.

Speaking during the monthly Interactive Service for the month of October held at Life Tabernacle, Eket on the theme “The Power of Belief”, Okoriko disclosed that Africa was leading the world in development but later drifted backwards due to unsubstantiated beliefs anchored on myths and superstition.

Okoriko recalled that the Egyptian empire was leading development in the world but it allowed mythology and beliefs in unproductive traditions to overshadow it, giving way for other continents in the world to take over its creative thinking which would develop into technology.

“Egypt in Africa was the first nation to develop a literacy framework through hieroglyphics which was later upgraded to alphabets by another country.”

“But regrettably, Egypt abandoned development and resorted to wrong beliefs such as preservation of the dead, building of pyramids and burying the dead with their resources such as gold, silver and precious stones, believing that the dead is more powerful than the living.”

Okoriko explained that these beliefs have distracted the African continent as it was overtaken by other nations in terms of development.

He said negative and deep-rooted impacts of African beliefs have caused religious/tribal conflicts, economic and political challenges facing the continent.

Okoriko, who was answering questions from online callers, likened belief to a ground where crops are planted, adding that belief is the ground where every development thrives.

“Beliefs give rise to thoughts. A man is exactly what he thinks. The heart of a man is the seat of his belief.”

“Belief determines what will happen to anybody. Africa changed its beliefs from development to other thoughts, which has not allowed it to focus on development.”

“Our beliefs in Africa are wrong. What determines poverty or riches of an individual is their belief system.”

“One of the African beliefs is that the dead will come back and serve them. Africans started with the philosophy that the dead will come back and serve them.”

“This makes Africa backward in terms of technological development.”

“Africans believe in the power of the dead more than the living. Many Africans feel they are linked with their ancestors.”

“Many also believe that the sins of Adam brought a setback to the world instead of believing in Jesus Christ as the second Adam as written in the scriptures.”

Okoriko observed that Africans also believe in witchcraft and sorcery and spend hard-earned resources to maintain and service them instead of using their resources to upgrade science and technology to improve the region.

He therefore called on African leaders to change their mindset before the region can be transformed technologically.

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