Author: Ikenna Paschal Okpaleke

Human, son, brother, friend, Igbo, Christian, Catholic, priest, theologian and citizen.
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Other Important Questions

Ikenna Paschal Okpaleke

“One day all these churches will close down and all of them will return to the original Church of Christ, the holy Catholic and apostolic Church. So, you guys can keep deceiving yourselves, pretending to be church,” said John Gandu.  He was just having a heated argument with his friend Precious Vareba.  Precious isn’t taking any of this from John.  And so, Precious retorted, “my brother, leave that thing. You see, you people don’t understand that Christianity is about living in the Spirit and believing in the Word of God. You only live out human traditions of religion and claim … Continue reading Other Important Questions

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L. SANNEH: ON RELIGION’S SELF-DROWNING

Ikenna Paschal Okpaleke

Gambia’s Lamin Sanneh (1942-2019) was indeed one of African’s finest scholars in the field of religion. Prior to his death on January 6 this year, Sanneh was the D. Willis James Professor of Missions and World Christianity at Yale Divinity School and Professor of History at Yale University. There he taught for 30 years. In The New York Timestribute, Sanneh was described as a “champion of cross-cultural exchange”, and former Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams described him as “probably the most significant theologian of mission in the English-speaking world today.” Sanneh’s major concern as a scholar was on the reality of … Continue reading L. SANNEH: ON RELIGION’S SELF-DROWNING

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FORTRESS ADAM, INSOUCIANT CAIN

Ikenna Paschal Okpaleke

Indifference is never a virtue! It was never my intention to post anything on this blog this morning since I am having a very crowded month. But the content of the calls that I have received recently, and the news I have seen in past few weeks are quite sickening. All I could hear in my head as I pulled myself together to pray was the voice of Pope Francis in his July 8, 2013 homily at Lampedusa. He asks “Adamo, dove sei?” “Chi ha pianto?” “Chi ha pianto oggi nel mondo?” These questions ring through the Scripture, beginning from … Continue reading FORTRESS ADAM, INSOUCIANT CAIN

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Bleach, Demons and Prophets

Ikenna Paschal Okpaleke

Narratives of Faith and Non-reason And so, the story goes: About 27 persons in Zambia were reported dead and about 19 are said to be in critical condition after drinking a bleaching detergent, the JIK brand. How did it happen? The story and reports state that these individuals belong to a certain church in Zambia. On that fateful day, the prophet had convinced them that drinking the detergent would help in exorcising them of all the demons that have been tormenting their lives. A report claimed that about 40 people came for the ‘altar call’ for the exorcism, including two … Continue reading Bleach, Demons and Prophets

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Deficient Politeness

Ikenna Paschal Okpaleke

In a certain English language class, made up of 32 individuals from different cultures, of different ages and professions, the lesson of the day involves a common reading of text. Everyone was to read together. The differences of the participants became quite evident even when it was not necessary: some were reading very slowly, others were a bit faster, and a few wanted their voices to be heard above others. The teacher, Mrs. Becheme, a slender, beautiful and intelligent Cameroonian, married to a Nigerian, was quite discontent, and so wanted to correct the participants. Her simple task was to appeal … Continue reading Deficient Politeness