Global Issues
Moral Decadence And Wrong Sexual Ideologies; How Did We Get Here? -By Alivionote I. Edwin
Edwin Alivionote
The topic of discuss is one that has effect on us all, so much so that we can only be wiser if we feel the ease on our nerves to talk about it often, and make plan to improve on our flaws. There is no such thing as a perfect man or woman. In the truth of reality, we are human because we have the consistent inclination to do wrong (fall into temptation). Yes, the scriptures say ‘all have sinned and come short of God’s glory’. Sociologists say; the need for relevance in our social circuit has made man unpredictable. A Psychologist did retort that; if not for greed it will have been easy for man to be satisfied. We live in a world where good people are being judged by the discomfort of goodness. Bad people are comforted by the accomplishments that accrue from living a life of violation. Conscience which is our final court of appeal has been rendered mute by the ‘justification of lust’.
Some justification of lust includes:- If you can’t beat them you join them
– To err is human
– You can’t be holier than the pope
– Everyone is doing it, who am I to be an exception
But, the biggest demand in our world today is…the search for happiness. With all the flashy things we buy and the luxury and comfort we crave, we still have and live in an unhappy world. A world that has grown in immorality, vices and misfortune owing to the refusal to understand that you own yourself but what you do with yourself affect others. Our people will say “God for all, all man for himself” put in Pidgin English…”Jungle don mature, OYO state get all man”. The sacrifice too difficult to ask of a person, in our time is ‘to live for others’. We get wiser by the day and our problems rise by the seconds. But, I assure you we can be redeemed, so there is hope after all for you if you will.
The creation story; The Will (Master plan) of God for man
In the beginning, when God created the universe, the earth was formless and desolate. This was how the book of genesis captured the introduction to the creation story. Under six (6) days he created all the beauty of the universe and put man in charge of His bliss. Without buttressing on this, let’s understand the will of God (The architect of our collective destinies) for man.
John 6:40 For this is the will of God, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in him should have eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day.”
Ephesians 5:1-20 Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people. Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving. For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person (such a man is an idolater) has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient. Therefore do not be partners with them. For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord. Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. For it is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. But everything exposed by the light becomes visible, for it is light that makes everything visible. This is why it is said: “Wake up, O sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.” Be very careful, then, how you live-not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit. Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
1 Peter 2:15 For it is God’s will that by doing right you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish men.
The Culture of our early parents and their values
Africans have a history that has made us so blessed since we are glazed with the wealth of culture. In Nigeria, among the lots of what we had passed unto us from our great ancestors is the gift of communal value entrenched in our livelihood by parental grooming and responsibility. Some of the lessons that kept us disciplined and grew up with respect for both God and man were;
Our Society teach us these
1. Greeting: Greeting people in Africa is one of the most important things you can do.
2. Respect to Elders: African cultural values are based on a foundation of the past and present, a leading reason why elders are so well respected.
3. Pointing at Things: Pointing at something or someone with the index finger is usually considered rude or just straight.
4. Eat with the Right Hand: You might have heard this before, the right hand is for eating food and the left hand is reserved for the unsanitary task of what happens afterward.
5. Silence is an African Value: Silence can be golden and speech can make a fool of you. When there’s something to be said, it will be said; when there’s nothing to be said, silence is perfectly fine. There’s no need to feel uneasy or bored during a period of silence, take the time just to enjoy the presence of others
6. Do not Publicly Show Anger, Frustration, or Impatience: Though circumstances have potential to become frustrating, Africans have incredible self control, being careful not to offend or shame anyone in public as disgrace is believed to be mutual.
7. Positive Communication: Positive communication is a key African cultural value.
8. Relationships Matter: With future-time a little less important, current time is of extreme value. Meeting people and spending time with others to develop lasting relationships is an aspect of our culture that is truly cherished.
9. Don’t Talk Too Much During a Meal: Simple small talk is permissible, serious issues are handled after the meal.
10. Receive a Gift with Both Hands: If someone graciously gives you a gift, a non-verbal way to show extreme thankfulness is to accept it with both hands outstretched.
11. Personal Space: Remember that Africans are extremely gracious and caring people, ready to go the extra mile to respect and service others.
Our Family teach us these
1. Our parents are basically demi-gods. It doesn’t matter if you learned that the sky is blue. If your parents say the sky is orange, the sky is in fact, orange.
2. Your grandparents are the only people who can put your parents in their place.
3. You will likely be raised the old-fashioned way -“you spare the rod, you spoil the child” In your adulthood, you’ll largely be grateful for it.
4. You don’t bite the hand that feed you: God help you if you’re living under your parent’s roof and you yell at them, slam a door in anger, and/or curse in their presence.
5. The youngest child will be blamed for everything…until he or she is able to talk.
6. The oldest child will be blamed for everything that the younger children do.
7. If you cry while being accused of something, it is assumed that you are guilty.
8. Your parents will call you from upstairs, downstairs, outside, etc., to hand them something that is literally 10 centimeters away from them.
9. You will not leave your parents’ home without learning how to cook.
10. Religious attendance and practice is not an option.
11. Everyone who is older than you is your “auntie” or “uncle.” Calling them by their first name is basically a crime against humanity.
12. This one specifically applies to most Nigerians; Doing well in school is not an option and by doing well, parents have expectations that you will be the best at everything.
13. Sleepovers at friends’ houses are mythical tales or basically only happen when your parents have known the family’s family since the beginning of time.
14. Another mythical tale – being in a serious relationship with anyone when you’re in your teens. And until your parents believe you are of, “courtship age,” they will refer to anyone you are dating as, “your friend.”
15. You will still be expected to have a traditional engagement/marriage regardless of where the person you’re marrying is from
16. You will have maybe 3 conversations about sex with your parents – one when puberty starts to take its course, the second one when you start secondary school Biology, and the third one when you are about to leave home. They will all surprisingly sound like the Mean Girl’s quote, “Don’t have sex because you will get pregnant and die!” followed by “Do not bring shame to this family!” Got it parents, I can’t start dating until I’m married and I can’t have sex until after I’ve had children.
17. Your siblings will be the first people to bully the crap out of you. Later on, you’ll realize that they were preparing you for a big bad world out there.
You won’t realize how incredibly hilarious and somewhat bizarre your upbringing was until you reach adulthood.
The Generation of Vices
A lot has gone wrong already, but then something could still be done to save this generation from collateral damage. And, it begins with you and me. Even the media now glorify immorality and nearly all it employees wear clothes almost Unclad. This is a bad name to good few among them, and similarly our entertainment industry is no different. Good moral songs and movies are now a rare and scarce commodity as obscenity and vulgarity and immorality is the norm and selling hot, and sadly enough that’s what most people appreciate and love, little wonder our youth find it difficult to think straight and be reasonable due to the high intake of immoral gabbage. Gabbage In Gabbage Out (GIGO).
Social vices including; drug abuse, thuggery, cultism, inordinate ambition, sexual abuse, examination malpractice, gay/lesbian, pedophile, terrorism, Alcoholism, sugar mummy/daddy, fornication, adultery, masturbation, bestiality, lust, cuddling, kissing etc. are common among Nigerian youths, majority of whom are students of various institutions of learning and other workers and the unemployed.
Reason for our fall
- Loss of family values due to loss of family essence
- Degeneration in societal models
- The entry of 419 during the 90’s
- Increasing gap between the rich and the poor (propagation of the creed of greed)
- The advent of ‘yahoo yahoo’ (year 2000 the birth of the computer age in Nigeria)
- Grave unemployment among the youthful class
- High premium on success/riches with no interest in wealth source
- The failure of our mothers in their core responsibilities
- The dilution of our religious men and women in their restoration strive
- Crash of our educational system
- Misplaced priorities of our Leaders
Let’s talk about sex
Sex, physical and behavioral difference that distinguishes individual organisms according to their functions in the reproductive process. Sex as an activity of reproduction occurs at all levels of biological organization, with the exception of viruses. But sex as an activity of pleasure is dominant in higher organism especially man. Is sex a crime?
Except in Hermaphrodites sex requires the male and female consent for it to occur. Love making as it is popularly referred is endorsed through a network of feelings leading to the hormonal discharge that facilitate the bonding necessary to foreplay which leads to the activation of sexual activities.
Sexual ideologies that exist
- Celibacy
- Lesbianism
- Homosexuals
- Marital sex
- Pre-marital sex
- Casual sex (friends with benefits)
- Bestiality
- Masturbation
- Prostitution
The ideologies that thrive
All but celibacy and marital sex has had our conscious practice both in the open and in hiding. Society has commercialized sex as relaxation and a means of remedy for stress and healing of the broken mind.
Impact of sex on our generation
- Increase in rape cases
- Proliferation of STDs
- Majorly shattered our family lives
- Has caused physical death for many
- Has polarized our emotions making our feelings hardened
- Spiritually it has left us blinded and weak
- Increased God’s anger on our generation
What’s the way out? (Rhetorical)
- The 10 Commandments of living above slip
- Seek knowledge of the word of God and be eager to learn
- Respect all persons and know that everyone is important
- Be ready to appreciate a good gesture no matter how little
- Watch your company and know your limits
- Live a planned life and avoid idleness at will
- do not allow your legs lead you to the wrong places
- Do not allow the eyes the pleasure view of what tempts the mind (Avoid the frequency)
- Train your mouth to talk wisely
- Discipline your body to tolerate difficulty and scarifies its greed
By
Alivionote I. Edwin
*Social Psychologist *Teenage Counselor *Event Anchor*
alivionote@gmail.com
www.opinionnigeria.com
References
MR. AHUBELEM, VANGUARD THURSDAY 14 JULY.
file:///G:/lecture/Vices%20and%20their%20impact%20in%20Nigeria%20-%20Vanguard%20News.htm
http://www.psalm40.org/verses.html
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INFORMATIONPARLOUR: COMMON SOCIAL VICES IN SCHOOLS; CAUSES, EFFECTS & SOLUTIONS
