It is not old archaic religious beliefs such as listening to the spirits of your ancestors that created orphanages and old age homes. That is very clear. You will find that usually, there are no constructs in such archaic beliefs to even contemplate the creation of such “inhumane” places such as orphanages or old age homes. But stating that Christianity (or any other organized religion, for that matter) is responsible for creating these places? That clearly is a sign of lack of understanding of what religion is, what it is for, and what the reach of religion is.

Our president, Jacob Zuma, has reportedly been quoted by The Times as saying that these institutions are the work of Christianity.

“As Africans, long before the arrival of religion and [the] gospel, we had our own ways of doing things,” Zuma was quoted by The Times at the launch of a road safety and crime awareness campaign at KwaMaphumulo in KwaZulu-Natal.”

Where on earth did he suck that out of? How does he justify this statement? How is “their own way” of doing things better than what “Christianity has brought to Africa?” I guess that depends on how exactly “their own way” works.

Is it defined as instead of putting them in a place where they are being cared for, rather leave them in the fields of glorious Africa to die? Maybe it Is defined as “well, see, this person here, well, he is disabled. I do not want take care of him. I am going to kill him.”

Certainly, people can be put in old-age homes, or children in orphanages, for the wrong reasons. I am by no means encouraging this, or denying that this phenomenon exists. It is merely childish and irresponsible to make a generalized comment as the one made by our president.

As a Christian (or any other organized religion follower), maybe, after I killed my disabled son, instead of letting people who are better trained to deal with him take care of him, I will maybe have a bit of conscience issues because I am not entirely strong enough to take care of him myself. This can be counter-acted by being involved in the care of my son. Visiting him regularly and have a special bond with him. The same can be said about leaving my frail, old parent or grandparent in an old-age home. I have a job. I have a family. I need to earn a salary. I need to take care of my family. I can not fit full-time care for all of my family members in my busy schedule. Times have changed. I do not cower in fear of my ancestors because of my actions. Modern society calls this a conscience.

Now – I think I just saw a flash of light and heard an eerie voice due to raising my opinion. Let me get up on my bed raised with bricks, so that the tokolosh can not reach me…