Being Too Religious Can Never Solve Nigeria’s Problems But Being Pragmatic Can
Being Too Religious Can Never Solve Nigeria’s Problems But Being Pragmatic Can
By Odogwu Akin
~ Narrates Experience During Visit To The Oldest Church At Harbin, China…Built in 1900
By Odogwu Akin
The oldest church in Harbin, China, stands like a quiet monument to a different age. Built during the Russian influence in the early 20th century, it once drew believers together in solemn hymns and prayers. Today, however, it sits more as a cultural relic than a center of spiritual life. In Harbin, as in much of China, many religious places that once bustled with worship have been repurposed or overshadowed by factories, skyscrapers, and industries.
When I asked Dr. Hoaran Yun about the state of religion in China, he offered a pragmatic answer. “The majority are Buddhists, about 10% are Muslims, and only a negligible number are Hindus,” he explained. But when I pressed further about Christianity, he laughed and said, “I don’t know.” It was telling—not in ignorance, but in indifference.
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Curious, I asked him about his own faith. With a calm smile, he replied, “I don’t have a religion, I am a scientist.” His words carried the essence of China’s modern outlook: less concerned with unseen gods, more focused on tangible progress. “In China,” he added, “we are more pragmatic than religious. You go to your house and pray to your God. For us, life is about work, innovation, and building the future.”
That conversation reflected the shift in Chinese society. Where once churches, temples, and shrines dominated, industries, research centers, and factories now define the skyline. Faith did not entirely disappear, but it was quietly overshadowed by the drive for modernization.
The old church in Harbin remains as a silent witness to that transition. Its walls echo not only with the prayers of the past but also with the story of a people who chose to exchange religion for pragmatism, devotion for development, and hymns for the hum of industry.
Being too religious can never solve Nigeria’s problems, but being pragmatic can.
Being Too Religious Can Never Solve Nigeria’s Problems But Being Pragmatic Can
