Abstract
Modern ideas about development generally overlook the role of traditional religion, or assume that traditional religion is a matter left to the domain of private belief in Africa. As secular states gain strength and confidence, African traditional religion is seen as an obstacle to development and this marginalization has led to numerous religious and ethnic conflicts as Africa is faced with other challenges such as poor governance, poverty and disease. Very often these problems have been blamed on power brokers from the western world, and because the west has always played the role of big brother to Africa in terms of resources, relief-aid and policies, Africa has had few means of dealing with the alleged ideology.

This paper argues for the consideration of (traditional) religion as a resource for development and not a barrier. Examples of how traditional religion encourages peaceful inter-religious dialogue among young people in the promotion of a healthy living, sexuality and HIV/AIDS and co-existence in an ethnically and religiously pluralistic society, is presented.




Introduction
We face a crisis, which could bring about the suicide of the human species or bring us a new awakening and a new hope. We know that religion has an indispensable role to play and neither the meaning of peace nor of religion can be reduced to a single and rigid concept. Religions have led to division, hatred, and war and religious people have too often betrayed the high ideals they themselves have preached. We call for sincere acts of repentance and mutual forgiveness, both personally and collectively to one another, to humanity in general, and to Earth and all living beings.

Modern ideas about development generally overlook the role of traditional religion, or assume that traditional religion would be relegated to a matter of private belief in Africa as secular states gained strength and confidence, or even saw religion as an obstacle to development. Africa in particular has been bogged down with numerous religious and ethnic conflicts as well as other calamities such as poor governance, poverty and disease. However, very often the problems that Africa faces have been blamed on power brokers from the western world, and because the west has always played the role of big brother to Africa in terms of resources and policies, Africa has had few means of dealing with the alleged ideology. This paper argues for the consideration of (traditional) religion as resource for development and not as a barrier to development. A case study of an inter-religious dialogue is presented, in the hope of envisioning the positive public effects religion can play.

Role of Religion in Sensitising Taboo Topics and Promoting Peace
Kisumu is a multi-religious, multicultural and multi-ethnic town in Kenya. WRITE MORE

Dominant religious groups in Africa are perceived to be foreign, with the African elite dismissing indigenous African religions as primitive and backward. The worldview of the African indigenous beliefs/religions is portrayed as negative and they are labelled as cults or occults. This portrayal leads to further marginalizing and alienation of African indigenous religious practices. Religion serves both as a source of inspiration and a worldview for many and hence its role in establishing social cohesion is vital. In the actual context of wanton violence being committed all over the world in the name of religion, inter-religious dialogue as an aspect of promoting a culture of peace and non-violence is more than ever a necessity. Breaking down mutual prejudices and stereotypes, open-mindedly meeting the other with a preliminary attitude of acceptation of his/her possible radical otherness in terms of values, ways and conceptions of life, objectives, discourses, and conceptual universes, are necessary to consider. As religion is very much influenced by its cultural context and vice versa, it is not easy to see the two as distinct from one another. When religious experiences and reflections are translated into another language and culture, special attention must be paid to the peculiarities and cultural differences of the different ethnic groups involved.

Culture is central to social development and religion is central to most cultures in Kisumu. For most people in Kisumu society, religion as a cultural institution has been part of the lives of people and of the communities as it is an important source of inspiration and identity-shaping. However, it is common these days to see many people there practice religious beliefs which are completely different from their own cultural beliefs and practices. For example, the Luo from the Lake Victoria basin of western Kenya have practiced polygamy since time immemorial as it was regarded as a foundation of virtue and an act of pride and wealth in a traditional set up. But Luo community is classified as 90% Christian and about 6% Muslim. Christianity teaches against polygamy and encourages followers to observe the practice of one husband one wife. This perception conflicts with that of the Luo.

Youth, SRH & the Important Role of Religion
Young people are often regarded as a true reflection of society, so putting together young people to discus issues dealing with religion is like trying to bend an overgrown twig. Even most of them who flock the Christian Pentecostal churches on Sundays do not have clear understanding of what their religious beliefs stand for. It is a pity today especially in our countries to see religious leaders conflict in public, or worse still to see them defend political ideologies synonymous with leaders from their communities. Religious sensitivity is required in order to understand our own multi-cultural societies, meet its day to day challenges and avoid ethnicity driven political debates within our own societies.

I once facilitated an interdenominational youth conference on religion and Sex and Reproductive Health here in my resident city of Kisumu, and most of my fellow speakers who happened to be Bishops and evangelists always appeared to be talking at the youths, without regard that they had any idea about what is going on around them. Infarct, I constantly felt that the youth were not receiving answers relevant to questions they posed. At the end, the youths started to walk out one by one while others dosed on their seats. When I asked for an opportunity to energize the youth so that they would participate effectively on the fore goings, I told the youth that, I felt they knew more about their Reproductive health needs and problems than anyone else in that hall and even back in their homes. I told them that the best solutions to their problems are also well within them, just that they have not found time to discuss them and find best solutions for them. I told the youth that they need to regard religion as a reference point, where they can sort spiritual guidance but only if they are believers, because it is spiritually wrong to use a religious practice from one religious group to judge a person from different religious group. But again, it is important for us to realize that Sexual reproductive health problems can affect any one from any religious grouping. The youths got attracted to what I was saying and they started giving their views, at the end we realize that most of the questions they posed were answered by their fellow participating youths. To some extent, the key speakers found themselves on the reference and not facilitating point.

Most young people these days confess very frankly that they go to churches/ places of warship to find potential marriage partners. This is why in my opinion, the subject of sexual reproductive health and religion among young people is key and must be addressed with a lot of sobriety. We know RH problems among young people in Africa are very serious with HIV/AIDS taking a huge toll on young people across the continent. The latest national figures in Kenya for example indicate that over 500 people die daily of the HIV/AIDS countrywide, and out of this over 90% are the most productive in the age bracket of 25 to 40 years. If we could beg to go with such statistics just as an example, we will realise that the religious sector is supposed to be the key target of SRH interventions for young people. Some of these young people who flock religious places to get sexual partners are not as religious as their religious leaders may want to assume. They therefore put the entire young religious population at risk. And Other religious values constituting life threatening causes of conflict in Africa for instance those prohibiting responsible sexual practices like the use of Condoms for the youth, are confusing people about taking proper HIV-Aids and other STI preventative measures.

We all know the conservative nature of religion, but the world is dynamic and with daily technological advancements, it’s very difficult for religion to stick to its conservative nature without divergent opinions from their followers. I tend to think, that it is because of the conservative nature of some mainstream religious groups that charismatic religions as well as Islamic fundamentalists seem to gain in the number of followers. It is alarming that the extremism is apparent in all religious groupings today. I tend to think that this could be as a result of religion losing its mandate in the society and giving a free for all situations. This can be justified by the ever mushrooming religious groupings with the argument that they are the ones who are teaching the truth. This is the danger being experienced in the world of freedom of warship today because anyone with any ill intention has the entire environment they need to hide under the umbrella of religion and propagate their selfish agenda. Unfortunately still, the youth have always fallen pray to all these ills.

There has been allegations and at times confirmation that some religious groupings in Africa are actually argents of child trafficking trade. Some media personalities have also alleged that some of these children trafficked outside Africa are used in all manner of practices including sex slaves and pornographic production. Based on the issues I have raised as well as those raised by several scholars and people of interest from all over the world, we may say that the world may need to consider some sort of control to religion. That may be controversial but could be our only hope of preventing worse religious extremism from coining their ill intended ideas to destroy the world under the pretext of religion.

Mark Okowa
Program Officer-
Environment Liaison Centre International (ELCI).
Box 2348Kisumu 40100Kenya
Tel. +254 733 645341
Email: okowaster@gmail.com
http://www.abckenya.org / http://www.elci.org