RELIGION AS A COMMERCE BETWEEN THE GODS AND HUMANITY: AN EVALUATION OF THE RECIPROCITY OF MAKING AND REMAKING OF GODS

Abstract

Different scholars have defined religion from their different contextual perspectives following situational circumstances. Whichever way, religion has assumed a faith-based practice capable of impacting the individuals or groups involved with belief in and worship of unseen realities known as God / gods. Some see Religion as impactful element designed to influence human conscience, behavioural attitude and emotional reliefs. Religion has impacted on Africans mostly as it percolates into their marrow while seeking and expecting esoteric protection, solution, power and wealth through the worship of supernatural beings. Commerce on the other hand could mean a social dealing between people especially towards the activities of exchange of goods for profit advancement. The economic activities of man has overtly influenced his religious consciousness as his activities in an economic circle have been perceived in his relationship with the divinities. Commerce in religious circle and the change therein have to do with the participation or a contract between the gods and man whereby one party is expected to gain from the other did not start today. And when there is a gap in understanding the main reason for a transaction, there seem to be a breach or a violation of the agreed-upon terms and conditions of the binding contract. Religious change in this context means apostasy or converting from one religion to another religion, or rather abandoning the beliefs of one faith in favour of the other.