THE AFRICAN IDENTIFY OF BIBLICAL MOSES: AN IGWEBUIKE DISCOURSE

Abstract

Why are some Bible-believers and Judeo-Christian and Islamic scholars so reluctant about investigating extra- biblical facts that contradict existing biblical and theological constructs? The answer is simple! It has to do with the problem of theological dogmatism. Webster Dictionary defines dogma as “a system of doctrine proclaimed true by a religious sect,” or “principle, belief or idea especially one considered to be absolute truth.” Webster equally defines dogmatism as “the expression of an opinion or belief as if it were a fact…” or “a viewpoint or system of ideas based on insufficiently examined premises.” Dogmatism of any kind inhibits sound scholarly research. There are dogmatist physicists who refuse to abandon some of the outdated theories of Einsteinian-type classical physics, even in the face of the triumphant new discoveries in Quantum Physics. Such physicists prefer traditionalism over facts. Thus, they have difficulties conceptualizing that solidity and individuation of matter within the realm of perceptible physical world is an illusion. This is because the atomic and the subatomic quantum realm operates with the law of pure potentiality or possibility. It is consciousness that brings density into materialization. This fact has been proven by the new research in “double-slit experiment.” In the same way, the dogmatic pharmacological scientist is closed-minded and will not investigate the universal harmonic frequency in order to consider that homeostatic natural foods and herbs are way superior to their big- money-driven allopathic synthetic pills. These pills are not in tune with the human biorhythm and bio-vibratory frequency. The problem with dogmatism of any kind is that they make laws, ordinances, sanctions, rules, and condemn oppositions. Dogmatists often hold the key to certifications, and if you don’t agree with them, your certification is frozen. Their arrogance and attitude is much like: ‘If you are not with us, you are a heretic and dangerous.’ I am certainly one of those who consider theological dogmatism as inhumane, ungodly and absurd. Dogmatism of any kind is counter-research as well as contra-scientific. Dogmatists are nothing but ideological bullies as well as intellectual harassers. This is how dogmatism works: First it displays its version of ‘the truth,’ like a pre-manufactured industrial consumer goods. It calls this version absolute. Then, it forces the masses into uncritical consumption of that brand or version. Any real or perceived opposition is aggressively and apologetically rejected. Ideological dogmatism is a servant-slave to the status-quo. With theological dogmatism, there is no room for a dialectical scrutiny of the structural components of the belief system in question. Theological dogmatists are closed-minded religious luddites, with rigid authoritarian worldview. They are ecclesio-theological buffers against critical intellectual and historical searchlights. A dogmatist is insecure and will attack every attempt to throw new light on some old information systems. Dogmatism is like a self-preserving narcissistic poltergeist afraid to come out to the sunlight. Religious dogmatists, especially, utilize guilt, shame, condemnation, excommunication, ‘sending-to-hell,’ character assassination, intimidation, thuggery as well as doctrinal Nazism to create a colonial monopoly of the thought processes of the masses. In theological dogmatism, a point of view is manufactured and imposed as irreducibly infallible wherewith one must swallow or be vilified as a rebel. A typical fanatical dogmatist mindset runs thus: “The Bible is the absolute word of God, end of argument, take it or leave it” or “the church says it and you must follow with no questions.” This explains why so many people are not just incapable of looking beyond what is fed to them as ‘truth,’ but are actually afraid to do so. There are those who can decipher the fallacy of biblical chronology but choose to persist in the error of their fallacy. This might be due to fidelity to statutory ecclesiasticism, cooperate orthodoxy, ritualism, institutional didacticism and mass kerygmatic Pentecostal showmanship. To speak the truth often means compromising a position. This work is meant to push the envelope and invoke a critical examination of the established narrative, particularly relative to the mysterious identity and/ or events surrounding the person of Moses.