IT STARTED with the natural faculties of sensibilities, our intuitive gifts and the imagination to create interpretations for natural phenomenon. Our artistic faculties generated the powerful language of symbolism, rites and rituals, that reflected the seasons, the rise and fall of the tide, the relationship of the cosmic cycle relationship to birth, puberty and agriculture, the age of religion had begun.

The ancients learned the postures of cosmology and mapped the stars, attributing the names of their Gods to the cosmic territory, their mastery of the physical laws were all enveloped to be gifts of the Gods, Ogun and Vulcan, Yoruba and Roman respectively presided over Blacksmiths.

The spirituality we now call Mythology had become second nature by thousands of years before the term science redefined and seceded the mastery of the natural world of the ancients from their Gods and religion into a new thinking that empowered the human intellect, genius and logical determination, instructing the new ‘will’ that through trial and observation all mystery can be proven. But from the formation of the tribal community, a feature emerged that stratified the role of gender, men were the hunters, warriors, the tribal council, high priests, blacksmiths etc.

Women were the weavers of cloth, cooks, custodians of infants, integral in agriculture and gathering of herbs, and obedient wives. But that latter age of the priests, priestesses and gender stratification though dormant is still far from over. Though the evidence of the scientific approaches envelope us with its dual nature of ‘progress and damnation’ and scientific successes embody the undeniable theme “I told you so”, culture and religion, however, remain the custodians of hope, where the doctrine of science grapple with customs and traditions embedded in cultural norms defended by the misinterpreted tenets of religion and the logical impulses of age-old customs handcuffed to fear.

The reality beckons that spirituality and science are both subject to the all that humanity is. Neither of the two realms of thinking is indeed separate but are the extension and retention of ‘The One’ there are laws that apply to the day, as there are laws that apply to the night, between the natural influences of the moon and the sun and the conduct of the human body towards its wellbeing.

It is to one such custom that I must dedicate the rest of this column. Some years ago I had a disagreement with a visiting female relative who interfered when I called my youngest child to sit with me and watch Schindler’s List. She had immediately protested that it was a “Man movie”. I instructed her that nothing about the events of that era separated genders and the part with the child in the pink coat outstanding in a black and white movie, and the child’s inevitable fate did register on my daughter. Another close female relative at an early age showed an interest in dinosaurs.

I provided a collection through gifts for her. It’s all good giving girls dolls and inclining them to the natural and sacredness of being future mothers, but if any female under my bloodline also requests a transformer toy, why not? The age of prescribed gender roles is gone in theory, so are the role of Priests or Fathers as we used to address these trusted men back in the day.

I had a brief and serious chat with a Bishop recently about the free for all hustlers that have invaded religion. Their targets are mainly women. I learnt recently that a certain spiritual church that I have accustomed passing for the past 45 years had grown wealthy taking care of elderly women in exchange for their real estate. This seems to be a persisting ritual habit. A female friend told me that to become progressive she had to do a ritual to free herself from the “Family curse”. This is foolishness straight out of Hollywood, but it’s happening.

Legally this country has got to take a second look at what’s going on in the ‘Belief Realm’. Coming out of Charlestown recently I saw several minibuses pulling up at a location all the passengers were females, 80 percent were middle aged. I enquired from a friend in the street if they were part of some skills training team (sewing, seamstress, craft related?). He laughed and informed me that it was a church. I’m told some foreign pastor is coming to town and it’s US$150 to be in his presence. The thing is, none of what is happening has anything to do with the Bible; it’s a new chapter, its show business.

Why are women the major vulnerable group? The answer is exposure, lack of post children occupation, when the imagination is checked at dolls, tea parties and the wedding dress and all that passes, what else is there but the enchantment of the afterlife through the enticement of the 2018 high priest? Most of the people who read books on mysticism have seen The Exorcist, The Devil’s Bride and seen every Christopher Lee movie.

Girls were discouraged before ‘Twilight’ (which was designed for teenage girls) so were many of the con men and their female colleagues who were witnesses of the hustle. Religion and spirituality are ‘Real’ human faculties, but not when you’re just part of the audience. The desire to acquire an understanding that enables one to question the seductive logic of the mystic lure comes from exposure through inquiry. It was The Christ who cautioned us (male and female) not to look for signs and observations, as “The Kingdom of heaven lies within”.