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‘Insults And The Myth Of The Ignorance Of The Priests’ By Dr Kaoma
Since I began contributing to Zambian news sites, I have been appalled by the culture of insults in our “Christian” nation. Are we going to learn to disagree with respect; to debate issues with decency; and to realize that we blog because of our common love and our high expectations for Mother Zambia?
As a priest, I am ashamed that people who defend Zambia as a “Christian nation,” and claim to be Christians are the very ones who use vulgar language on Lusaka Times, Tumfweko and other news sites. Is it that we can’t tell the oxymoron of claiming to be Christians and “God fearing” on one hand, and insulting those who disagree with us on the other?
I know that some of us think that we are justified to use bad language—after all we are invisible. Yet, our real character is revealed in the privacy of our homes; when out of the company of those who know us, and more so, when we are not being watched. After all, Christianity is not for showoff, but for the heart. Is it not that Jesus said that if you do things in secret, “Then your “Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.”? Friends, how we blog says much about our character, values and of course, our religious beliefs.
That aside, I want to address the myth about the ignorance of the priests. We think priests are only qualified to memorize the Bible; we believe that they know nothing and that they are too ignorant to guide the nation! Well, we may have some self-proclaimed reverends and pastors, but to think that all reverends are ignorant is a myth. I have met and studied with many individuals including Pastor Isaac Makashinyi—one of the most intelligent persons I have encountered in my life.
I know a number of priests who are qualified political scientists, mathematicians, economists, historians, accountants, medical doctors, social workers, environmentalists, ethicists, and lawyers. By the way, the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., was a pastor too.
Speaking of Dr. King, he graduated from Boston University, the very school that awarded my doctorate. I graduated from Theological College of Central Africa, in Ndola, with a first class double major Bachelor of Theology in Pastoral Studies, and Education (meeting graduation requirements almost a year ealier), and went on to obtain a Master of Arts in Philosophical and Political Ethics, from Trinity College, University of Bristol, in England.
Other graduate institutions I have attended include Episcopal Divinity School, in Cambridge, majoring in Feminist and Social Movement Theories, and Boston University, where I majored in Ecological Ethics. My 427 pages doctoral thesis was based on my fieldwork among the Tonga people in the Kariba region, and it is available online; just google, Ubuntu, Jesus, and Earth: Integrating African Religion and Christianity in Ecological Ethics.
My just published book, God’s Family, God’s Earth: Christian Ecological Ethics of Ubuntu, with the Foreword from President Joyce Banda of Malawi, has been endorsed by world-class Professors, and religious leaders including the Archbishop Desmond Tutu. My second book, Raised Hopes, Shattered Dreams: The Cry of the Oppressed, Democracy and the Church in Africa (the Case of Zambia), is set to come out next year—during Zambia’s Jubillee anniversary.
In addition to being a Visiting Researcher and Fellow at Boston University, I am a senior researcher with one of the most respected U.S. based think tanks—Political Research Associates, in Somerville, Massachusetts. My work has been recognized by big media outlets, including The New York Times, CNN, Time Magazine, The Economist, The London Times, The Guardian, among many others.
They have also led to award winning documentary movies, and countless academic books. I have also addressed various institutions, including the United Nations, the United States Congress, and the United States’ State Department. I have given presentations and Lectures at Harvard University, London School of Economics, among many prestigious academic institutions around the world.
I realize that we may be blinded by our loyalty to certain political leaders and rightly so. However, democracy demands that we allow other voices to be heard. I personally, have never had it easy. I come from Mansa, and attended Samfya, and Kawambwa Secondary Schools. I know what it means to be poor, and I pray that no child should experience what I went through. For this reason, I will always give voice to the voiceless until our government declares war on poverty.
I believe that we are all God’s people; I believe that we all need medical care and decent accommodation just as our politicians do, and I believe that since independence, our leaders have betrayed our trust, and all they think about is themselves.
By the way, I am not offended by your attacks on my ideas or analysis—I expect it, and that is why I write. But I want to put to rest the idea that my credentials are fake—I earned them from reputable academic institutions, and I use them with pride. If in doubt, just check with the schools I attended.
Rev. Canon Dr. Kapya John Kaoma
Posted by Kunda
on October 28, 2013. Filed under LATEST NEWS.
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konto
October 28, 2013 at 10:10 am
Zambia is a nation of hypocrites including the author. People are disillusioned with our clergymen.
Kadoyo
October 28, 2013 at 12:49 pm
NKONTO ….YOU ARE RIGHT BA FATHER KAOMA JOHN KAPYA IS AN ANGLICAN PRIEST WHO HAS GONE TO THE U.S.A..HE FAILED TO LIVE A LIFE OF BROTHER HOOD IN ZIMBABWE (Celibacy) HE CAME FROM ZIMBABWE WITH A ZIMBABWEAN WOMAN WHO HE HAS MARRIED SO HE IS A GOOD HYPOCRYTE AND FULL OF PRIDE. HE HAS FAILED TO SERVE IN ZAMBIA HAS A PRIEST….FR KAOMA PLEASE DO NOT DISGRACE OUR CHURCH JUST KEEP QUIET AND STAY THEIR BUT REMEMBER THAT YOUR SUFFERING SIBLINGS ARE HERE IN ZAMBIA PARTICULARLY LUAPULA. YOU SHOULD BE HUMBLE AS A PRIEST .
What?
October 30, 2013 at 1:14 am
Well, this sounds interesting! How can someone who honestly leaves celibacy be said to be a hypocrite? You would rather have him live a lie? Likewise, how do you define failure? How can one fail to work in Zambia, and work in the United States? Do you have a personal issue with the Dr. or you are just upset that he has been successful? Just asking
Rev. Kaoma
October 31, 2013 at 5:56 pm
I am sorry you got your facts wrong. I worked for Africa University as a lecturer from 1998 to 2001, when I joined St. John’s Anglican Seminary in Kitwe, Mindolo as Dean of Studies. I left Zambia for studies in 2002, for the U.S., and I got married on June 20, 2004, when I was already here in the U.S. As for your claims that I failed to work in Zambia, but managed to work here in the U.S., it depends how one defines failure. By the way, it is not your Church, but God’s Church and I am in direct contacts with all the Bishops including Archbishop Albert Chama.
patriot
October 28, 2013 at 10:15 am
looking at the emotion and self praise in this article is, I understand why people are insulting you. As an educated person (as you claim)and a “clergyman”, you need to keep you “cool” and be more objective. further, having made presentations at Harvard does not necessarily mean you are “great” , as sometimes the great institutions can just invite you to parade you as an Africa; so be careful. As for your research, we can only evaluate you after seeing the quality of your publications (if they exist)
observer
October 28, 2013 at 10:21 am
Iwe shima pepo, learn to be humble: “For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted (Luke 18:9-30)”.
simple simple
October 28, 2013 at 11:11 am
God Knows our hearts!!!!
CALLED WISE
October 28, 2013 at 11:22 am
Salvation is not, it has never been and it will never be general.
It is, it has been and it will always be individual.
If your father is a pastor, does that save you?
Who declared Zambia as a CN, God or a man?
We will be judged individually not collectively.
We need to right our wrongs and live Jesus’life if we are to worth that declaration.
shimwana
October 28, 2013 at 11:26 am
Alifye bwino, quality lyf 4 all.
pompwe
October 28, 2013 at 12:20 pm
PF hypocrites love and relish insults..we shall see you..the truth will find you out..
REAL ZAMBIAN
October 28, 2013 at 2:10 pm
NIYAMENE MUFUNINA DUAL CITIZEN KWAMENE
I WILL TELL OUR HARD WORKIKG PRES SATA
TO REMOVE IT
WHAT HAVE YOU CONTRABUTED THE ALL STAYING MUMAWANGA
PSE PF GOVT HAS NO MEANING
MWANKALAKO MUNGAGOVT MWA ENDA CANADA
wamulume
October 28, 2013 at 5:07 pm
Iwe Kakoma I am really disappointed with your self praise. In all I have heard, read, and listened from Obama, I have never heard him talk about himself at Harvard or any place of excellence. It is always a third party exhalting him. Cant he be your example. Accumulating academic papers doesnt make you supper human.The papers cant even compare you to the achievements of KK or MCS. Doctorate will never make u president or put food on the table. Anyway good luck with your self prise..
Summer K
October 28, 2013 at 5:33 pm
Father, what is the point of your article, it is full of self praise! Can you imagine if everyone came on this site and started parading their achievements? Absolute chaos
KENZU
October 28, 2013 at 6:06 pm
Ba Father, people will only insult you when they realise that your education is not adding value to their lives; you start preaching heresy, encouraging that which they detest, homosexuality in the name human right, dust the bible off your shelf and get the truth you’ll b respected. Self praise won’t bring buy you respect. Amen.
Village Chicken
October 28, 2013 at 7:04 pm
Real people attend school and quickly go to produce, contribute to mankind meaningfully, but when your CV is full of schools attended does that not suggest lazyness on your part? When are you going to contribute to assist your people as you claim in say Mansa? Supposedly those schools have given you certificates/degrees but I would not keep piling them so why are you? Plus boastful priest!!!!
top cat
October 28, 2013 at 7:27 pm
well priest/Dr all i can say is your spending of all that time in school was such a waste.it seems it served only to bring out the worst in you.believe me this not the right fora to advertise you CV.i rely cant see the purpose of your article and next time make sure the title of your article is short and relevant to the subject matter.as a doctor that should be pretty obvious.you are such an embarassement to those who gave you that doctorate.
mambala
October 28, 2013 at 11:07 pm
Priest kaoma, shame for putting up such an article. what have you gained.Now we know exactly what type of a person you are….not worth to be priest. Yours is for show off. Typical modern day Pharisee…shame, shame
Abena PJ
October 29, 2013 at 12:44 am
The insults and vulgar language that is exhibited by many bloggers is a clear sign that we cannot be a christian nation by declaration but by deeds. Even the guy who declared Zambia a Christian nation stole another man’s wife and stole a lot of money from the zambian poor. This is hypocricy of the highest order!
kakolwe
October 29, 2013 at 5:25 am
Kapya Kaoma! Who asked for yo CV? In Mansa I knew a Mbolela who employed over 30 young people but got a degree later! A Chimya who employed over 20 &was still pursuing 1st degree. A Dr Father who has all & JUST boasting!
kakolwe
October 29, 2013 at 5:34 am
Iwe Dr. Canon, What has come out of yo thesis among the Tonga? Nada! Someone I know researched on ‘School As Playground.’ Today, It is a component of Safe Schools by plan international while yours are bragging tools! Ubupuba!!!
They go again
October 30, 2013 at 1:26 am
Have you read his thesis or his other works? If you google him, you know him better. I just did through “google scholar.”
Rev. Kaoma
October 31, 2013 at 5:47 pm
How do you define nothing when you know “nothing” about my work? Have you read it?
Himalikiti
October 29, 2013 at 5:37 am
There are & always will be EDUCATED FOOLS!
ugg boots on sale for men
October 29, 2013 at 7:51 am
I am extremely inspired with your writing abilities and
also with the layout for your blog. Is that this a paid subject or did
you customize it yourself? Anyway keep up the nice high quality writing, it’s rare to peer a nice blog like this one these days..
kazeze
October 30, 2013 at 10:27 am
His boasting should not amaze people. After all he comes from that part of Zambia where people boast even after taking a tot of brandy. As for insulting that he is worried about, the insults are always in a particular language spoken by people who are mostly pro-PF. So the priest must address his concerns to his relatives in PF.
KULLY
October 30, 2013 at 10:59 am
Just a correction guys i do not this author but Anglican priests do not vow to celibacy, they are allowed to marry.Its Only the catholic priests who vow to celibacy.
bufufwa
October 30, 2013 at 12:03 pm
Kaoma l remember You when we shared a .same table and bed at Samfya Secondary Sch.B2 CLASS. TRULLY GOD fulfilled your plan
Rev. Kaoma
October 31, 2013 at 5:25 pm
Thanks. You guys helped me find my space. B2, do remember Mrs. Salimu, the TD madam who gave you guys hell? She liked me, so I never got a beating…How about Mr. Musosa?
Old Katuba Boys
October 31, 2013 at 11:49 am
Imwe ba Father Kaoma, what do you want to achieve from the article you have written ?
Rev. Kaoma
October 31, 2013 at 5:27 pm
I had to, you guys accused me of faking my credentials. Are you upset because you are shamed? By the way, there is nothing new in this article. Google my name and you will see it for yourself.