Afe Adogame, who is an Upson Maxwell Professor of Religion and Society, Princeton Theological Seminary, New Jersey, USA has suggested that due to the harsh economic situation in Africa and the world, pentecostal and charismatic churches should consider shifting from providing only ‘spiritual food’ to providing ‘real food’ for their congregations. He made the statement at the maiden lecture series of the Redeemer’s University Department of Religious Studies and Philosophy with the theme “Spiritual Ecologies and Moral Imaginaries in African Pentecostal Religioscapes.”
Prof. Adogame highlighted the concept of “stomach infrastructure,” as a critical infrastructure to camp the spiritual while urging religious institutions and churches in Nigeria to look into concrete investments and endowments that will deal with ‘stomach infrastructure,’ address food security, job creation, sustainability and employability in the life of congregants so that, they will find security, and contentment in the God they are taught to believe in. “It is one who is well-fed that can truly enjoy and absorb spiritual food,” he said.
Speaking further, Prof. Adogame stated that, it is paramount to take care of an individual’s spiritual well-being, but physical needs should not be overlooked. He suggested that institutions like Redeemer’s University (RUN) and the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) which have already started integrating food production and real estate into their expansion strategies could serve as a model to other institutions and churches to become ‘food baskets’ and ‘food laboratories’ to cater for not just their immediate environment but the larger society.
The Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Olufemi Shadrach, who was represented by the University Librarian, Dr. Akinniyi Adeleke appreciated the guest speaker for an apt delivery of the lecture.
Also speaking at the event, the Head of Department of Religious Studies and Philosophy, Prof. Babatunde Adedibu who hosted the event, led question and answer session and discussion on the topic: Despite the various religious activities, why is crime a menace in the society? Participants share their thoughts and the guest speaker answered most of the questions asked.
