The role of faith and belief in modern Africa | Ndidi Nwuneli

翻译人员: Howel Wang 校对人员: Junyi Sha

I was born to two amazing professors who were not religious.

我出生于两位了不起的， 没有宗教背景的教授家中。

In fact, my father's regular response

实际上，我的父亲对于为什么

to the question about why we didn't go to church on Sundays was,

我们周日不去教堂的回答通常是，

"When others go to pray, I go to play."

“当别人去做礼拜时，我却在玩。”

Tennis, in case you're wondering.

我去打网球，如果你想知道的话。

Faith found me and my siblings when university students came to our house

当大学生来我家 邀请我去主日学校时，

我和我的兄弟姐妹 都找到了自己的信仰。

to invite us to Sunday school.

I was drawn by their sense of personal conviction

我被他们个人坚定的信仰，

and their life of service,

对生命的奉献，

and opted for baptism into the Christian faith

以及选择经历 洗礼信仰基督教所吸引，

这是我 10 岁的生日礼物。

as my 10th birthday present.

My faith has shaped my work as a social entrepreneur,

作为一个社会企业家， 在过去的 17 年中，

attempting to address Africa's most pressing challenges

我参与解决了当前非洲 所面临的最紧迫的问题，

over the last 17 years,

培养了非洲年轻领袖，

and my work training youth as leaders

并提升了他们的道德素养，

而我的信仰始终影响着我的工作，

and promoting ethics across Africa.

Twenty-nine years later,

29 年过去了，

as a Sunday school teacher myself,

作为一个主日学校的老师，

my faith was challenged by a young nine-year-old

我的信仰被一个 9 岁的小孩挑战了，

who asked a series of questions.

他问了一连串的问题。

He asked,

他问：

"Ms. Ndidi, does God hate Africans?"

“Ndidi 女士，上帝讨厌非洲人吗？”

To which I quickly retorted, "Of course not.

我很快地反驳道：“当然不。

God loves all his children equally."

上帝平等的爱着每一个孩子。”

Then he asked, "So why do so many young African children die?"

然后他问：“为什么那么多 非洲的儿童会死亡？”

I stumbled and mumbled as I responded.

我结结巴巴地回答：

"There are many reasons why young African children die.

“造成非洲儿童死亡的原因很多，

Most of them are man-made, and we cannot blame God."

大多数是人为的原因造成的， 我们不能责怪上帝。”

So he asked, "Why does he let it happen?

他接着问：“为什么上帝 允许这样的事发生？

He could stop it."

他应该去阻止这样的事。”

And I said ...

我说：

"Yes he could, yes he could,

“他可以的，他可以的，

but he sent us here as change agents,

他把我们派到这里来作为促变者，

light of the world, salt of the earth,

世界之光，地球之盐，

and we are failing."

但我们让他失望了。”

Africa has had a mixed affair with organized religion,

非洲是遍布着有组织的宗教，

with both positive and negative consequences.

这有着积极和消极两方面的意义。

The Christian missionaries educated most of our political elite,

基督教的传教士 教导大多数政治精英们，

like Senghor and Nkrumah,

比如 Senghor 和 Nkrumah，

built many of our first hospitals and schools.

建造了非洲最早的一批医院和学校。

Similarly, Islam has introduced commerce and mathematics

类似地，伊斯兰教 将商业和数学的知识

across the continent.

传到了这片大陆。

Today, we have over a billion Africans who profess a strong faith.

如今，我们有超过十亿的非洲人 宣称自己有强大的信念。

What is the net effect of this on our continent?

拥有强大的信念 对我们非洲有什么意义？

A recent "Economist" article said that the face of the future

最新的《经济学人》上的一篇文章说，

of the world's most popular religion is African.

在未来，世界最流行的宗教， 其信徒是非洲人。

Now, both Islam and Christianity underscore the importance of social impact

伊斯兰教和基督教都强调， 社会影响

as critical tenets of our faith.

是塑造我们信仰的重要因素。

Muhammad is noted for stating

穆罕穆德曾经说过，

that he is not a believer who goes to bed on a full stomach

他不是一个邻居还饿着肚子，

when his neighbor to his side is hungry.

而自己吃饱了就上床睡觉的信徒。

And all through the New Testament,

而整个《新约全书》中，

Jesus Christ talks about loving your neighbors as yourselves,

耶稣说过，爱你的邻居， 就像爱你自己一样，

giving to the poor, caring for the sick,

施舍穷人，照顾病人，

and James, too, says that "faith without works is dead."

James 也说过， 不遵循信仰就等同于死亡。

So I strongly believe that faith-based organizations have a critical role to play

所以我始终相信，宗教组织 在推动非洲的社会影响方面

in driving social impact in Africa.

起到了重要的作用。

But for this to occur, we need three critical changes.

为了让这样的事情发生， 我们需要着手三个方面的变革。

The first is that we need to change our mindsets.

第一，我们需要改变我们的心态，

Both as people of faith and of those who are not religious,

即信教的人和不信教的人

their perceptions of those of us who are people of faith.

对信教的人的看法。

Now, for people of faith and those of us who are religious,

对那些信教的人，

we often say, "If God wills, I'll do this;

他们会说：“如果上帝 会做这些，我就去做；

inshallah, I'll do that --

听天由命，上帝保佑我——

by God's grace, I'll do this."

我就去做这些事。”

Now there are many things, I believe, that we can control --

我相信，许多的事情我们都能掌控，

some we cannot.

而某些事我们不能。

I believe that God is all-powerful,

我相信，上帝是全能的，

but he's not a micromanager.

但他不会什么事都去管。

(Laughter)

（笑声）

He has sent us here as his change agents,

他把我们派到这里来作为促变者，

and we must stop making excuses

我们不能再利用他来

and using him.

找借口。

That means that if you're a teacher,

这就像，如果你是一位老师

go to school and give your students the best.

就会去学校对学生倾囊相授。

If you're a public-sector official,

如果你是政府官员，

release the funds meant for that school or public health-care center

就会提供资金扶持学校 或公共医疗领域的发展，

instead of stealing it for your personal purposes.

而不会因为个人的目的 去挪用这些资金。

By claiming that we have no power over our past, present and future,

通过宣称我们没有力量去面对 我们的过去，现在和将来，

we give too much authority to the wicked

我们赋予那些挪用公款

who steal funds and beg God for forgiveness.

并乞求上帝原谅的 邪恶势力太多权力。

Now for those of you who are not religious,

对于没有宗教信仰的人来说，

you also have to change your mindsets about us.

你也可以改变对我们的态度。

There are many of us who are hardworking,

许多都是努力工作的人，

ethical and intellectual.

有道德的，聪明的人。

It might surprise you.

你也许会很惊讶。

(Laughter)

（笑声）

Now the second step

第二步，

is that we have to utilize our resources and assets

我们需要利用我们的资源和资产

for social impact.

对社会产生影响。

In England,

在英格兰，

1,900 churches have been shut down since 1969,

自从 1969 年以来， 由于教会规模不断收缩，

due to shrinking congregations,

1900 个教堂被迫关闭，

while in Africa, every single day,

然而在非洲，

每一天都有教堂和清真寺拔地而起。

a church or mosque is being built.

In some communities, you might not find a public health center,

在一些社区中， 你也许找不到公立医院，

a post office or even a school,

邮局甚至是学校，

but you'll find a church or mosque.

但你会发现教堂或清真寺。

Some of these churches and mosques are world-class,

一些教堂和清真寺是世界级的，

with excellent audio-visual systems,

有极其豪华的视听系统，

wonderful meeting spaces,

高级的会议厅，

and they organize events that rival international concerts.

他们还会举办与国际级 音乐会相媲美的活动。

The sad reality is that many of them are empty during the week.

然而遗憾的是，很多这样的场所 在工作日都是闲置的。

I live in the Lekki area of Lagos,

我住在拉各斯的 Lekki 地区，

and in my community, there are at least 50 really nice churches,

在我这片地区中， 至少有 50 座非常棒的教堂，

but there's no adult literacy center,

但这里没有成人识字中心，

no homeless shelter

没有流浪汉庇护所，

and very few public schools and hospitals.

也几乎没有公立学校和公立医院。

Many of these spaces could be utilized for social change.

这些教堂本可以 协助实现社会变革，

Imagine if every single church in Lekki opened its doors

想象一下，如果 Lekki 的每一个教堂

晚上都为流浪汉敞开大门，

to the homeless at night,

给他们睡袋，热好的饭，

gave them a sleeping bag, a warm meal and a voucher in the morning

在早上还为来教堂的失业的年轻人

to learn a vocational course,

offered by the unemployed youth who attend that church.

职业课的代金券。

That would demonstrate what we preach

这就是对我们的教说，

and what we speak about as people of faith,

我们作为信教徒的信仰，

and what led me to Christianity in the first place.

以及为何我会信奉基督教的 最好的证明。

Similarly, we have to utilize our resources for social change.

类似地，我们需要用 我们的资源来改变社会。

The 2016 "why give" survey conducted in Kenya

2016 年，肯尼亚进行了 一项“为何捐款”的调查，

reveals that close to 60 percent of adults give to faith-based organizations --

结果显示，接近 60% 的成年人 为宗教相关组织捐款，

even more than they give their extended families.

这个比例甚至超过了 他们对于亲属的资助。

This is not unique to Kenya.

这个现象不仅仅存在于肯尼亚，

It's quite prevalent across Africa.

整个非洲都是这样。

Many of our faith-based organizations have tremendous amounts of wealth

许多基于基督教而建立的组织 都拥有大量的财富，

that can be utilized for social change.

能为社会带来变化。

We have to check the sources of uses of these funds

我们必须审查这些 财务资源的利用情况，

and curb the excesses by our faith-based organizations.

并抑制我们宗教组织的 一些过度行为。

Now, this will require courage on the part of members,

这就需要我们成员有勇气，

who will have to put their imams and priests on straight salaries,

明码他们伊玛目 （注：阿拉伯语中的“领袖”）

require audited financial statements that will be published

和牧师的工资条， 用他们公布的财务报表审查，

and even reject contributions from unethical sources.

甚至要拒绝接受不道德渠道的捐款。

But it's possible.

这是可能的。

We're already seeing positive examples in South Africa and Kenya,

我们已经看到 在南非和肯尼亚正面的例子，

and the organizations,

还有一些组织，

such as the Africa Council for Accreditation and Accountability

比如非洲认可和问责委员会,

that's checking faith-based organizations

他们会负责监督这些 基于基督教建立的组织，

and ensuring that they comply with biblical standards of stewardship.

确保他们遵守圣经的管理标准。

Now, the third step

第三，

is that we have to partner with all stakeholders,

我们需要与利益相关者合作，

and this is especially relevant for the non-religious in the audience.

这与各位无宗教信仰的观众尤其相关。

Recognizing the power and potential of faith-based organizations,

要认识到基于基督教建立的 组织的力量与潜力，

leveraging their assets, their scale,

借用他们的资产，规模，

the public trust and credibility they have,

公众的信任以及他们的可靠性，

their lower operating costs,

低运营成本，

their access to the grassroots

对基层的了解

and their presence abroad.

以及在国外的地位。

Politicians recognize this,

政客们看到了其中的潜力，

and campaign seasons are always filled with stops and picture opportunities

竞选季总是充斥着 各种“精神领袖”

刻画的所谓机遇。

with leading faith leaders.

Sadly, once elected,

但遗憾的是，一旦上台，

many of these faith-based organizations are ignored.

很多宗教组织就被忽视了。

And in fact, a World Bank survey revealed

世界银行的一项调查显示，

that 30 to 70 percent of assets owned by medical organizations in Africa

非洲医疗机构拥有的 30% 到 70% 的资产，

are actually owned by faith-based organizations,

实际上都属于这些宗教组织。

但这些宗教组织

but that there's very little collaboration between the faith community

很少和公共医疗机构合作。

and public health-care systems.

One positive example is from Ghana,

在加纳发生的 一个有积极意义的例子表明，

where the Ghana Catholic Health Service partnered with a range of stakeholders

加纳天主教医疗机构通过 与许多相关的利益相关者合作

and was able to realize a 31 percent reduction in mortality.

发现，5 岁以下儿童的 死亡率降低了 31%。

I believe there's so much potential that can be realized

我相信还有很多潜力有待发掘，

when we walk across the divide of faith

只要我们跨越宗族信仰的鸿沟，

and, hand in hand, try to solve many of our problems.

手拉着手，就可以解决许多问题。

Similarly, faith-based organizations can support the transfer

相似地，基于基督教建立的宗教组织

可以教人们重要的技能和知识。

of critical skills and knowledge.

Many of you in the NGO community or in the private sectors

非政府社区和私人机构的 工作人员已经发现，

realize how difficult it is to even attract 150 to 200 people

想吸引 150-200 人 来参加你的课程

to your conferences,

是多么的困难，

有时甚至还得提供津贴，

sometimes even offering stipends,

交通补贴。

reimbursements of transportation costs.

Meanwhile, faith-based organizations draw thousands and millions

然而与此同时， 在每个礼拜天和礼拜五，

宗教组织都能吸引成千上万人，

every Sunday or Friday ...

with the promise of a good sermon.

仅因为保证有一个好的布道。

The truth is we cannot address issues around family planning

真相是，在非洲， 我们不能不依靠宗教组织

without faith-based organizations in Africa.

去解决计划生育的问题。

Issues such as democratic rights and voter registration,

对于民主权利和选民登记的问题，

ensuring that every member of a congregation

我们要确保每个参加集会的人

has a voter registration card,

都有选民登记卡，

understands their democratic rights

都明白他们的民主权利，

and can exercise that.

并能行使这份权利。

I really think it's critical that we consider partnering

我真心认为通过与宗教组织合作

with faith-based organizations to deliver social impact.

来产生社会影响是十分关键的。

It's also important to note that African faith-based organizations

同样需要注意的是，

非洲宗教组织在世界范围内 都有着重大的影响力。

have a strong presence globally.

There are over 2,000 African nuns and priests in leadership positions

超过 2000 名非洲修女和牧师

in Europe,

在欧洲拥有影响力，

with more influence than some of our diplomatic envoys,

甚至比一些外交使节的 影响力还要大，

operating at a fraction of the cost.

而且运作成本十分低廉。

They can serve as influencers and supporters.

我们可以利用他们的影响力， 并获得他们的支持者。

Similarly, some African churches have a presence

相似地，一些非洲的教堂

在很多国家中都有影响力，

in countries across the globe,

and the Redeemed Christian Church of God has a presence in 196 countries,

比如上帝救赎基督教教会 在 196 个国家拥有分支，

serving as a bridge to the diaspora and providing support.

旨在成为散居侨民间的纽带， 并为他们提供帮助。

If our public-sector organizations could partner with these institutions,

如果我们的政府组织 能与这些机构合作，

we could unlock the potential of our diaspora populations.

就可以释放散居人口的潜力。

I know some of you are still struggling with this topic,

我知道你们当中的一些人 对这个话题依然心存疑虑，

but I challenge you to think about it.

但是我请你们思考一下，

A wise man once said, "Faith is a risk,

有一位智者说过：“信仰是一种风险，

but it's a risk that I cannot afford not to take."

但是我却必须要承担。”

I would suggest that partnerships with faith-based organizations are a risk,

我认为，与宗教组织合作是一种风险，

but one that all stakeholders that are committed to social impact in Africa

但是，对于所有对非洲社会 有影响的利益相关者，

他们不得不承担这份风险。

cannot afford not to take.

I often reflect on my conversation with that young boy,

我经常反思与这个小男孩的对话，

and I believe I should have ended it a little differently.

我本应该以一种不同的方式 来结束这段对话。

First, I should have commended him for asking tough questions.

首先，我应该先表扬他 问了很难回答的问题，

Africa needs more young people who challenge the status quo,

非洲需要更多这样 勇于挑战现状的年轻人，

even in the faith communities.

甚至是宗教团体中的成员。

Secondly, I should have given him a little more hope.

第二，我应当给他一些希望，

Not hope in the afterlife,

不是对于来世的期望，

but hope in Africa today,

而是对于当下的非洲，

because the faithful are powerful.

因为，信仰是很强大的。

Not just because of their beliefs but because of their assets,

不仅仅是因为他们的信仰， 还有他们拥有的资产，

their resources, their army of volunteers,

资源和志愿者军队，

and because working together, across the divide,

也因为我们可以跨越 信仰的鸿沟一起工作，

we can live as positive examples for what our children --

为我们的下一代 做出积极的表率——

my children, your children --

我的孩子，你们的孩子——

deserve to see.

应该应当看到这样的生活。

An Africa that demonstrates that God loves Africans

非洲应该展现出 上帝爱所有非洲人的样子，

and that we are just as capable as any other world region

我们有能力和世界上 任何其他地区一样

in solving our problems

用和平和爱的方式

in peace ...

去解决

and love.

我们的问题。

I love this quote that says,

我喜欢这句话：

"Hope is the ability to hear the melody of the future.

“希望是我们去倾听未来旋律的能力，

Faith is the willingness and the courage

信仰则给予了我们 在今天为之舞蹈的

to dance to it today."

意愿和勇气。”

I hope that we, as people of faith,

我希望我们，作为有信仰的人们，

能够真正的去影响社会，

can truly live up to the promise of social impact

that we have been called to do as change agents in society.

就像我们被上帝派去改变社会那样。

And I believe that working with you,

我相信，和你们一起工作，

all stakeholders,

和所有的利益相关者合作，

we can truly solve Africa's most pressing challenges.

我们可以真正解决 非洲的许多棘手的问题。

I have that hope ...

我心怀这种希望，

and I have the faith,

也心怀这种信仰，

and I've started to dance.

我已经起舞。

Won't you join me?

你们要加入我吗？

Thank you.

谢谢。

（掌声）

(Applause)