The Fragile Illusions of Power
The Church, once a moral compass for many, now wields influence far beyond the pulpit. Its reach extends into government organizations, charitable foundations, and financial systems, shaping policies and controlling vast resources. This quiet dominion has turned it into a formidable powerhouse, one that operates with little scrutiny. But what happens when such power goes unchecked? When the very morals it preaches begin to crumble under the weight of hypocrisy?
The Decay of Sacred Trust
Cases of systemic abuse, covered up for decades, reveal a disturbing pattern: institutions protecting their own rather than the vulnerable. Those who dare to speak out are often demonized, their motives questioned, their truths dismissed as attacks on faith. When religious freedom becomes a shield for corruption, is it still freedom, or merely an illusion?
The Fear of the "Other”
Humanity has always clung to tradition, fearing what lies beyond the familiar. "We must follow the old script to be accepted," some say. But what if that script is flawed? What if truth exists beyond a single doctrine? Insecurity breeds intolerance, when one is not secure in their own beliefs, difference becomes a threat rather than a possibility.
By Their Fruits, They Shall Be Known
A tree is judged by its fruit, and so too should institutions be measured by their actions. Are they lifting the oppressed or silencing them? Are they stewards of justice or architects of control? No human, no institution, is infallible. Yet, when wrongdoing is met with deflection rather than accountability, the scales tip dangerously.
The Sword of Judgment
To condemn without understanding is to wield a sword that was never ours to carry. History has shown the cost of blind righteousness, the witch hunts, the crusades, the persecutions in the name of "truth." True justice demands balance: the humility to question, the courage to listen, and the wisdom to discern.
Perhaps the greatest illusion is not power itself, but the belief that any entity, sacred or secular, is beyond reproach. The moment we stop questioning is the moment corruption takes root. And in that silence, the vulnerable pay the price.
The scales always find balance.
Yvonne Niwahereza