William andrew kopwe the open university of tanzania

6.4.1 Coping with Differences

Since Tanzania is a religious pluralistic Country, people have to learn to live with the philosophy of ‘agreeing in disagreeing in order to continue to disagree peacefully.’ The reason behind this is that there shall never come a time when all Tanzanians will be Muslims or Christians. Pluralism will always be there in inter and intra religious arenas. In order to perpetuate amicable Christian-Muslim relations in the Country Tanzanians ‘should not forget their differences’ rather they should ‘learn how to live with their differences’. Religious and political leaders should speak the reality of things and situations. The reality is that, there are points of departures among the two religions in the Country. Leaders should not avoid speaking these realities in the fear of stirring discord in the Country. Concealing the truth and reality is brewing chaos and disharmony in the Country. It is an illusion to think that people will forget their differences. To forget difference is to violate fundamental teachings of their religions. The differences are there and will remain there always. For instance, the Muslims will never accept the deity of Jesus Christ because it is written in their holy Qur’ān: To accept that Jesus is God is a blasphemy and obliteration of their faith on Tawheed (unity of God). Therefore, it is never a blasphemy for a Muslim to preach that Jesus is not God. Also, it is impossible for Christians to accept that Muhammad is one of the Biblical prophets. Acknowledging it will mean that Muhammad is a true prophet to the Christians and that the Christians have to follow teachings of Muhammad. Similarly, it will not be a blasphemy for Christians to preach that Muhammad is not a true prophet to the Christians.

6.4.2 Use of Objective Language

Since religious sentiments are psychologically emotional and sensitive, people should learn how to use objective language in order to avoid slandering of other faiths. Whenever people know the reality of their difference, they will also learn how to live with difference in a pluralistic society like Tanzania. Tolerance does not come over night, but it should be cultivated in the minds of people through right teachings.

6.4.3 Mechanism for Dealing with State-religion Relations

Since in Tanzania religion is still a strong force in the society among political leaders and citizens, it is not easy to completely separate state and religion. Therefore, the Government should create a special mechanism or instrument to deal with religious issues and citizens’ grievances in the Country. This may be a department in one of the ministries or a Governmental institution. The instrument should be made of religious specialists not mere religious leaders who are theologians. This instrument will have to have a representation from different religious groups in the Country. The institution instruments will advise the Government on the religious challenges and grievances of religious groups in the Country. Since this institution will comprise of specialists of religion it will help the Country to deal with religious issues and challenges within and without the Country.
Similarly, the state and private universities should establish faculties of religion and philosophy. These faculties will help to produce as many scholars of religion as possible in the Country, who will devote their time to do research on religion and religious issues, which will acquaint the state and the society at large on the dynamics of religion in the world. On the same note, religious education should be taught in primary and secondary schools. The education will help to remove prejudices among religious groups and enhance positive attitudes of the citizens of the various religious following toward each other.

6.4.4 Political Manipulation of Religion

Political parties should not manipulate religious aspirations to propagate their agendas. Neither should they capitalize on religious grievances. This will divide the citizens along religious lines, which is against the Country’s cultural political values. Culturally, though religion has been a strong force in the Country, politicians avoid using it as their means for political gain. The use of religion in politics is not only dangerous for the nation, but also for the parties themselves. Political parties are made up of members from different religious backgrounds. Any religiosity may bring schism in their parties. But also people in the same religion have their political parties. Any religious leader who supports a particular political party will divided the followers of the religion as well. People of the same religions are not of the same part.
Religious leaders should not allow themselves to be used by politicians for their political ascendancy. They should remember that when politicians are in need of furthering their agendas and striving for power they use every means at their disposal. The most powerful means is religion. Politicians know that religion is powerful tool for convincing people. Therefore they usually identify themselves with religions. Religious leaders should not be enticed by politicians that politicians will take care of their grievances when elected.
Similarly, religious leaders should not consider political leaders or head of organizations as leaders of a certain religion. They are elected and appointed in religious neutral ground. They are expected to serve Tanzanians and not people of a specific religion. It is dangerous to think that political leaders are representatives of their religions. This means that, it is dangerous to elect or appoint a leader following his or her religion. By saying so the researcher discourages the idea of dividing leadership positions by considering religious backgrounds of people. Let leadership positions be divided meritoriously.

6.4.5 Perpetuation of State Secularity

Secularity of the state must be perpetuated. This strengthens democracy and creates parity among all religious groups in the Country. The Government should avoid making policies using religious premises. Religious sentiments are not guaranteed to be permanent. One may advocate a religious faith today, but deny it tomorrow. Or rather, one may be in this religion today and convert to the other the following day. Such person may support one thing this time, but vehemently renounce it tomorrow. To be on safe side, the Government should leave religious affairs to the hands of religious umbrellas, especially at this time, when there are no Governmental institution which directly deals with religious issues.
Simultaneously, religious groups in the Country should not use politics to further their agendas. Religious leaders are guardians of peace in the Country. They have convincing power over their followers. They should not manipulate their influence over their believers to usurp political powers of the Country. Furthermore, religious leaders and religious activists should not consider political leaders and state leaders as representatives of their religions. Political and state leaders are servants of the whole Tanzania community and not of just one religion. When a certain political leader is rebuked by religious leaders who are not his, his religious leaders should not take it personally. It is wrong to think that a certain religion is attacked by other religious leaders or adherences.
Religious leaders should remember that social problems in the Country do not affect adherents of one religion only. People of different religions in the Country suffer equally with social, economical and political issues. Even when peace goes it will affect people of both religions as have been witnessed in some places in the world. Human beings, religious people and politicians may discriminate people. But disasters and calamities do not.