Something to Believe In: Religious Surrender And The Persistence of Magical Thinking in Nigeria.
by Rebecca Daré
Does religious surrender lead to a decline in critical thinking?
Something to Believe In examines the parallel between increased religious surrender and the decrease in intellectual engagement among the Nigerian populace, resulting in the lack of sustained economic and social growth in the country. The book explores how the nation steadily devolves into chaos, as its citizens increasingly turn to religion for answers to economic challenges. We watch the societal divide widen as the loud, self-righteous prayerful voices gradually drown out the few rational ones, leaving little room for conversations on common cause―as fear, superstition and distrust consume the minds of the majority.
This stunningly informative book provides examples and practical steps that can be adopted for a more rational, communal and humanistic approach to life and problem solving, as opposed to the current ideology of self-focused, faith-based decision-making. The need to amplify the rational voices and give them the tools to present ideas to improve the country is vital, now more so than ever before, as more people are starting to realize the damaging effects religious surrender has on a growing economy.
The Broken Silver Spoon: A Novel
by Rebecca Daré
Born to wealth and privilege, Adesuwa Bakare lived a sheltered life, untouched by the rapidly deteriorating economic conditions in her country, Nigeria.
Her world is turned upside down, when she is kidnapped and tortured for ransom by desperate criminals. The harrowing experience forces her and her young family to join the thousands, who have left their flailing nation in pursuit of a better life abroad.
Seeking security and stability, she, her husband Raji, and their two children – Hasan and Amirah – must navigate the unique challenges their adopted country presents. It has taken them several years to assimilate and even longer to rebuild all that they lost.
But their growing sense of confidence and security in the new homeland – America, is shattered when they start to see the parallels, that created the societal decline they ran away from. As their new world unravels, they have to face the harsh reality, that beneath the surface of success – even in paradise – wealth and power means nothing, when the system is broken.