Burundian theologian and leadership expert, Pastor Acher Niyonizigiye has challenged narratives that religion has been manipulated, pointing to allegations that it serves as a tool of injustice, oppression, and violence rather than being a remarkable force of transformation.
In his personal blog, published on Tuesday, April 21, 2026, Niyonizigiye insisted that offense has been normalized in society since ancient times and has continued to prevail in the world until today, nurturing dishonesty, denial, and hatred towards sacred things.
“And yet, this reality does not tell the whole story,” he wrote.
Despite these narratives, the theologian disputes the claims, emphasizing the Christian faith, which he describes as “a remarkable transformation.” In his explanation, Niyonizigiye says the Christian faith possesses the potential to heal the brokenhearted, reconcile divided families, and restore fragile communities.
“It does not merely proclaim an ideal: it concretely transforms the lives of those who embrace it with sincerity,” he insisted.
How the Same Reality Yields Opposing Fruits
In his publication, the theologian acknowledges that a particular tool intended for rendering goodness can be manipulated to hurt and even to destroy. He insists that the problem does not lie within the tool itself, but in the human heart, arguing that it can deform, manipulate, and corrupt what it has inherited.
“Faith is no exception to this reality. It is an immense treasure, yet a vulnerable one in the wrong hands. It can uplift, but it can also be used to dominate. It can liberate, but it can also enslave when it is stripped of its true essence,” he added.
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To conclude, Niyonizigiye urges the public to rediscover what he describes as the true nature of the Christian faith, pointing to a path of inner transformation—a calling to love, justice, humility, and service—rather than perceiving religion as an instrument of power.
“We must also acknowledge our responsibility. For this faith, however pure it may be in its origin, produces good only if it is lived with fairness, integrity, and awareness. It requires constant vigilance, sincere self-examination, and a commitment to aligning our actions with its principles,” Niyonizigiye said.
He further expressed his intention, saying he wished to shed light on the importance of the power of transformation amid excessive caricatures and misrepresentation.
“I write to remind what it truly is, beyond caricatures and distortions. But I also write to denounce, clearly and uncompromisingly, the abuses and excesses that have disfigured it over the centuries,” he concluded.
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