Musaazi NAMITI | SUNDAY THOUGHT
Longevity is almost everyone’s goal. Religious people think God decides how long we should live. But in many secular countries, people live much longer than those in deeply pious countries.
Japan is a great example. The Japanese do not pray like Africans. Pastors and churches on the island nation are rare. But Japan’s health ministry released data showing that there are now 107,677 people who are at least 100 years old.
That is an increase of nearly 8,000 since last year. According to the New York Times, the oldest woman, Fuyo Kishimoto from Kyoto, is 114 and the oldest man, Hikaru Kato from Kumamoto, is 112. Women make up the vast majority of the group, at 88%.
Before you credit divine powers for the longevity of the Japanese, here is something that might interest you. The Times quoted Stuart Gietel-Basten, a professor of social science at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, as saying that the long lives of many Japanese could be attributed to a healthy diet, active daily routines and an affordable health system with regular check-ups.
Read that again. A healthy diet boosts the immune system, prevents disease, as do active daily routines. And an affordable health system with regular checkups means the Japanese can consult healthcare providers as and when they need.
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Now turn your attention to countries with low life expectancies. Many people in these countries have poor diets, and those with office jobs lead sedentary lives. Affordable healthcare is largely non-existent except for people in gainful employment who get medical insurance from their employers.
We can see from the Japan example that to live long, you do not need Bible verses, you do not need prayers or belief in and worship of God.
Japanese longevity is admirable. President Yoweri Museveni once talked about it at a funeral of f Yona Namawa Wapakhabulo, son of former Speaker of Parliament James Wapakhabulo. He asked why, when people here die young, Ugandans say God has called them.
“Africans die early, and they say God has called them. Why does God like to call Africans? Japanese die at 79 years, but you, Africans, say God calls you too early. I don’t think it is God calling you. I think it is Satan taking our people.” He did not have to add Satan. The causes are known: poverty, poor diets, poor healthcare.
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🔴 Sunday Thought cuts through the noise of prayer, piety and superstition to ask the questions most people avoid. It discusses God, faith and religion—not to preach, but to probe, challenge and sometimes unsettle. Whether you believe, doubt or have stopped looking altogether, Sunday Thought will make you think, question and maybe even rethink everything you thought you knew about the divine—and about life itself.