Dear Sir,
I read the article ‘Mandela: A Christian Reflection’ in the January 2014 EN with interest. Growing up in South Africa and a pupil in a school in Cape Town when Mr. Mandela was elected president, I am forever thankful for his devotion and leadership, without which there may have been no New South Africa.
In the article Michael Cassidy remembers a conversation when Mr. Mandela told him that ‘he never missed a Bible study or church service while he was in prison’. I did find myself wondering what Mr. Cassidy was implying by this comment.
It is important that we remember that Mr. Mandela himself made it clear in his autobiography that he struggled to see how a man could be devoted to politics and religion. He was not against religion, whatever its form, be it Islam, Christianity, or the Jehovah’s Witnesses. Indeed, he adopted and applied many religious principles (especially Christian principles), such as forgiveness, reconciliation and peace. But I feel that an honest reading of his autobiography leads us to conclude that religion for him was useful for political ends, and not necessarily a central part of his life.
Yours sincerely,
