SLC-S29/W1-“Thinking and Ideas!| If You Were in Charge!”

Hi guys, accept the warmest compliments of the season from the motherland, Cameroon and welcome to my blog where I’m gonna share my thoughts about the topic “Thinking and Ideas!| If You Were in Charge!”.

^{Image designed on canva.}

Before I go into the topic proper, I will invite @pelon53, @suboohi and @josepha to participate in the challenge.

If you were given full authority for one year in your community or country, what is the first issue you would address?

If I were given full authority for one year in my community, the first issue I would address would be the uncontrolled increase of churches. While religion is important to many people, the rapid growth of different denominations has created more division than unity within the community. Instead of promoting peace and togetherness, disagreements over doctrines and beliefs often lead to tension, misunderstanding, and social separation among people who should be living as one.

I would introduce policies to regulate the establishment of churches by setting clear guidelines and limits within a community. This would include requiring proper authorisation, encouraging dialogue among religious leaders, and promoting shared values such as respect, tolerance, and coexistence. By doing this, religious practice would still be respected, but it would no longer be allowed to fuel conflict or competition that harms community harmony.

Reducing religious division would help restore peace and strengthen social bonds within the community. People would be less likely to judge or label others as unbelievers simply because of differing doctrines. In the long run, this approach would encourage unity, mutual understanding, and cooperation, allowing the community to focus on development, peace, and collective progress rather than constant religious conflict.

Why did you choose this issue over others?

I chose this issue because unity is the foundation of a peaceful and progressive community. When people are divided along religious lines, it becomes difficult to work together for common goals such as development, security, and social welfare. In my community, frequent conflicts arise from doctrinal differences, and individuals are often judged or excluded for not aligning with certain beliefs. This weakens social bonds and creates unnecessary tension that affects daily life more directly than many other issues.

I also chose this issue because religious division silently influences many other problems in the community. Conflicts rooted in belief systems can escalate into long-term hatred, discrimination, and a lack of cooperation. By addressing this issue first, I believe it would create an environment of tolerance and mutual respect, making it easier to tackle other challenges such as poverty, education, and development. Unity would allow people to focus on shared values rather than differences.

What is that one difficult decision you would have to make?

The most difficult decision I would have to make would be to restrict or deny approval for the establishment of certain churches. This would be challenging because religion is deeply personal, and some people would see such a decision as an attack on their faith or freedom of worship.

Even though the intention would be to promote unity and peace, setting limits could lead to resistance, criticism, and misunderstanding. Balancing respect for religious freedom with the need for social harmony would be a tough but necessary decision to protect the overall well-being of the community.

How would you explain this decision to people who disagree with you?

I would explain to those who disagree that the decision is not meant to attack religion or prevent anyone from worshipping. Instead, it is aimed at protecting peace, unity, and mutual respect within the community. I would emphasise that freedom of worship remains important, but when the unchecked growth of denominations leads to constant conflict, discrimination, and division, leadership has a responsibility to act for the common good. The goal is regulation, not suppression, so that religious practice contributes to harmony rather than tension.

I would also encourage open dialogue and listening sessions with religious leaders and community members to address their concerns. By involving them in the process, I would show that the decision is based on real experiences of conflict and not personal bias. I would stress that unity benefits everyone be it religious groups included because a peaceful community allows people to practice their faith without fear, hostility, or social breakdown.

Through transparency and communication, I would help people understand that this decision is about coexistence, not control.

In sum, addressing religious division by regulating the number of churches is a necessary step toward restoring unity and peace within the community. While the decision may be difficult and unpopular with some, it is guided by the need to reduce conflict, promote mutual respect, and strengthen social cohesion. By encouraging dialogue, understanding, and responsible leadership, this approach would help create a community where people focus on shared values and collective progress rather than differences in beliefs.