The Mail & Guardian asked ordinary South Africans about their relationships with god.
Nompumelelo Miya: fruit and vegetables vendor. Mother of three, Alexandra
I have never really thought about who God is, I just know that he exists. In my mind, I suppose, he is a real person that can move around whenever he feels like it. I just know that I believe in him and he has always saved me from many bad situations. When my husband was not treating me well, God gave me the strength to find something that I could do for a living for my children. Once I could do that God had given me enough strength to leave him.
We all want the good things in life, like to live in a fancy house, but I guess those who have nothing in life will be richly rewarded in heaven.
I make sure that my children go to church, even if I’m not able to go sometimes. Children need that grounding; they need to be fearful of him so that they won’t do naughty things. Well, God is a man, they say, but I don’t think it matters what he is. All I know is that all he wants to do is protect us and love us.
Shila: prostitute, Orange Grove, Johannesburg
God is Messiah. I know about God and he’s Jehovah. I go to a Catholic church. He understands what I am doing and he’s not judging me for it.
He did a lot of things for me. Even though sometimes he takes long to answers my prayers, he does eventually and I appreciate what he has done for me.
Carol Mashigo: Radio 2000 producer, Cape Town
Without sounding clichéd he is my creator, my protector and friend. I just feel like I have a belief system, which is a comfort to me, and without it I would feel very lost. I think I would be a very sad, sad person without God and I guess I didn’t choose him, but he chose me.
I was born into Christianity; it’s what I know and understand. There are too many things to mention that he has done for me, he is my every- day protector and keeps me focused. My religion helps me navigate through life.
When I was little I always wanted to be half as good as Jesus and I couldn’t understand why a person that good could be associated with me. But now I know that he is in my life because he loves me and I’m worth it. The way that I see it, Christianity is a journey.
Richard Ndlela: former Apprentice contestant, businessman and presenter on SABC Africa, Johannesburg
God is my best friend. He’s there around me, protecting me. He’s always got my back, I know he is there. The most important thing is that he gave me a free spirit, a mind that allows one to think beyond all paradigm. I have an able body to action my thought and I have compassion, an ability to know when I am wrong and apologise for it.
I also have a great ability to praise him. I look forward to Sunday to show off how much he means to me.
Nelly Doma: hairdresser, Southgate shopping centre, Johannesburg
God is my father and I have accepted Jesus Christ as my personal saviour. I can’t imagine where I would be without both in my life. I came here from Zimbabwe to start a new life and to try and earn a living for my child back home, and here I am doing exactly that. I mean, God is taking good care of my family back home as well as looking after me. I do believe that one day ZimbabÂweans will be free from the evil that rules over our lovely land and, believe me, God will be there fighting for us.
Leigh-Ann Mathys: NGO project manager, Johannesburg
Just as ants can’t define human beings, human beings can’t define God — whether or not you believe in his existence … As human beings, we can only react to what God has revealed about himself, we can’t define him. My reaction is that he is personal — he wants me to have a personal relationship of friendship, love and loyalty with him. And he has provided the tools to develop such a relationship.
As for what God has not done for me, I will have to write memoirs of over 12 410 days of my life. I should have kept a diary. The question should be, what have I done for him?
Thabo: male prostitute, Johannesburg
God is wonderful. He is a provider for me and he’s always been there for me. He is my everything. He has done a lot, he has protected me. No matter what I do, I still love God the almighty. I know God is judgeing me, but I am always praying he takes me out of what I am doing now.
George: Mozambican taxi driver, Johannesburg
God doesn’t exist. If he existed we wouldn’t die, but now if you die, you don’t come back to life. God has done nothing for me.
David Moeti: street hawker, Pretoria
God is somebody in heaven. There is no life without God. I sell socks because of God; without him I wouldn’t have what I have, that is why I love God.
Thando: Zimbabwean taxi driver, Johannesburg
First of all, to me God is an enormous being. In the spiritual form, not physical form. There is absolutely no word to describe how he is. He is everywhere, you can never see God, you can only see God in action. He is a spirit. He does different things for people at the same time. God is not like a car. He is not tangible, so when people say they want to see God you can’t see God, you only see God when you die. God is not physical like you and me, he is spirit. God is many things.
When I go through a challenge, I ask God why are you putting me in a challenge? But after the challenge, I understand why he did. I know that if I didn’t do well at home, I wouldn’t have come here to find a life for me and my family. God knows where you are supposed to be. God has done a lot for me. I survived an accident, I’ve been shot at twice and survived. There is no such thing as luck, there is only God’s grace.
If there is such a thing as luck I would have run out of it a long time ago. God’s grace is an undeserved reward. God just gives you his love irrespective of what you have done. He’s done a lot for me, I drive a taxi, I sit in a car 18 hours a day, and I am not involved in an accident. Chances of me getting in an accident are high, but I go through a lot of things that show that God is there.
Themba Buthelezi: car guard, Eastgate shopping centre, Johannesburg
God is someone that my mother loves too much and someone that my father fears. So I am not too sure who he is to me, but I guess sometimes when I’m in trouble I pray to him. Sadly, I don’t think about him too much. I try to go to church but the promises that they make about your life changing after accepting Jesus Christ, I don’t think they come true.
I guess the only thing that God has done for me is to make sure I came out into the world with all my fingers and toes, but everything else I’ve hustled for.
Sifiso Ngwenya: taxi driver, Alexandra
Well, to be quite honest I don’t know who God is and what he does, but I know that my mother believes in him/her. I have a Bible that my mother gave to me, but I have not gone to church in years. I would not call myself a non-believer, but sometimes I do wonder who he is and what would really happen if I started to believe him.
It is hard for me to say what he has done for me but I guess I have got a job.
Shaam Govender: employment law trainer and part- time commissioner at the CCMA, Johannesburg
What God means to me? It’s a difficult question. I am a practising Hindu and Hindus believe that God is everywhere and in everything. Hindus tend to gravitate towards a particular idol and in my case it’s the elephant because I love elephants. The idol that represents the elephant god is Lord Ganesha.
I accept people for who they are and so I accept other religions. I would have no problem fitting into the other classified religions, because it’s not who you are, it’s a way of life.
The values that my religion have taught me, like tolerance, respect, I take with me.