A STUDY OF CHRISTIAN RESPONSE TOWARDS INTER RELIGIOUS CRISES IN NORTHERN NIGERIA
A STUDY OF CHRISTIAN RESPONSE TOWARDS INTER RELIGIOUS CRISES IN NORTHERN NIGERIA
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Date
1992
Authors
MAMMAN, DAUDU
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Abstract
The study was carried out to find out how Christians
believed they should react to interrreligious crises in
Northern Nigeria. Three hundred and fifty (350) randomly
selected, along the stratified fashion, male and
female Christians comprising of Roman Catholics,
Protestants and Pentecqstals in Bauchi, Gongola (now
Adamawa and Taraba) and Kaduna states made up the sample.
The specific objectives of the study were to;
a) to find out the difference between male and female
Christian reactions to the use of peaceful means to
resolve inteirreligious crises in Northern Nigeria,
b) to Identify the differences between young and old
Christians' reaction to the use of force to resolve
interreligious crises,
c) to determine whether one's reaction to absorbing hurt
without retaliation as a means of resolving interreligious
crises is influencd by one's denomination,
d) to distinguish between young and older Christians'
reactions to resolving interreligious crises through
fleeing for safety,
c) to ascertain whether Christians with secondary
education and those with post-secondary education
differ significantly in their reaction to the use of
force in resolving interreligious crises.
The findings of the study repealed that:
a) There was no significant difference between age,
sex, denomination, position held in church,quali-
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fication, state and Christian reaction to interreligious
crises in Northern Nigeria;
b) Christians favoured the use of peaceful means to
resolve interreligious crises;
c) Christians' obiectior to the inclusion of Sharia Law
in Nigeria's constitution and Nigeria's full membership
of O.I.C. was based on the alleged fears that
these measures would deny them religious freedom;
d) Christians and Muslims have maintained a peaceful
coexistence with each other over the years;
e) Interreligious crises involving Muslims and Christians
in Northern Nigeria are recent developments;
The following conclusions were made based on the
results of the study:
a) It seemed that Christians do not differ significantly
in their reactions to interreligious crises irrespective
of their age, sex, position in church, denominational
affiliations and qualifications.
b) Unless non-Christians in Northern Nigeria reciprocate
the Christian peaceful approach to resolving religious
crises some Christians may be tempted to use physical
force to retaliate unprovoked attacks on them.
c) It appeared that majority of Christians in Northern
Nigeria have imbibed the New Testament teaching of
non-violence as a guide for their reactions towards
interreligious crises,
d) Since interreligious crises involving Muslims and
Christians are recent developments in Northern Nigeria, viii
their causes and solutions may be found in order to
restore the peaceful coexistence hitherto enjoyed
by the two religious groups.
In view of the findings and the resultant conclusions
it was recommended that:
a) Despite, the alleged peaceful approach by Christians in
revolving interreligious crises, there was the need
for both Christians and Muslims to refrain from making
derogatory comments about each other beliefs and
practices, since some preachers may use these
comments to incite their followers against other
religious groups.
b) Religious groups in nothern Nigeria should create
a forum for interreligious dialogue to foster better
religious understanding among them.
c) Christians and Muslims should be taught the basics of
the two faiths at all levels of our educational
system to help reduce ignorance about the other religion.
d) Instead of fighting among themselves, religious
groups should unite to fight besetting societal ills
like corruption, armed robbery, laziness and fraud,
e) The Federal Government should ban the importation and
or distribution of inciting religious publications and
broadcasts whether local or foreign.
f) Since some of the religious crises in Northern Nigeria
have political undertenes, some groups seeking freedom
from domination, the government should consider giving
such groups their right to rule themselves.
Description
SUBMITTED TO THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION,
AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY, ZARIA; IN PARTIAL
FULFILMENT OF THE REQUIREMENT FOR THE AWARD
OF DOCTORATE DEGREE IN CHRISTIAN RELIGIOUS
STUDIES (EDUCATION).
Keywords
STUDY,, CHRISTIAN RESPONSE ,, INTERRELlGIOUS CRISES ,, NORTHERN NIGERIA ,