Department of Religious Studies and Philosophy

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Browsing Department of Religious Studies and Philosophy by Subject "Development"

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    Religion and Peace Building Mechanism in Nigeria
    (Department of Religious Studies, Olabisi Onabanjo University, 2020) Dairo, Afolorunso
    Peace building can hardly be disconnected from development and in view of the nature if Nigeria, there can scarcely be any development without given priority to religion; as the people are "incurably religious". Peaceful relationships, however, come from making efforts at peace-making. It is not an event, but a process that places demands on everyone involved. This paper seeks to identify the meeting point between religion and peace building in Nigeria. But peace can hardly be fully discussed outside of conflict as conflict situations, in the first place, necessitate peace building It is primarily concerned with creating and maintaining a just order in society and the resolution of conflict by non-violent means. Hence, the paper aims at resolving injustice in nonviolent ways and to transform the cultural and structural conditions that generate deadly or destructive conflict through religion. Peace building revolves around developing constructive personal, group, and political relationships across ethnic, religious, class, national, and racial boundaries. But unfortunately, religion has been a major contributor to war; bloodshed, hatred, and intolerance in the contemporary Nigeria. However, religion has also developed laws and ideas that have provided civilizations with a cultural commitment to critical peace-related values. Historical and phenomenological methods were employed in carrying out the research. It was therefore discovered that economic unrest, politicking, ethnic, tribal and cultural differences cannot be completely divulged from causes of religious crises in Nigeria. But Religion because of its unique role can assist to a great extent in quelling conflicts and promote peace. The article therefore recommended some religious values that can promote peace building in Nigeria.