Religion and Peace Building Mechanism in Nigeria
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Date
2020
Authors
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Publisher
Department of Religious Studies, Olabisi Onabanjo University
Abstract
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.
Description
Keywords
Religion, Peace building, Development, Conflict, Politics