However, the major challenges facing the country since 2007 that tend to defy all logic and solution is that of insecurity posed by the boko haram insurgency. Religious intolerance, rather, occurs when a group e. The issue of fundamentalism illustrates the fact that religion appears. Nigeria and religious intolerance daily times nigeria. Christians and aboriginals form the majority in the south.
What impact can religious intolerance have on societies e. Religious intolerance is a results of the mistrust that occurs between people belonging to different religionsit is this mistrust that then leads to clashes and in some instances killing of people including innocent people. The need for essencism as a philosophy nigeria as a nation is plaque with several sociopolitical and economic problems and challenges. It is this mistrust that then leads to clashes and in some instances killing of people including the innocent. The 1999 constitution of nigeria includes provisions protecting freedom of religious belief and prohibiting religious discrimination, and there is no official state religion.
Religious intolerance, fundamentalism and extremism. In a nation bound with vast geographic and vast ethnic and religious differences, these. Implications for national security ushe mike ushe, ph. The office of website management, bureau of public affairs, manages this site as a portal for information from the u. Nigeria is approximately 50% muslim and 40% christian. Religious tolerance in nigeria a view from the north. This is because over the years the phenomena of ethnicity and religious intolerance have. The social and economic impact of religious intolerance rfbf.
Abstract the persistent religious conflicts and insecurity in nigeria has given meaningful nigerians. However, in 12 muslimmajority northern nigerian states, federalism has allowed the adoption of islamic shariah law in the criminal codes. Mere statements which are contrary to ones beliefs do not constitute intolerance. The igbo massacre of 1966 in the north that followed the countercoup of the same year had as a dual cause the igbo officers coup and preexisting sectarian tensions between the igbos and the local muslims. Implication for sustainable national development ntamu, g. A 2014 study by researchers in georgetown university and brigham young university identified freedom of belief is one of vital factors that contribute to economic success. Nigeria s two major religions, islam and christianity, are sometimes depicted as monolithic entities that confront each other in. The source of muslims and christians conflicts in nigeria has been religious, social and political. Religious intolerance, fundamentalism and extremism are deliberately chosen. Nigeria watch estimated a ctivities by boko haram resulted in the deaths of 2,900 people, including boko haram members, a decrease from the. On the contrary, they have periodically exhibited disturbing antidemocratic proclivities that have found expression in religious violence and intolerance, in the corruption and manipulation of religious leaders. May 18, 2009 nigeria just made the list as one of countries considered to be egregious violators of religious freedom. Lets start by examining the causes of conflict in nigeria from a religious perspective.
From literature consulted the conflicts and unrest experienced in nigeria can be categorized into the followings. The remaining 10% follow aboriginal and other faiths. In this opinion by abdulganiy abdullah, he highlights some of the causes of religious conflict in the country and. Muslims are concentrated in the northern part of the country. Issues concerning religious tolerance and diversity. So, impact of ethnoreligious crises on socio economic activities in wukari local government area will be xrayed with a view to proffering some recommendations to forestall future occurrence. Religious dogmatism, prejudice and conflict in nigeria ssrn. Impact of ethnoreligious crises on socioeconomic activities. Issues concerning religious tolerance and diversity by mary courtis, anthropology instructor and chris cayton, philosophy instructor portland community college oregon introduction religious tolerance refers to the ability to appreciate spiritual values, beliefs and practices which are different from your own.
Abstract the persistent religious conflicts and insecurity in nigeria has given meaningful nigerians a cause for deep concern in recent times. Intolerance in nigeria 9 september 2016 abstract this paper examines the relationship between religion and sustainable development, as well as the role of nigerian intellectuals in ameliorating religious crisis in the country. Again,the north, which is predominantly moslem see everything with the spectacle of religion. Causal diagnoses and strategic recommendations to the state and religious communities isaac terwase sampson abstract the literature on religious violence in nigeria largely implicates socioeconomic, political and governance deficits as the major causes of such violence.
The study looked at the gdp gross domestic product of 143 countries while controlling for other theoretical. Apr 15, 2010 to some outside observers, this is a volatile religious fault linethe site, for example, of alqaedas first major terrorist strike, the bombing of the u. Available literatures such as egwu 2010, gwamna 2010, usman 1987 and kukah 1994, have argued that religion has been a divisive issue which poses great danger to peace, stability and the corporate existence of nigeria as one indivisible country. According to a recent report by the pew research center, violence and discrimination against religious groups by governments, as well as social hostilities by a variety of actors, have reached new heights in all regions except the americas these problems are not new. In nigeria, religious tolerance as a means for peace is expedient because of the near frequent occurrences of religious strife during the past three. Not many people in nigeria today would dispute the fact that religious intolerance is steadily on the rise. The dramas of intolerance by the two religions led to successive. Religious groups reported instances in which neither the state and nor federal governments investigated, prosecuted, or punished those responsible for abuses committed due to religious intolerance, such as the november 3 release of five muslim men arrested for the june 2 killing of a christian woman in kano. Religious intolerance is a results of the mistrust that occurs between people belonging to different religionsit is this mistrust that then leads to clashes and in some instances killing of people including innocent some countries we hear of suicide bombers which are done by those people belonging to the islamic. A peak of the crisis appears to have occurred during the civil war of the 1960s. Religious freedom conditions in nigeria trended negatively in 2018. Pdf conflict is a great predicament in any human society, and most times, it is.
In doing this, it will take into account the cognizance of the historical, cultural, sociological, psychological and ideological factors that may have contributed to religious intolerance in nigeria. A deep reflection on religious intolerance in nigeria will reveal that the problem is deeply rooted in the north. Intolerance in nigeria essay sample new york essays. The commission made various recommendations to the obama administration. Through education nourished with philosophy of essencism, the paper contends that. Perhaps because they are simply ignorant of how much they really have in c. And this is the part of the country where the illiteracy rate is the highest. The effects of religious crisis on economic development in nigeria. Tribal, religious intolerance nigerias greatest problem. Manifestation, effect and the aw y forardw nwaomah, s. The struggle between religious groups in nigeria started in the middle of the 20th century. In order to achieve this, the following measures are proposed. Religious violence in nigeria the causes and solutions. The main reason for this is an intolerance between religious groups.
I generally find that intolerance is a result of ignorance, and such ignorance and intolerance is often passed down to the next. Sources of religious intolerance, for instance, can be the actions or policies of governments andor the actions or beliefs of individuals or groups in society. Combatting religious intolerance and discrimination has been once of the international human rights systems top priorities. Religious intolerance in nigeria 3 years ago 26104 views by omotayo yusuf editors note. This seems to be threatening nigerias unity, interfaith harmony and national cohesion across the board. Years of inaction by nigerias federal, state and local governments has created a climate of impunity, resulting in thousands of deaths. Why do people of different religions seem to hate each other so much. Before that, tensions between rivalry groups were covered and maintained by the colonial regime. Education and religious intolerance in nigeria semantic scholar. Causes of conflict in nigeria and ways of resolving them.
Nigeria the response of the government of nigeria to persistent religious freedom violations and violent sectarian and communal conflicts along religious lines has been inadequate and ineffectual. United states commission on international religious. Boko haram, which literarily means western education is sin, according to the local parlance, is deeply rooted in religious intolerance. Get your custom essay on solutions to religious intolerance in nigeria. Religious conflict, multifaith, tolerance, national ethos. Many will attest to it that the jos crisis vividly exemplifies or by locus classicus describes a rancorous experience against religious intolerance. Religious intolerance and economic prosperity cannot coexist. This group was notorious for inflicting severe religious violence on the people in northern part of the country. Nigeria has been riddled religious conflict for a very long time which has threatened to tear the fabric of the countrys unity. Issues and trends on religious tolerance in nigeria.
If you think the title of this story is religious intolerance in nigeria then you have been swayed by recent stories from the international media. Religious intolerance, fundamentalism and extremism are deliberately chosen to kickstart discussions on the drivers of religious violence in nigeria because they form the base substructure upon which other sources of religious violence superstructure rest. The growing trends of ethnoreligious intolerance and the attendant conflicts in nigeria do not only constitute a major threat to the corporate existence of the country but are also working against democracy and its sustainability. The nigerian government at the national and state levels continued to tolerate violence and discrimination on the basis of religion or belief, and suppressed the freedom to manifest religion. Religious conflict in nigeria goes as far back as 1953, and in the case of the town of tafawa balewa, to 1948. Commission on international religious freedom and the commission recommended designating nigeria and the other nations countries of particular concern or cpc. Religious diversity, intolerance and civil conflict core. Many different traditions of islam coexist in nigeria. Religious intolerance is intolerance of anothers religious beliefs or practices or lack thereof. It is a compulsory subject for all students in all classes at the primary and secondary levels of education in nigeria. Muslims put no value onto human lves and they are intolerant.
No one knows how widespread these feelings of religious intolerance exist in the country. This work focuses on religious intolerance in a pluralistic society, with nigeria as a case in point. Religious intolerance is a results of the mistrust that occurs between people belonging to different religions. External links to other internet sites should not be construed as an endorsement of the views or privacy policies contained therein. Promoting peaceful coexistence and religious tolerance through reading comprehension passages english language is a subject that cuts across the curriculum. Taking the sociological approach and the case study method of research, it explores and describes the situation in nigeria, as. Nigerians will be able to overcome the challenge of religious intolerance and. On religion, intolerance and economic prosperity groundviews. The growing trends of ethno religious intolerance and the attendant conflicts in nigeria do not only constitute a major threat to the corporate existence of the country but are also working against democracy and its sustainability.
Nigeria 2016 international religious freedom report executive summary the constitution bars the federal and state governments from adopting a state religion, prohibits religious discrimination, and provides for individuals freedom to choose, practice, propagate, or change their religion. D school of arts and social sciences,national open university of nigeria,lagos. Religious intolerance in nigeria who is culpable by salore4realm. From religious intolerance to religious terrorism in nigeria by oluwaseyi oduyela the current security challenge caused by the islamist terrorist grou. Perhaps because they are simply ignorant of how much they really have in common. Before now, intolerance of others religious views had never been so contentious and divisive, even when many nigerians remain closet fundamentalists and ethnic zealots. Religious violence in nigeria african journals online. Nigerias two major religions, islam and christianity, are sometimes depicted as.
Before now, intolerance of others religious views had never been so contentious and divisive, even when many nigerians remain closet. Religious intolerance has caused devastating results across the world. Nigeria as a nation is plaque with several sociopolitical and economic problems and challenges. In simple terms, religious intolerance or fanaticism is the inability of an adherent of a particular religion to acknowledge, accommodate and accept the right of others to live by another faith. Nigeria just made the list as one of countries considered to be egregious violators of religious freedom. Promoting peaceful coexistence and religious tolerance. Religious intolerance, fundamentalism and extremism are deliberately chosen to kickstart discussions on the drivers of religious violence in nigeria because they form the base substructure upon which other sources of. Professor of biblical studies mission and religion and society babcock university, ilishanremo, ogun state, nigeria email.