Interreligious Curriculum for Peace Education in Nigeria

Interreligious Curriculum for Peace Education in Nigeria
Author: Isaiah Ekundayo Dada
Publisher: Wipf and Stock Publishers
Total Pages: 320
Release: 2019-04-18
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 1532648618

Nigeria, a country under a military regime for several years, transitioned to a civilian regime in May 1999. Since this change, violent conflicts between Christians and Muslims have continued to erupt. They constitute one of the gravest dangers facing Nigeria, a country with a population of 189 million people. What have Nigerian religious leaders done about this situation, especially in educational circles? Have they received formal educational training to understand the causes of this violence and especially how to provide alternatives for more peaceful relations within Nigeria? Does the current educational system in Nigeria provide the main ingredients for the promotion of a culture of peace? The absence and neglect of interreligious peace education as part of a peace education core program and the lack of an interreligious curriculum for peace education in the training of religious leaders are the two problems contributing towards the lack of effectiveness of religious leaders in promoting less violent and more peaceful living. The solution to the problem is proposed in this book entitled Interreligious Curriculum for Peace Education in Nigeria. The book develops a one-year curriculum, building on Yoruba, Islamic & Christian conceptions of peace, and teaches how to create safe, caring, spiritual, peaceful and successful interfaith relationships between all Nigerian religious communities. In the long term, the book helps to educate religious leaders to contribute, in themselves and with the help of their respective religious communities, to reducing the growing religious violence in Nigeria.

Interfaith Education and the Quest for Peacebuilding in Northern Nigeria

Interfaith Education and the Quest for Peacebuilding in Northern Nigeria
Author: Ezekiel Abdullahi Babagario
Publisher:
Total Pages:
Release: 2019
Genre:
ISBN:

Over the past thirty years, relationships between ethnic and religious groups in the northern regions of Nigeria have deteriorated. Conflict occurs on an almost daily basis between Christians and Muslims. Most Nigerians consider themselves very religious which often leads followers of the major religions to fight to protect the teachings of their faith. The high level of illiteracy and lack of interreligious understanding between the faith groups contributes to the propensity for violent clashes in the region. The literature review discusses the concept of religious education, interfaith dialogue and interfaith education as models for peacebuilding in various contexts around the world. This study examined an interfaith education (IFE) pilot program as an approach for peacebuilding in two parts of Kaduna City, one predominantly Christian and the other predominantly Muslim. The study used a qualitative research method to collect data, analyze and interpret the perceptions and experiences of students, religious education teachers and parents with the IFE pilot project, which was introduced in their schools and communities. The study also investigated how students embraced the IFE curriculum in schools and the reactions of youth to interfaith activities in the community, like visiting places of worship of the other religious group. In addition, the study collected information on the perceptions of religious leaders and parents about IFE programs. Part of the research methodology involved asking students in small focus groups to draw an ideal community or a picture of their homes or a place of worship before conflict. Then the students were asked to turn the paper over and draw something they had witnessed during interreligious conflict in their communities. Most students either sketched their homes on fire or destroyed. Some portrayed perpetrators of the violence as standing with a weapon or even stabbing someone. The sketches were then used to stimulate discussion about interreligious conflict and its causes. A majority of the participants indicated their support of IFE curriculum in schools and Community Peace Action Networks in the communities. The participants highlighted several problems that they felt contributed to the conflicts. The use of the term “arni” or infidel was cited as often triggering violence because it is such a derogatory term. Other participants pointed to poorly educated, untrained and unsupervised religious leaders who incite their followers. Participants also suggested that the IFE curriculum be used outside of schools in order to reach the many out-of-school youth who are involved in interfaith violence. The research recommended that education, regulating religious preachers, promoting reconciliation efforts, good leadership and a nationwide campaign on interfaith dialogue would contribute to peacebuilding in northern Nigeria.

Christian-Muslim Dialogue in Northern Nigeria

Christian-Muslim Dialogue in Northern Nigeria
Author: Thaddeus Byimui Umaru
Publisher:
Total Pages: 0
Release: 2013-08
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 9781483672892

Religion as a powerful impulse in human existence plays a paradoxical role in society as it both contributes significantly in shaping the spiritual, socio-political and economic lives of millions of people and also acts as a source of conflict. The sad experience of interreligious conflict in Northern Nigeria challenges the claim of Islam and Christianity to be religions of peace. However, understood as closely intertwined with culture and custom of a people, religion can be central in the establishment of peace and conflict resolution in and between communities. This text using the model of dialogue (Nostra Aetate) explores and presents the socio-political and theological resources available in Northern Nigeria (the locality) for a consistent peace building process.

Defibrillation of Peace

Defibrillation of Peace
Author: Isaiah Ekundayo Dada
Publisher:
Total Pages: 288
Release: 2008
Genre: Nigeria
ISBN: 9780549692959

Author explores how to empower pastors to live in peace with others and proposes nine healthy practices and a year-long curriculum outline for in-depth understanding and assimilation of peace education designed for children in Sunday school, youth in Bible study, and adults in women's/men's fellowship groups.

Promoting Peace Education in Nigeria

Promoting Peace Education in Nigeria
Author: Anthony Bature
Publisher: Createspace Independent Publishing Platform
Total Pages: 168
Release: 2015-08-12
Genre:
ISBN: 9781511683005

The conflict in Nigeria requires deeper attention to the role of Peace Education within Faith-Based Schools. This case study illuminates how Faith-Based schools teach and practice the principles of peace and justice in Taraba State, Nigeria.

Living the Future in Dialogue

Living the Future in Dialogue
Author: Chizurum Ann Ugbor
Publisher: African Theological Studies / Etudes Théologiques Africaines
Total Pages: 0
Release: 2015
Genre: Christian education
ISBN: 9783631663806

Using a systematic approach, the book discusses the Christian tradition in light of the existence of other religions and worldviews. Religious education must encourage pupils to develop their own religious identities and respond to plurality to become members of a multicultural and multi-religious society.