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: 189
Release: 2019-04-18
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 1532648634

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.

Ecumenical and Interreligious Identities in Nigeria

Ecumenical and Interreligious Identities in Nigeria
Author: Ikenna Paschal Okpaleke
Publisher: Fortress Academic
Total Pages: 0
Release: 2022
Genre: Christian union conversations
ISBN: 9781978712829

This book proposes that dialogue brings about transformation. Set within the context of Nigeria, Ikenna Paschal Okpaleke contends that this dialogue-induced transformation applies not only to individuals but also to groups, and not only to dialogue in general but also to ecumenical and interreligious dialogue.

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.

Christian-Muslim Dialogue In Northern Nigeria

Christian-Muslim Dialogue In Northern Nigeria
Author: Thaddeus Byimui Umaru
Publisher: Xlibris Corporation
Total Pages: 334
Release: 2013-08
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 1483672883

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.

Beyond Intolerance

Beyond Intolerance
Author: Stella Adamma Nneji
Publisher: Xlibris Corporation
Total Pages: 613
Release: 2018-04-20
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 1984515594

There is no gainsaying the fact that the problem of religious intolerance has become a worldwide problem. In todays pluralistic society, the dialogical tension between openness and identity has become a major challenge for interreligious dialogue and peaceful co-existence. This tension is expressed in the question, Can one maintain ones own religious identity without one closing oneself off from the other? This question is central to the challenges posed on how religious education can contribute to sustainable peace in Nigeria and the world over. In this book Stella Nneji critically assesses the various models of religious pedagogy (mono-religious, multi-religious and inter-religious) by asking how these models relate to the dialogical tension between openness and identity in Nigeriaa nation perceivably confronted with an enduring history of post-colonial strife, religious intolerance and violence. The contention is that the mono-religious and multi-religious models, which, while dominant in current practice and in academia, nevertheless fall short of expressing the authentic challenges and opportunities religious intolerance presents in Nigerian multi-religious/cultural context. In this connection, this book provides a clear notion of the theological foundation, principles, and framework of inter-religious education and a practical guide for authentic dialogue in a plural context. She calls for a paradigm shift for confessional religious pedagogy to a model of inter-religious learning as incorporated within the hermeneutical-communicative education. On this basis, the book proposes a new model for the role of religious education in Nigeria. This model in a critical-enculturated way, attempts to recognize the tensions of authentic religious difference, presupposing a broad spectrum of difference in the classroom in a way that also incorporates genuine religious encounters and expressions of identity.

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.

The Nigerian Nation and Religion.

The Nigerian Nation and Religion.
Author: Hyacinth Kalu
Publisher: iUniverse
Total Pages: 104
Release: 2011-06-15
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 1462029477

This book, which is the first of a-three-volume series of interfaith relationships in Nigeria, presents Nigeria as a multi-ethnic and multi-religious nation, with religion controlling almost every aspects of life. It highlights the deep-rooted religious divide in Nigeria and looks into various ways that we can move beyond the religious bitterness existing among the three dominant religions in Nigeria: African traditional religion, Islam, and Christianity, and live, work and co-exit peacefully with one another as sisters and brothers. Although this volume begins with the history of Nigeria as nation, its primary interest, and indeed, the interest of the entire series, is not with the politics, economics, and culture of the Nigerian people per se; its primary focus is the religion of the people. Hence, it is a study of African Traditional Religion, Islam, and Christianity in Nigeria. The focus is not the theological and dogmatic principles and faith life of these religions, nor the individual and various sects within these religions; rather these religions are studied from the standpoint of interfaith encounter and relationships, as a requisite for peace, unity and harmony in Nigeria.

Education for Interreligious Dialogue

Education for Interreligious Dialogue
Author: Patrick Chinedu Mbarah
Publisher: Xlibris Corporation
Total Pages: 345
Release: 2020-09-29
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 1664125728

This publication representing substantively the doctoral dissertation of Rev. Fr. Patrick Chinedu Mbarah examines the implication of education for interreligious dialogue. He believes that education has a paramount role to play in advancing interreligious dialogue. Focusing on Archdiocese of Owerri Nigeria, he evaluates the situation at hand in the light of the relationship existing among the different religions; Islam, Christianity, African Traditional Religion and some of the New Religious Movements. He insists that education will help in the promotion and progress of dialogue among the different religion frontiers. The book argues that education for interreligious dialogue is not optional; instead, it is a necessity and an obligation in the Nigerian context. The book highlights the importance of catholic education and how the various channels existing in the archdiocese of Owerri could be used as veritable means of formation of the people to understand the teaching of the Church on interreligious relations with people of other faith traditions. Furthermore, the book presents a concrete proposal of an Interreligious Dialogue Directory for the application of principles and norms for the education of people for a mutual coexistence with followers of other religious traditions in Owerri Archdiocese, Nigeria. It is meant for the education of people at different levels, pastoral agents, catechists, priests, religious and lay faithful. It also addresses schools, especially Secondary and Tertiary institutions.