Corruption and Nigeria’s Underdevelopment: a Religious Approach

The index of Nigeria’s underdevelopment is her very low per capita income. This is not based on the level of the Nation’s material poverty hence it is a well known fact that Nigeria is wealthier than many of the developed countries of the world in terms of natural, material and even human endowments. Rather, the problem to a great degree, hinges on the level of corruption within the Country’s leadership. The purpose of this paper is not necessarily to state the obvious fact that corruption is one of the greatest banes of Nigeria’s development but to examine the nature of corruption in the Country in the light of religious ethics and; on the basis of the findings, to proffer a number of recommendations towards achieving a lasting solution to the problem of corruption in the Country. The data for this work were collected from literature and internet sources which were subsequently analyzed and descriptively presented in accordance with sociological research methodology. The solution to the problem of corruption in Nigeria is achievable through a holistic program of socio-cultural re-orientation of the citizenry. This program should be organized in the context of the communities of adherents of the two foreign religions in Nigeria – Islam and Christianity. The essence of the program is to implant in the consciences of Nigerian Christians and Muslims the cultural value of the common good with which Africans were identified before the advent of Islamic and Christian religions. It is a well known fact that those who perpetrate and propagate corruption in Nigeria are the educated Christians and Muslims and not the adherents of the traditional religion. Keywords: Corruption, Capitalism, Materialism, Development and Underdevelopmen

Theology of Climate Change Mitigation , Stewardship and Adaptation: The Place of the Church

In this age of technology characterized by capitalist and materialist culture, Christian ministry pertaining to the natural world of creation has been relegated to the background in the teaching and preaching of many churches whereas on the other hand, it has long been held that the environment is among the most pressing concerns of this generation. While most Christians appreciate the beauty of nature, many do not realize that there is a strong biblical basis for creation care, and that, in fact, many ethical values, fundamental to the development of a peaceful society, are particularly relevant to the ecological question. The purpose of this research is twofold, firstly, to establish the basis for the Church’s response to the problem of climate change by correlating climate change with the Biblical mandate for creation care and secondly, to provide recommendations on how creation care can be integrated into the local church’s administration and ministry. Recent scientific findings on climate change alongside its environmental and social implications provided the framework upon which this research is based. This paper through descriptive phenomenological method of scholarship made an inroad into the role of the church as steward of the entire oikoumene-the entire inhabited earth. The significance of the research is that it has provided a document that spells out clearly why and how Christian Churches should be involved in tackling the issue of climate change and the resultant ecological problems facing the world today. Keywords: Theology. Climatic change, mitigation stewardship, adaptatio

A critical analysis of the social implications of gospel merchandising among Nigerian Christians today

This article critically analyses the social implications of gospel merchandising among Nigerian Christians today. The research method adopted for the work is the qualitative phenomenological approach. Clerics of different Christian denominations in the country have maximised the opportunity of mass patronage from citizens seeking solutions to their spiritual, social and economic problems to merchandise the gospel and the associated religious elements. How this religious development affects the Nigerian society is the task that this article tackles. The article discovered that gospel merchandising has had both positive and negative implications for the society. Whilst the phenomenon has provided opportunity for competitive propagation of the gospel in the Nigerian society as well as employment for the unemployed, especially the youths, it is observed that the same phenomenon has affected the society negatively by encouraging the gangrenous social sickness known as corruption and by influencing the general trend of diabolism and immorality in the society. The study recommends, among other things, that the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) should cooperate with the government so that its war against corruption could be carried into the church as it has been observed that the unwholesome phenomenon is also endemic in the church in no small measure.This research is part of the research project ‘Hermeneutics and Exegesis’ directed by Prof. Dr Ernest van Eck, Department of New Testament and Related Literature, Faculty of Theology and Religion, University of Pretoria.http://www.hts.org.zaam2019New Testament Studie

The Evangelistic and Developmental Importance of Creation of Anglican Dioceses in Igboland (1864-2009)

The Church Missionary Society (CMS) which is the missionary society that brought Anglican mission into Igboland believed that Christian mission must be done in the context of a Diocese. The purpose of this paper is to attempt a historical exploration of the history of creation of Anglican Dioceses in Igboland and to critically examine the evangelistic and developmental importance of the system in the Igbo society from inception till the year 2009 when the last set of Anglican Dioceses were created in Igboland sequel to an official embargo placed on creation of Dioceses by the Primate of Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) the same year. This study essentially adopted descriptive phenomenology for data collection and analysis.  In the process, it was discovered that the first Anglican Diocese in Igboland was created in 1864 and that between 1864 and 2009 about 50 Dioceses were created in Igboland. The analysis also showed that the Anglican Diocesan system did not only constitute a religious factor in the Igbo society but also a factor of human and social development. Keywords: Anglican church, Dioceses, Evangelicalism, Development, Importance

Anglican Church and the Development of Pentecostalism in Igboland

The Anglican mission came into Igboland in the last half of the nineteenth century being the first Christian mission to come into Igboland, precisely in 1857, with Onitsha as the first spot of missionary propagation. From Onitsha the mission spread to other parts of Igboland. The process of the spread was no doubt, marked with the demonstration of the power of the Holy Spirit; hence the early CMS missionaries saw the task of evangelizing Igboland as something that could not have been possible without the victory of the Holy Spirit over the demonic forces that occupied Igboland by then. The objective of this paper is to historically investigate the claim that the presence of the Anglican Church in Igboland marked the origin of Pentecostalism among the Igbo. The method employed in this investigation was both analytical and descriptive. It was discovered that the Anglican mission introduced Pentecostalism into Igboland through their charismatic activities long before the churches that claim exclusive Pentecostalism came, about a century later. The only difference is that the original Anglican Pentecostalism was imbued in their Evangelical tradition as opposed to the modern Pentecostalism which is characterized by seemingly excessive emotional and ecstatic tendencies without much biblical anchorage. DOI: 10.5901/jesr.2013.v3n10p4

Religious pluralism and its implications for church development

Religious pluralism model holds the belief that there is virtue in every religion, just as all religions are good and are of equal value. It does not consider religion’s particularity but is interested in the ideas that have not favoured any religion. The issue with this concept is not its assertion of the validity of all religions. It is rather with its denial of the finality of any religion as the way by which people could come to God. Hence, it allows the existence of multiple religions in a given society and encourages religious tolerance. The beauty of pluralism is its flexibility which makes religious practicing a wilful act and religious conversion a choice and not a force, although it has the tendency to encourage syncretism. This research examines critically the implications of pluralism using historical approach on the development of Christian church. Data for the research were basically obtained from secondary sources. The findings reveal that although religious pluralism has its negative sides, it gives the much needed boost to development of church if its tenets are followed. Accordingly, the article recommends that Christian churches in pluralist societies such as Nigeria should imbibe the virtues of religious tolerance, and dialogue, if they want to remain alive and continue to be relevant. CONTRIBUTION : Religious pluralism is a panacea to inordinate and incessant religious conflict, if given its proper place in Nigeria, will breed religious tolerance, peace and progress. This work would be of immense of benefit to government, missionaries and students across all strata of discipline.http://www.hts.org.zaam2020New Testament Studie