CHRISTIAN ATTITUDE TOWARDS CONFLICT

INTRODUCTION

The development of any society must be attributed to the impact the different Christians that existed in them contributed. The Christian must have both material and spiritual backup in order to stand very well.

It must have essential ingredients for its development. Such ingredients are justice, love and peace. These are the qualities that cannot be imposed by force but with low and gentle approach. They cannot exist in a nation if they do not exist in the heart of men and in the minds of people of that nation especially the Christians. Many have asked whether there are positive roles of Christianity in the society towards conflict, and it has shown that Christianity teaches how to have deep faith in God. Man learns through Christianity an obligation to himself, to his fellow human beings, towards his society or nation he belong towards conflict.

According to Ibenwa, etal (2010:132) ‘ethnic and religious crises persisted in Nigeria because of lack of political will by our leaders to bring the perpetrators to book. During conflict, Christians tends to unite individuals, communities and nations under one umbrella. They believe in the virtue of ‘thou shall love your neighbout as yourself’ as a strong Christian slogan that should be regarded as number one law during conflict.

1.1     RELIGION AND CONFLICT

Samuel Huntington (1996:254) argues that in the post cold war era, cultural and religious differences replace ideologies as the more probable cause of conflict.

Juergensmeyer (1993:1-8) in response to Huntington’s note arises in religious nationalism to deal with corruption, excessive material and the decline in moral values and state inefficiency.

However, the relationship between religion and conflict is in-fact, a complex one.  Mc Ternan (2003:20) noted two possible perspectives on the role of religion in conflict. One, people either exaggerate religion’s role, denouncing it as the root cause of all conflict or they deny that ‘real’ religion could be responsible in any way for discriminate violence. Mc Ternan observes that a historical overview of both Christianity and Islam show that Nigerians were having peace before they were imported.

1.2     CONFLICT RESOLUTION

The first is that provided in the constitution, the government in Nigeria have obligation for the maintenance of peace and security. Dialogue as a means should be used in settlement of ethnic and religious conflict violence. The NYSC should be used to legislate national unity and integration into existence in Nigeria, founded in 1973 which provided for one year youth service by graduate of tertiary institutions in states other than their own. More use of ethnic, sub-ethnic and communal balancing in the country. National poverty eradication programme should serve both as an intervention as well as coordinative institution of poverty alleviation in Nigeria.

1.3     CAUSE OF CHRISTIAN-ISLAMIC CONFLICT IN NIGERIA

Poverty and illiteracy which is attributed to reason for unemployment and corruption, Nigeria is rated the 12^th poorest nation in the world.

Human rights violation as the moral principle of just and fair treatment of the individual person, group. Obasi Igwe (2005:165) out-listed such rights: discrimination on ground of race, colour, sex, language, religion, origin, etc. jihad is one of the practices that have been responsible for majority of the Christian-Islamic uprising in the country. It is a holy war fought by Muslims. Anyika (2007:168-169) the prophet enjoined his followers to apply force if need be in the task of converting infidels. Islam insist that Sharia is a pure law revealed by God, therefore, humans cannot tamper with it.

CHAPTER TWO

EFFECT OF CONFLICT IN NIGERIA SOCIETY

2.1     Religious Society

One obvious reason is identified as religious in tolerance in Nigeria; Nigeria is dominated by world’s most powerful religion; Christianity and Islam. Every other issue is treated alongside this issue in line political economics, social issues in Nigeria is treated along this two distinct documentation among Christians and Muslims. Each group cum section picked fault in what the other did resulting into violence or conflict. Camilus (2010:14) asserted that of ethno-religious intolerance in our society could largely be attributed to the level of ignorance prevalent among followers of the different religions.

2.2     Sociological Factor

One major sociological factor responsible for Christian conflict is the flagrant disregard of moral uprightness among rank and files in Nigeria. Agi (1987:14) conclude that the immoral sector is not the illetrate, sthe mass of workers or farmers nor the youths who are reacting to the example to the society. The most immoral are the elite, be they in government, teaching, business, professional military, religion or police force. Theodore Reesevert has observed that to educate a man in mind and not in moral is to educate a menace to the society.

Despite the proliferation of religious institutions, crime rate rather sour instead decline because the illiterate masses formed the ready recruit of half baked religious teachers sowing seeds of discord among various religious sects. Some of the pastorate are not well grounded in the scriptures.

2.3     Political Sect

Religious practices have been highly politicized especially which has resulted to the chaotic situation in Nigeria. Christians and other groups protesting on how one or two groups are using the nation’s wealth for meeting their religious needs. Adeyemi (2006:17) opines that the introduction of Sharia legal system fear into the whole farce while the Muslims justify it as dividend of democracy, Christians see it as contrary to the spirit of secularism as found in the constitution 1979/1999 that no country should adopt one religion.

CHAPTER THREE

THE IMPACT OF CHRISTIANITY IN CONFLICT RESOLUTION

 3.1    Religious Impact

The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has continued to fight on the infringing of human  rights especially the Christians. It threatens to boycott the 2006 population census if religion and ethnicity are not included. They faulted the federal government anti-corruption crusade describing it as not all encompassing in 1998 when the nation is preparing for election and handover, Christians took it upon themselves to preach against rigging, killing, hijacking of election and violence just for things to go well.

3.2     Economic Impact

CAN has made it known that the main aim of the church or Christians is to evangelize to better the whole condition of both the spiritual, material and physical needs which the members are concerned about. Christian Association of Nigeria sometime arbitrate for member churches in dispute, produce drug for the wider society. It is also working on a well balanced Christian education that will protect the morality of the nation (Peter 1986).

3.3     Political Impact

Christian Association of Nigeria sometimes ago invited a German preacher, Reinhard Bonnke to come and preach and pray for the situation Nigeria is undergoing. They have not left any stone unturned in making sure Nigeria is not Islamized. They are sure that peace will reign in Nigeria by calling for a religious dialogue. Ekwunife (1992:10) opine that the involvement of government in sectorial issues like aligning with a particular religious group can cause political instability in the country.

3.4     Social Impact

Back in history, we have accounted in Acts 3:34, 2 Corinthians 8 and 9, James 2:1-12, how the early Christians care for the oppressed, needy, marginalized, etc. they help in securing peace for the least members of the society by appealing to the conscience of the people through ethical teachings. As Okwueze rightly say, Christians in answer to the lord’s injunction that ‘happy are those who seek for peace as god will call them His children’ (Matthew 5:9) has been seriously involved in securing world peace in any part of the world.

CHAPTER FOUR

SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION

Seeing that intolerance, hatred and discrimination are the causes of religious conflict. Considering also what Christians have done in trying to restore peace, all should join hands together. The researcher suggests that ecumenism should be the pursuit of these different religions. Actually ‘ecumenism’ means the trend towards unity among Christian churches. But in this term paper, the writer wants to use it as a trend towards unity among religions.

This means bringing out those care and unifying elements stressing move on them e.g peace, love, unity, tolerance, etc all these virtues are found in all these religions in Nigeria which are to be practiced not judging the best and the right relation.

Again, dialogue in a case study of Nigeria will help matters. This will create a forum where the different religions will come to an agreement to what should be done and by each group. As Chukwulozie rightly pointed out.

Dialogues, in fact are now the order of the day among world religions and wherever people want to get along meaning fully together (Chukwulozie 1986:10).

We have noted that the seed of the religious conflict was quietly sown through the agencies of colonialism. This emanated from pragmatic act made in these religions by their adherents to secure political, economic, social and religious profit or position in the society and also differences in believes and practices.

Christian conflict is the most dangerous experience in Nigeria, and that any country that embrace on it scarcely survive, we should avoid it. The freedom of religion and worship as we have seen in the case of Nigeria, is just a mere joke and harder to disseminate, and entrust the fundamental human right to the citizen of the country according to lay.

Also Christians should continue in their effort as been the peace makers of the this country, as Christ has commanded them ‘Be ye lovers of peace’ Okwueze suggests that the south, mainly Christians try to use Christianity to ride into political platform, while the north, thickly dominated by Muslims claim the superiority over the south religion and generates problem in Nigeria.   

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Chukwulozie, V. C. Christian Muslim dialogue in Nigeria. Ibadan: Daystar Press, 1986

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Okwueze, M. I. (1995) ‘Religion and conflict in Nigeria revisited’ in J. I. Onuoha and J. O. C. Ozioko (ed) Contemporary issues in social sciences 15 – 177, Enugu Acena Publishers.

Okwueze M. I. ‘Ethic, Religion and Society’. Biblical traditional and contemxoray Nigeria perspectives. Lagos: Merit Intl Publishers 2004

Ekwunife, A. N. O. ‘Politics and religious Intolerance’. Enugu: Snaap Press limited 1992.

Camilus (2010) ‘Church and Conflict’ (not published)

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Igwe O. 2005. Politics and globe dictionary. Abia Eagle Publishers.

Anyika F. (2005) ‘Islam Genesis, an early spread to Africa.’ Issue in Humanistic study (ed) Afro-Hub Publishers. Nsukka.