Introduction of Comparative Religion as General Studies in Nigeria Tertiary Institutions’ Curriculum: A Panacea to the Rising Intolerance among Religious Groups
Keywords:
Extremism, Intolerance, Curriculum, Comparative ReligionAbstract
Recent events, though different in many ways, have highlighted the
misunderstanding and intolerance often generated by expression of religious
beliefs. This review is to assess the need for the introduction of comparative
relogion in general studies curriculum in Nigerian tertiary institutions;
considering this act as a panacea for the rising intolerance among religious
groups. The aim is to present the comparative religious benefits such as providing
adequate and concrete information on the tenets and nature of different faiths
and philosophies; transfer such data to others, so that they can complement
instead of conflicting each other. Qualitative data on cases of religious violence
in Nigeria from 1999 to 2013 were gathered through the secondary source. The
study reveals that most violent conflicts today, contain religious elements linked
up with ethno-national, inter-state, economic, territorial, cultural, and other
issues. Threatening the meaning of life, conflicts based on religion tend to become
dogged, tenacious and brutal types of wars. Hence, this work proposes the
inclusion of the teaching of comparative religion in general studies so as to
remedy the intolerance existing among religious groups thereby reducing or
eliminating religious conflicts in the country.
References
Adeniyi, M. O. (2008). Religion and the Effort to Sustain Peace in a Nigerian University Community.
Dialogue & Alliance, 22, 1. Spring/Summer.
Baird, R. M. and Stuart, E. (1999). Rosenbaum Hatred, bigotry, and prejudice: Definitions, causes,
and solutions. New York: Prometheus Books.
Balogun, K. A. (1988). Religious intolerance as a source of national disintegration. In Mala, Sam
B. ed. Religion and national unity. Ibadan: University Press.
National Universities Commission (NUC) (2004). Benchmark Minimum Academic Standards for
Undergraduate Programmes in Nigerian Universities for Arts. http:www.nuc.edu.ng/nucsite/
file/DASS/BMAS%20Arts.pdf Accessed 5 April 2013.
Brayton, E. D. (2012). The Importance of Comparative Religion. http://freethoughtlogs.com/
dispatches/2012/09/06/the-importance-of-comparative-religion. Accessed 4 April 2013.
Emmanuel, I. I. (2010). Approach to Religious Tolerance in Nigeria. http:// www.publishyourarticles.net/knowledge-hub/articles/approach-to-religious-tolerancein-nigeria.html. Accessed 2 April 2013.
Gofwen, R. I. (2004). Religious conflicts in northern Nigeria and nation building: The throes of two
decades 1980–2000. Kaduna: Human Rights Monitor.
Iwe, N. S. S. (2000). Religious Fanaticism Causes Consequences and Remedies. Calabar: Saesprint.
Jordan, L. H. (1905). Comparative Religion: Its Genesis and Growth: Edinburgh: T & T Clark
Komonchak, J. A., Collins M. and Lane, D. A. eds. (1993). The new dictionary of theology. Collegeville,
MN: The Liturgical Press.
Kukah, M. H. (1993). Religion, politics and power in northern Nigeria. Ibadan: Spectrum.
Kwaja, C. M. A. (2009). Strategies for rebuilding state capacity to manage ethnic and religious
conflict in Nigeria. The Journal of Pan African Studies, 3 (3), 105–115.
Okai, M. O. (2008). Religion & Social Conflict Management: The Case of Niger Delta Region of
Nigeria. Port Harcourt: Cal Integrated Resources.
Onuoha, F. C. (2010). The state and management of religious violence in Nigeria: A case of the July 2009 Boko Haram revolt. Ph.D. Seminar paper presented to the department of political science, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria.
Religious extremism (2011). What is Extremism? Available from: http://religiousextremism.
wordpress.com/2011/03/11/what-is-religious-extremism. Accessed 2 April 2013.
Sampson, I. T. (2011). Religious violence in Nigeria: Causal diagnoses and strategic recommendations to the state and religious communities. www.ajol.info/index.php/ajcr/article/download/78703/69042. [Accessed 2 April 2013].
The Holy Bible, New International Vision
Wotogbe-Weneka, W. O. (Ed). (2005). Themes in Comparative Religion. Port Harcourt: Stepson
Printing Press
