Ecumenical And Interreligious Identities In Nigeria

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.

The Church is the Sacrament of Communion with God and unity among all men (Cf. Vatican II doc. L.G. 1). Christ prayed for this unity amongst his adherents in accordance with the unity between him and God the Father (Cf. Jn. 17: 21). This unity will be a sign by which the outside world is to believe in him, hence calling on the Church to rise up to this demand. Efforts were made by the Church to respond to this demand, but it was at the Second Vatican Council that the search for unity became an imperative. With this Council, the Church acknowledged the possibility of Salvation for the members of other Christian traditions and people of other religions. The Church has done a lot to promote this unity, through the teachings of the Magisterium and the activities of the recent Popes. It is then important to study the situation of Nigeria, where this call of the Vatican II, has received scant response both in ecumenical and interreligious relations. Having done pastoral work in places with interdenominational and interreligious rivalry in Nigeria, I became concerned and worried. The present religious crises in Nigeria, has escalated to an issue of grave concern with the Boko Haram insurgency. My motivation is to demonstrate the teaching of the Church regarding interdenominational and interreligious dialogue within Nigeria. There has been no sustained effort to build bridges of religious unity in the country. This research will demonstrate the necessity of ecumenical dialogue as a prelude to interreligious dialogue in Nigeria. On the global level, the need for various religions to foster relationships has become an imperative. Two important bodies CAN and NIREC, will be studied in this book. The work aims at demonstrating the involvement of the Nigerian Christians and Muslims in ecumenical and interreligious dialogue. Essentially concerned with the Catholic view of ecumenical and interreligious dialogue & its application to the Nigerian situation. No in-depth study of the religions involved. It is rather the fact of their existence & the role dialogue will play with them to solve religious problems in Nigeria. Though ATR was considered in this work, but the issue of dialogue will only involve Nigerian Muslims & Christians. The research wishes to provoke further study on dialogue between ATR and any of the other two religions. Two issues involved: the reality & importance of the Catholic teachings on ecumenical & interreligious dialogue, and their application to the Nigerian situation. Key methods involved in this work are literary research and analysis, through theological, historical, critical, descriptive, analytical & expository approaches.

This erudite compendium "Rethinking Interfaith, Cultural, Ecumenical, and Religious Dialogue in Nigeria's Pluralistic Context," is an edited and expanded proceeding of the Maiden National Conference on Interreligious Dialogue, held on 12th May, 2022 at Veritas University's (the Catholic University of Nigeria, Abuja) Multi-Purpose Hall; sponsored by John Paul II Center for Interreligious Dialogue, Rome. Granted that sometimes religions have not only misunderstood other faiths, but eyed them with suspicion and with the tragic distinction that we are the children of light and everyone else the child of darkness, this work represents the contrary. It represents voices from renowned experts of all religious spectrums (Judaism, Christianity, Islam and African Traditional Religions) toward genuine and sincere dialogue, love, justice and peace, respect for one another and unity among world religions. -Fr. Prof. Michael Ufok Udoekpo Veritas University, Abuja "Like Dolly Parton's coat of many colours, when we have been healed through dialogue, then we can all wear our divergence identities (rags) with pride, knowing that difference is a gift of God Almighty for the purpose of helping us see the world differently." -Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah

"A disciplinary map for understanding African Catholicism today by engaging some of the most pressing and pertinent issues, topics, and conversations in diverse fields of studies in African Catholicism"--

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.

The idea of the Church as the instrument of unity had existed before Second Vatican Council; but the Council made the search for unity explicitly an imperative. From the Second Vatican Council emerged a more emphatic vision of the mission of the Church to the world in which ecumenism is no longer an option but an imperative. From the time of the Council onward, every Christian should positively respond to God's question to Cain: "Where is your brother?" (Gen. 4: 9). The ecumenical imperative is primarily the responsibility of pastoral workers. The book surveys in epochs the historical changes that has occurred in the Church up to Vatican II; reviews reception along the ages of the Church pointing to the uniqueness of Vatican II; and gives through biblical exegesis of 'conversion' a fresh understanding that will help pastoral workers to be ever conscious and ready to serve as Church's instrument of unity wherever they are. This book re-awakens the spirit of the Decree on Ecumenism (Unitatis Redintegratio), offering it to be properly received by all who pray with Christ for unity (Jn 17:21). It proposes pastoral suggestions on the practice of Ecumenism.

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.