Nigerian Pluralistic Society and the Relevance of Religious Dialogue as an Instrument of Peace

Ogbole Friday Abu; Adewale O. Ogunrinade

Authors

Ogbole Friday Abu Lecturer (Sociology of Religion and Pentecostal Studies) (Department of Religious Studies, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, Gombe State University, Gombe, Nigeria)
Adewale O. Ogunrinade Senior Lecturer (Church History with specialty in African Christianity) (Department of Religious Studies, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, Gombe State University, Gombe, Nigeria)

Abstract

Nigeria being a multi-religious state is currently bedeviled with a lot of crises which range from political and religious to socio-ethnic problems. This paper identifies Nigeria as religiously pluralistic and the importance of engaging in dialogue to surmount its myriad problems and process and achieve the needed peace. However, much emphasis is laid on the two major religions in Nigeria namely Christianity and Islam. The paper identifies the forms of dialogue and how it could be engaged in the polity, possible areas of dialogue, principles of dialoguing and the obstacles that may be encountered in the course of doing so. The paper recommends that for effective dialogue to take place among all religions, misconception, stereotype and bias should be eliminated. It further recommends that effective dialogue between the two major religions in the country should be effectively enhanced to ensure peace.

DOI: 10.5901/jesr.2013.v4n3p343