ABSTRACT
This study examined the challenges of
Christian religious fanaticism in public secondary schools in Agege Area of
Lagos state. The study adopted a descriptive survey design. The population of
study comprised all the teachers and students in public secondary schools in
Agege Area of Lagos state. A sample random sampling technique was adopted to
select ten (10) public secondary schools; twenty (20) teachers and eighty (80)
students. Two questionnaire were constructed by the researcher, one for
teachers and one for students. Three research questions and three hypotheses
were designed in eth study. The research questions and demographic data of
participants were analyzed using frequency counts and percentage while the
research hypotheses were tested using the chi-square (x2) statistical tool at
0.05 level of significance. The result of the findings shows that there are identified
causes of Christian Religious Fanaticism such as: rumours can trigger off religious fanaticism; In
public schools, students are assigned leadership position on religious
sentiment than on academic achievement; Struggle for supremacy/ recognition
between the followers of religious groups can lead to conflict; Tension can
arise if the faithful member of each of the group try to demonstrate the
superiority of their religion; Actions or inactions of school administrators on
religious issues can cause conflict in the school; Ignorance can lead to
religious crisis in school; there is a significant relationship between
religious intolerance and conflict and that Religious intolerance has a
significant effect on national stability. Based on the findings of this study,
the following recommendations were made: having noted that religion is a
necessary aspect of man’s culture, in fact religion cultivates all aspects of
man; political, socio economic and spiritual domains. Religious tolerance and
dialogue should be included in the primary and secondary schools and should be
made mandatory for all schools and colleges as it helps to sharpen the moral
life of pupils and students. All governments’ policies should be aimed at
strengthening the relationship among the various religious groups. “The policy
should not be the type that will be of benefit to one religion while the other
religion will be at disadvantage. God fearing citizens should be put at the
helm of affairs. This is because, leaders without the fear of God are bound to
be wicked, undisciplined, corrupt and greedy.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Pages
Title page i
Certification ii
Dedication iii
Acknowledgment iv
Abstract v
Table of Contents vi
CHAPTER
ONE: GENERAL INTRODUCTION
1.1
Background to the Study 1
1.2
Statement of the Problem 6
1.3 Purpose
of the Study 8
1.4 Research
Questions 9
1.5
Research Hypotheses 9
1.6
Significance of the Study 10
1.7 Scope
of the Study 11
1.8
Definition of Key Terms 11
CHAPTER TWO: REVIEW OF
RELATED LITERATURE
2.0
Introduction 12
2.1
The Concept of Religion 12
2.2 Concept of Religious Fanaticism 20
2.3 Rise of Religious Fanaticism 23
2.4 Causes of Religious Intolerance 32
2.5 The Effect of Religious Intolerance on Nation
Building 37
2.6
How to Curb Religious Intolerance in
Nigeria 44
2.7 Summary of Review 46
CHAPTER
THREE: THREE RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
3.1 Introduction
3.2 Research Design 48
3.3
Population of Study 48
3.4
Research Instrument 48
3.5 Validity of the Instrument 49
3.6 Reliability of the Instrument 49
3.7 Sample and Sampling Technique 50
3.8 Method of Data Administration 51
3.9
Method of Data Analysis 51
CHAPTER FOUR: RESULT AND
INTERPRETATION OF DATA
4.1 Introduction 52
4.2 Response to Personal Data 52
4.3 Response to
Research Questions 53
4.4 Testing of
Hypotheses 59
4.5 Summary of
Findings 64
4.6 Discussion of
Findings 63
CHAPTER FIVE: SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS
5. 1ntroduction 67
5.2 Summary of
the Study 67
5.3 Conclusion 69
5.4 Recommendations 70
5.5 Areas of
Further Study
REFERENCES 71
APPENDICES 79
CHAPTER
ONE
GENERAL
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background to the Study
In
human history, religion is indispensable. Apart from one's relationship with
God, sometimes it serves as the instrument for political domination,
intimidation, oppression, discrimination, threat and outright deceit. Religion
is no doubt important and sensitive in the life of human beings regardless of
where they domicile. It is on this premise that man continually seek for
protection, direction as well as breakthrough in all human endeavor. Karl Marx
views religion as the opinion of the people and his perception has manifested
in the lives of Nigerians consequent upon their propagation of new faith (Islam
and Christianity).
Generally,
religion equally provide succor for the people. Thus anybody or government that
toys with it, does so at his/ her own peril. More importantly, religion be it
indigenous, Islam or Christian cultivates, energizes, propels, regulates and
harmonizes the society it binds its adherents to specific practices and
particular moral, codes. It teaches man to choose what is good and discard what
is bad. It teaches man to be humble in his inter- personal relationships and to
be submissive to constituted authority.
A
religious fanatic is someone or a group of people who have extreme religious
ideas that are dangerous to both the practitioner and religion. In all the
three prominent religions in Nigeria, Islam, Christianity and African Religion,
the act of fanatism is associated with religious belief which excludes social
relations with people of other religious sects. It may even hamper mutual trust
and confidence when such relations exist. (Okwudiba, 2008). Also, religious fanatism
can be regarded as an aspect of religious intolerance. For example, many
Christian and Islamic organizations have alleged discrimination against each
other in admissions , policies, school fees , employment as well as the refusal
of many states and government to grant land to build churches in the Northern
parts of the Federation (Ekoko and Amodi, 2009).
Conversely,
religious accommodation is a situation whereby one embraces and tolerates
adherents of other religions. If this is practiced among students, there will
be a high level of interaction among practitioners of the dominating three
large religions. It is equally in line with the Nigerian constitution which
emphasizes the need to respect freedom.
Recently,
precisely on 18th June, 2007, the then president of the Federal
Republic of Nigeria late Umaru Musa Yar' Adua noted that his administration may
make religious education mandatory in schools in Nigeria's educational
institutions. Since the president made that statement, various and divergent reactions
and responses have attended his proposal. The guardian (2007) devoted an entire
editorial to examine the proposal. In the editorial, the Guardian (2007) agreed
with the president that there is gross moral breakdown and indiscipline in our
educational institutions. Restating the position of many other people,
the editorial affirms that our educational institutions have witnessed violent
crimes, juvenile delinquency, armed robbery, sexual abuse, drug abuse and many
other social vices. The newspaper does agree that to eradicate this moral
decadence, there should be moral and civic education that emphasizes character
formation and re- orientation of values and the responsibilities of the
citizenry. The newspaper also perceives compulsory religious education as
violating the constitutional freedom of religion, for it can be abused and
cause religious conflicts.
Depending
on how religious education is conducted in a plural society, it can promote a
culture of tolerance. A broad religious education curriculum that incorporates
religious values from many religions is very important. Your religious way of
life is not the only one that exists. There is danger in knowing only one's
religion. The Oslo coalition, on Freedom of religion and belief (2001) opined that:
Education should help seeing that the others are indeed us, knowledge about
other religions is an important pre- condition for the development of such an
understanding, and hence also of a culture of tolerance.
Religious
education can also help in promoting human rights and respect for the dignity
of the human person. The Oslo coalition (2001) notes further that dialogue,
projects and scientific studies show that most religious have resources in
their view of man and their basic value foundations to support both the idea of
human dignity and of human rights. The religious education in school therefore
can play an important role both in the search for common, cross- cultural
values in a broader sense. A meeting with different religious and philosophical
traditions might lead to change in the self conception of the individual child.
In a
similar light, the office of the United Nations commissioner for Human Rights
(2001) acknowledge that religious education can be a tool to sensitize to human
rights issues, it affirms religious education is a contributing factor to the
shaping up of one's identity and may play a key role in multicultural societies
and in the pursuit of a true globalization as long as it promotes values of
tolerance and non-discrimination. This implies that wider perspectives need to
be offered, which besides contributing to self- awareness and developing one's
own identity, also help in the understanding of other wider perspectives, thus
responding to logic of inclusion and feeling part of the same global community.
Teaching of religious convictions based on those criteria would indeed favour
the development of balanced individuals, aware of their own identity, including
at the religious level but also open, curious and respectful, thus contributing
to the creation of a conducive environment for the promotion and\ protection of
human rights.
Public
secondary schools are those secondary schools built and managed by the state
government. According to the National policy on Education (2004), the five main
National objectives of Nigeria as clearly stated in the second National
development plan and endorsed as a necessary foundation
for the National policy on education are building of:
i. A free and democratic
society;
ii. A just and egalitarian
society;
iii. A united, strong and
self reliant nation;
iv. A great and dynamic
economy;
v. A land of bright and
full opportunities for all citizens.
Nigeria's
philosophy of education is basically hinged on the integration of the
individual into a sound and effective citizen of the nation at the primary,
secondary and higher levels of education, both inside and outside the formal
school system. It is in the light of this that the quality of instruction at
all levels has to be geared towards inculcating the following values:
1.
Respect for the worth and dignity of the individuals;
2.
Faith in man's ability to make rational decisions;
3.
Moral and spiritual values in interpersonal and human relations;
4.
Shared responsibility for the common goal of the society;
5.
Respect for the dignity of labour, and
6.
Promotion of the emotional, physical and psychological health of all children.
For the philosophy to be in line and in agreement with Nigeria's National
objectives, it has to be focused self realization, better human relationship,
individual and national efficiency, effective citizenship, national
consciousness, national unity as well as social, cultural , economic,
political, scientific and technological development (National
Policy on Education, 2004).
7. It
is based on this background that the researcher embarked on the study of
challenges of Christian religious fanaticism in public secondary schools in
Agege Local government Area, Lagos State.
1.2 Statement of the Problem
Religions
constitute a formidable instrument of social change in any society against the
backdrops of its inherent characteristics of maintaining law and order through
the internalization of religious tenets and values. Religions is said to
provide a healthy environment for a functional and vibrant society and it
serves a cohesive and euphonic function in the society. The history of any
nation cannot be written without reference to religion (Omoregbe, 2001).
Sadly,
there has been evidence of Christian religious fanatics in Nigerian secondary schools
characterized by violence, riot killing, aggressive attacks including willful
and wanton destruction of lives and properties.
There
are three major religions in Nigeria, unfortunately this violent act often
occur among Christians and Muslims, even though the tenets of both religions
emphasize peace. Some of the adherents of both religions have become
overzealous and grossly deviate from the basic dogma of the religions. The
effect of this violent act has always been unpalatable and disastrous, ranging
from loss of lives, destruction of valuable properties and socio-political
instability. Before the introduction of the aforementioned two
foreign religions, African Religion then, provided conducive environment that
allowed people from various backgrounds to live together peacefully.
However,
the advent of the two foreign religions has brought disunity, antagonizing
conflict and hatred among their followers which hindered national development
which can only prosper in a harmonious atmosphere (Ilo, 2009).
There
are different groups in Christendom owing to ideologies and doctrinal
disparities. Protestants and sects/cults. The first two have the greatest
followership. Noting that protestants segregated from Roman Catholics, it has
the following groups. Orthodox, evangelicals and Pentecostals. It must be
acknowledged that from a general outlook it seems as if all are the same,
however, there are lots of doctrinal differences and practices, which
differentiate them. The distinguishing factor lies on the position each group
accords to the extra
sensory perceptions. The fall out of these is negative on academic activities
in secondary schools. One of the negative effects of fanaticism on education is
the disruption of school. Calendar. This is because schools are closed and
academic distortive brought a stand still.
Another effect of fanaticism on education is that it creates tension in
school. Based on the problems highlighted above the researcher embark on the
challenges of Christian religious fanaticism attitude on public secondary
Schools in Agege Local Government Area of Lagos state.
1.3 Purpose of the Study
The
major purpose of this study is to examine the challenges of Christian religious
fanaticism and the way out.
Other
specific purposes of this study are to examine:
1. The causes of religious fanaticism in
public secondary schools.
2. The
relationship between religious intolerance and conflict
3. The
effect of intolerance on education.
1.4 Research Questions
The
following questions guided the study:
1.
What are the causes of Christian religious fanaticism in public secondary
schools?
2.
What is the relationship between
religious intolerance and conflict?
3.
What is the effect of religious intolerance on education?
1.5 Research Hypotheses
The
following hypotheses are tested in this study:
1. Religious
fanaticism has no cause.
2. There is no significant
relationship between religious intolerance and
conflict.
3.
Religious intolerance has no effect on education.
1.6 Significance of the Study
This
study will be of benefit to: students, Christian religious education teachers,
school administrators and the society at large. Students will benefit because
the findings of this study will disabuse their mind of those irrational
thinking which lead to religious intolerance, hence they will see the need to
tolerate other people's religion so as to maintain a peaceful school
environment which promotes higher academic achievement.
Christian
Religious Education teachers will benefit because this study will sensitize
them on the aspects of the CRE Curriculum which promotes a peaceful
co-existence. They will as well inculcate the moral implications in the
students. Their productivity in terms of noticeable behavioural changes in the
students will promote their profession and give them a sense of worth and
achievement.
School
administrators will benefit because there will be discipline and high positive
moral behaviour in the school system and this will reduce the stress which they
incur in settling conflicts among students,
The
society at large will benefit when the youth who are the future of the society
are well behaved and can co- exist peacefully , the society will be egalitarian
and achieve a vibrant economy in the absence of disruptions.
1.7 Scope of the Study
This
study covers five (5) selected public secondary schools in Agege Local
Government Area of Lagos state.
1.8 Definition of Key Terms
Religion:
can be
seen as the response of man to
an onward experience which he considers to be a direct approach of the
divine, seeking to reveal to him, the meaning of his existence and guide to
external destiny.
Christian
Religion: Is the religion which aims at developing effective
knowledge of what Christianity is all about as expressed in the Bible, in
church history liturgy and worship.
Fanaticism:
Could
be defined as belief which does not tolerate social relations with people of
other religious bodies.
Islam:
It is
the religion practiced by those who believe in Allah and is based on the teaching
in the Holy Koran.
African
Traditional Religion: it is the religion practiced by African
traditionalists who believe in ancestral worship.
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