RELIGIOUS ISSUES IN A DEMOCRATIZING SOCIETY: AN ISLAMIC PERSPECTIVE

Abdur-Rahman Olalekan Olayiwola

Department of Political Science

Lagos State University, Ojo, Lagos, Nigeria

E-mail: nusramurana@yahoo.co.uk

ABSTRACT

Fifty years of research into the political cultures and societies of democratizing developing countries, especially those of Africa, has demonstrated the vital importance of religion in shaping their politics, society and economy. Religion has been both a disintegrating and an integrating factor in those societies. Religion permeates all aspects of the society.  In Nigeria, the three main recognized religions-Christianity, Islam and Traditional -have followers that cut across all the six geo-political Zones of North-West, North –East, North-Central, South-West, South-East and South-South as well as the Federal Capital Territory Abuja. In addition, there are pockets of adherents of other religious as well as atheism. Religion has served historically as a primary glue in democratizing societies and as a primary motivator in their Socio-politico-economic development. Religions have served both a positive force in nation-building and a negative major line of social and political tensions in the past and the present. What are the religious issues in a democratizing society such as Nigeria from the Islamic view point? What is the relationship between religions and the state? This paper attempts to provide some answers      

LITERARY THEORY, CRITICISM AND HISTORY: AN EXAMINATION OF THE WORKS OF SOME SELECTED LITERARY WRITERS.

Ayaka Rigima Obadiah

Department of General Studies

College of Agriculture, Lafia, Nasarawa State

ABSTRACT

Many writers express their opinions, feelings and personalities through the works of art. Some voice their thought on socio-political issues and philosophy. In a novel, the writer is totally immersed in a word of imagination which is other than his conscious self. He is the medium or an instrument used in conveying a message. It is in the light of this the paper examines the terms “Literary theory, criticism and History in relation to the works of some selected literary writers.

WESTERN PHILOSOPHY OF EDUCATION AND ITS IMPLICATIONS TO THE AFRICAN EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM

Osemwegie, Taiwo Wesley

Department of Philosophy and Religions

University of Benin, Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria

E-mail: wisewesley23@yahoo.com

 ABSTRACT

This work examines the views of Friedrich Froebel, Marcus Fabius Quintilian and Johann Pestalozzi as it relates to the formative development of the child. It was noted that the growth and development of any society is hinged on the moral and epistemological composition of that society. The paper presented a defensible view of the proponents above and at the same time argued that their educational views and contributions are not sacrosanct. More importantly, the paper x-rayed the implication of the views to the African educational system and summed these points in two key areas; culture and relevance.

Keywords: Education, Culture, Language and Relevance.    

AN EMPIRICAL ANALYSIS OF THE INFLUENCE OF RELIGION ON CAREER CHOICE AND SUCCESS AMONG CREEK TOWN PEOPLE, NIGERIA

¹Bassey, Antigha Okon; ²Bassey, Umo Antigha and ³Omono Cletus Ekok

^1&3Department of Sociology, University of Calabar, Calabar

Unified Local Government Commission, Calabar, Nigeria

E-mail: antigha2k4@yahoo.com

ABSTRACT

This study focuses on contemporary religious atmosphere in Africa. It examines the effect religion and career choice and setting with particular reference to Creek Town Community in Nigeria. The study relies mainly on qualitative research method using Focus Group Discussion and In-depth Interview. The study revealed that Creek Town People are predominantly Christian with some people still practising Traditional African Religion (ATR). Despite the religious perspective followed by the people, they are committed to their faith, religious activities and practices. The religious commitment provides focus for selecting occupation and profession through which their career is developed. The religious commitment translates to career commitment resulting in career success. The study was a descriptive analysis, describing data obtained from FGD and IDI where 10 and 4 participants and respondents were examined respectively. The study reveals that religion influence career choice and success positively in terms of prevailing religious practices in Creek Town being Christianity and ATR. The paper recommended further study in Northern Nigeria where Islamic religion prevails and also recommended that a National Policy on Religion be introduced by Nigerian Government to promote religion with positive impact on social life and regulate religious practices that breed intolerance.

Keywords: Religion, Career choice and Career Success

PAULINE WORK ETHIC: A MODEL TO BI-VOCATIONAL MINISTERS AND CHURCHES IN NIGERIA

Isiorhovoja Uyovwieyovwe Osbert

Department of Religious Studies and Philosophy

Delta State University, Abraka

Email: evanosbert@ymail.com

ABSTRACT

The paper examines the concept of Pauline work ethic as a paradigm for pastors and churches in the 21^st century. The work adopts both historical and sociological interpretation along with its economic implications on the church. It looks heuristically at the present challenges of full time pastoral ministry with the aim of using the work ethic as a model for ministers with the aim of shedding unnecessary financial burden on the church and strangulation on the part of the minister. The paper discovers among other things the paupership of the minister’s family,  poor access to good educational training, beggarly living as a result of poor remuneration and incessant schism and drop out because of over bearing poor financial standing of the church and  pastors. The work concludes by recommending strongly bi-vocational training for all ministers just like Paul and the act of tent making. Ministerial training should therefore prepare the pastors for both challenges so that they can fully integrate themselves into the society. The minister should not see the church as his Amos rather; he should see his calling as an act of service to God.  Lastly, the church should be encouraged to support ministerial work and just as Paul did and burdens should not be placed on her so that members can joyfully serve God in their own capacity wherein God has also called them to serve.

Keywords: work ethic, Pauline, economic, challenges, paupership, Baptist and Amos.

“HAKIYA YA MUNGU”- BETWEEN FACTS AND FICTION: AFRICAN BRAND OF DICTATORSHIP, NGUGI WA THIONG’O’S STEREOTYPE IN WIZARD OF THE CROW

Asika, Ikechukwu Emmanuel

Department of English and Literary Studies

Anambra State University, Igbariam Campus

 Email: excellency4life@yahoo.com

ABSTRACT

Ngugi Wa Thiong’o remains undoubtedly one of the most widely read African writers. He has shown through his writings what it takes for a writer to be bold, fearless and patriotic even against the threats of his life in order to salvage and liberate the humanity of his people. More than any African writer, Ngugi is best known for his literature of revolution and resistance; a literature that injects fire, thunder and burning anger in his readers to stand up in the face of oppression, tyranny, corruption, exploitation and join in the struggle to dethrone political dictators and imperialist governments. His writings have in no doubt contributed to several positive changes and adjustment in the political situation in Kenya. But in his most recent novel, we witness a departure from the common Kenyan course of revolution and emancipation to a writing that articulates the problems of power, neo-colonialism, imperialism, dictatorship and corruption that have become the bane of the African continent. Africa is a country plagued by uncountable stories of poverty, war, dictatorship, exploitation among other sort of tragedies. Ngugi in his Wizard of the Crow abandoned the cause of his Kenyan people to address a larger theme of the problems of his African continent. The major problem as he located, is the leadership problem of many African states in the hands of dictators. This paper studied how Ngugi in the course of his bizarre and magical tale, created a stereotype of African brand of dictatorship from which all other dictators could be viewed and from which viewpoint we could collectively seek a solution, a gradual but steady war to end dictatorships and not just to enthrone genuine democracy but an African devoid of Western dependency but on the real personality and pride of the continent.

THE CROSS: A UNIVERSAL SYMBOL OF CHRISTIANITY AND ITS SIGNIFICANT TO THE CHRISTIANS.

 Abodunrin, Adeniyi Olufemi

Department Religious Studies

Joseph Ayo Babalola University, Ikeji_Arakeji, Osun State

E mail: femiabodunrin93@yahoo.com

ABSTRACT

Every religion and ideology has its visual symbol which illustrates   a significant feature of its   history or believes. Christianity then is no exception in having a visual symbol. Cross   is an instrument for execution consisting of an upright beam left permanently in the ground surmounted by a cross- beam, Which might  also  be attached a little below the top of the  upright .The condemned prisoner himself  carried the   platinum to  the  place of  execution , where he  was  stripped naked. , his arms were bound to the cross beam and his legs left suspended until   he died of thirst or starvation.  crucifixion  was  unknown  in  Israel during  Old  Testament  times , it was normally used by  the  Persia. from where  the Greeks  and Romans adopted it .The work or the paper  will feature, the  importance of   the symbol .though it was initially associated with the accused person , The  paper will as  well  look  into  the facts  that  surrounded  Jesus  crucifixion ,for instance the medical knowledge  was not very advanced at that time ;even that , the disciples were ignorant, which it  was  said that resurrection was claimed instead of  resuscitation from the  dead ;Though, the cross  was  initially rejected or avoided due to its direct association with the execution of a common criminal.

THE NIGERIAN STATE AND DEMOCRATIZATION OF VIOLENCE: ISSUES AND PROSPECTS

¹Nwanolue, B.O.G, and ²Victor Chidubem Iwuoha

¹Department of Political Science, Anambra State University, Igbariam Campus,

²Department of Political Science, University of Nigeria, Nsukka

 princenwanoluebog@yahoo.com; tchydubevick@yahoo.com

ABSTRACT

The mischievous modification of the object of democracy to compulsorily conform to the perversive character of the state in Nigeria is one of the important undoing of democracy. Core indicators of democracy such as human rights, social welfare and human security are either forgotten or overlooked entirely. These failures constantly spawn cheap mobilization of less privileged youths for violence in the country. The study seeks to establish a linkage between the contaminated type of democracy in Nigeria, exemplified by the culture of impunity, and the rising culture of violence in the country. We adopt qualitative method of data collection and analyses. We conclude that the perversive character of the state in Nigeria, which infected the acquired democracy, thereafter, conspires to democratize violence within itself. Hence, there is need for deepening democracy and good governance, to deliver popular public goods, such as provision of employment opportunities and social facilities.

DISCOURSE TECHNIQUES IN ASIKA EMMANUEL IKECHUKWU’S OMEILE

Ofoegbu Cyril Okechukwu

Department of English

Anambra State University, Igbariam Campus, Nigeria

ofoegbucyril@yahoo.com

ABSTRACT

The use of language has remained a very important issue in the analysis of any discourse. Discourse here involves language plus context according to some discourse analysts. It looks at how language can be used to achieve objective aims in human development. This paper focuses on the discourse techniques evident in Omeile, a poetic piece put together by Asika, Emmanuel Ikechukwu. It explores his mastery and poetic use of some language features in his poem. This paper focuses mainly on his creative blend of African proverbs in the lines of his poetry, it looks at his conscious use of code mixing to convey the desired ideas, and it looks at his diction and placement of words that stands him out as a descriptive writer. Finally we shall journey through his use of figures of speech, placed strategically to travel through the mind and thinking of a man really caught in chains and captivity of civilization. Our most important aim in this discourse analysis is the discourse techniques employed by the poet, to present to us this poetic ballad of an uncivilized man.

THE YOUTH AS A FACTOR IN THE NIGERIAN THEATRE

Austin Chibueze Okeke

Department of Theatre and Film Studies

University of Nigeria, Nsukka

E-mail:austinchibueze@yahoo.com

ABSTRACT

This essay puts forward the view that the frequently condemned behaviour of the Nigerian youth stems from a background of psychological or mental anarchy, as they are easily inclined to an attitude informed by a feeling of rejection and its attendant paranoia.  Unfortunately this often leads them into trying their hands on various manners of vices in the bid to survive. Their beclouded state of mind makes them readily erupt at the slightest provocation, and there is no end to what they can do to, as it where, ‘rise to the occasion’ of their challenges. The study however, advances that what the youths of Nigeria seriously need is a form of theatre which will match their vigour in entertainment as well as involve them in a solution-seeking routine.