TABLE OF CONTENTS
Title
– – – – – – – – – – – – – i
Requirement
– – – – – – – – – – – ii
Approval
– – – – – – – – – – – – iii
Certification
– – – – – – – – – – – iv
Dedication
– – – – – – – – – – – – v
Acknowledgments- – – – – – – – – – vi
Preface
– – – – – – – – – – – – vii
Table
of Contents – – – – – – – – – – viii
Abstract
– – – – – – – – – – – – xi
CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION
1.1
Background of the Study – – – – – – – – – 1
1.2 Statement of the Problem – – – – – – – – 5
1.3
Purpose of the Study – – – – – – – – – 6
1.4
Significance of the Study – – – – – – – – – 7
1.5
Scope of the Study – – – – – – – – – – 8
1.6
Methodology – – – – – – – – – – – 9
1.7
Definition of Terms – – – – – – – – – – 9
CHAPTER TWO
LITERATURE REVIEW– – – – – – – – 14
2.1
Concept of Science and Technology – – – – – – 14
2.2 The relationship between science/technology and the church- 17
2.3 Factors Responsible for Scientific and Technological Development- 21
2.4
Summary of the Literature Review – – – – – – 31
CHAPTER THREE
THE IMPACT OF SCIENTIFIC AND
TECHNOLOGICAL DISCOVERIES AND INVENTIONS ON THE CHURCH
3.1
Positive Impact- – – – – – – – – 32
3.2
Negative Impact – – – – – – – – – 42
CHAPTER FOUR
THE ROLE OF THE CHURCH IN
CONTROLLING THE NEGATIVE INFLUENCES OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
4.1
The Use of Doctrine – – – – – – – – – 50
4.2
Gospel Message – – – – – – – – – 54
4.3
Court of Inquisition/Canon Court – – – – – – 58
4.4
Crusades – – – – – – – – – – 60
4.5
Dialogues – – – – – – – – – – 63
CHAPTER FIVE
SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION
5.1
Principal Findings- – – – – – – – – 65
5.2
Contributions to Knowledge – – – – – – – 66
5.3
Recommendations – – – – – – – – – 68
5.4
Suggestions for Further Research – – – – – – 70
5.5
Conclusion – – – – – – – – – – 71
Bibliography
– – – – – – – – – – 72
ABSTRACT
In
Nigeria, it is believed that the world of science/technology and the church are
not completely in friendly term. Some of the propositions propounded by
science/technology are very much distasteful to the church and this ensued
bitter enmity between the church and science/technology irrespective of the
positive impact science/technology has on human society including the church. Hence, this work presents a discussion on the
impact of scientific and technological world and the challenges to the church
using secondary source of data collection, besides personal observation, to
explain facts about the subject matter. Though science and technology make
impressive impact on the progress of the society, it is discovered that science
and technology exist along with some negative aspects that are challenging to
the church. However, these negative aspects are dependent on the manoeuver of
science and technology by man as observed from the data. Taking cognizance of
the findings, the researcher made some recommendations capable of addressing
the problems discovered, and some suggestions for further research which may
help future researchers to unravel more facts about the relationship between
the church and science/technology. Finally the conclusion is drawn that science/technology,
if well controlled, can exists side by with the church in a mutual
relationship.
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background of the Study
Many
questions about science and technology in relation to religion abound in our
society. Such questions as whether science is a blessing or a curse? Can
science and technology take man to the divine realm? Is there mutual
relationship between scientific/technological world and the world of religion?
Can the concept of science or technology mar our religious faith?
Looking at the other side of science/technology, we are faced with serious challenges in consideration of the above questions because the development of any country is largely dependent on well planned and properly directed scientific and technological education. This is to say that no country or nation can develop without science/technology. Olarere (1999: 13) reinforces this by saying that the fulcrum upon which any nation develop from primitive stage to industrialized, advanced stage is science/technology. Hence, science/technology has done a lot and is still doing marvelously more in the promotion of human life. It has reduced the entire world into a global village so that one can obtain information from any part of this planet sitting inside his/her room. Expressing his appreciation to scientific/technological achievement, Hogg (2009:3) averred that a beggar in India might pause in his solicitations to make or take a call on his phone. This is an explanation of how science/technology helps all classes of people. Both the rich and the poor make use of science/technology. With the development of science and technology, there is great improvement in all the sphere of human existence. Now one can conveniently leave Lagos-Nigeria for Washington in America to have a chat with a friend or a relation within twelve hours, a journey that can take a crude boat not less than one year to accomplish. The invention of megaphone has made it possible for one to address enormous crowd. For instance, a pastor uses a megaphone in delivering sermon to his congregation. This calls to mind Asogwa’s (2005: 23) assertion that religion makes science and science to an extent makes religion. It is therefore, hard to separate science/technology from religion making each to exist independent of one another. In our society today, if there are people who make much, use of the scientific and technological products they are the pastors of the churches and their members. In Nigerian Christian community one can hardly get a priest without a car. In their respective houses, there are all sort of electronic gadgets and electrical appliances. Many programmes in the church are recorded electronically. Hence, all these can help us to answer some questions put forward on the relationship between science/technology and religion.
CHALLENGES OF THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH IN A SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNOLOGICAL NIGERIAN SOCIETY
