CHURCH PROLIFERATION AND ITS EFFECT ON YOUTHS

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY

A critical look at religious situation in Nigeria suggests that the recent socio-economic and political situation has been a symptomatic of the endemic plurality of Nigeria’s religious landscape. The country is now a breeding ground for diverse kinds of religious movements especially within the Christian faith. Proliferation of churches in Nigeria and its influence on the Nigerian youth has attracted attention of many scholars both within and outside Nigeria, especially since their massive proselytizing by certain groups has won adherents in Europe and America. Recognized as an o-shoot of missionary Churches and bearing some features of African traditional religion, proliferation of Churches is seen on the whole to constitute pastoral challenge on Christendom in Nigeria. The founders of these new generation churches always postulate diversified reasons for their emergence and expeditious growth, some say that their call is a divine call from God, while some claim divine visions and dreams, emphasized deeper biblical interpretation and so on. However, it is the opinion of the present researchers that the pivotal factors for the emergence of these newer churches, as well as the costs and benefits of the activities of these new movements to the entire Nigerian society have not been properly investigated and analyzed.