ETHICS OF RELIGIOUS VIOLENCE IN NIGERIA

ETHICS OF RELIGIOUS VIOLENCE IN NIGERIA

ABSTRACT

This study is intended to examine the high scale and increasing frequency of violence witnessed in Nigeria today. As a study in ethics, it is mainly concerned with examining how peoples of Nigeria evaluate the rightness and wrongness of violence. It will further determine if there are socio-cultural, political, ethnic, psychological or religious reasons, the different groups of people in Nigeria use in justifying or rejecting violence. The study employed the use of quantitative and qualitative methods. Specifically the questionnaire and oral sources formed the main primary source for collecting data, while many secondary sources were also used. The research findings reveal that there are some traditional cultural, ethnic, political, psychological and religious roots of violence in Nigeria. Although religion has been blamed to be the major source of violence in Nigeria, some of the problems associated with the phenomenon are not totally religious. If anything, people use religion for their selfish interests. Thus, the manipulators of religion should be checked. Findings have also revealed that violent oriented films influence the attitudes of children towards violence in Nigeria. Some modest recommendations have also been made on how to check the frequency of violence and its consequences in Nigeria.

TABLE OF CONTENT

CHAPTER ONE

Introduction

Background of the study

Statement of problem

Purpose of the study

Significance of the study

Research questions

Definition of terms

CHAPTER TWO 

Literature review

CHAPTER THREE        

Methodology

Research design

Administration of questionnaire

Sample

Method of data collection

Reliability and validity of instrument

Method of data analysis

CHAPTER FOUR         

Presentation and analysis of data

Responses made by school heads

Responses made by teachers

CHAPTER FIVE 

Summary of finding

Conclusion

Recommendations

REFERENCES

APPENDIX         

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

Violence is a common feature of social life in all types of societies. The scale, trend and patterns of violence vary across societies and periods (Alemika 2002). The prevalence of violence both locally and internationally has manifested a lot of devastation in human civilization. The acts of violence have in no small measure debilitated advancement in developing countries. Even in the most advanced countries, the phenomenon of violence has continued to be a reoccurring saga and thus poses a need for collaborative efforts in combating its dangers. Violence has consequently affected the behavioural patterns of various social groups and religious adherents. The consequences of violence therefore have continually drawn the attention of various governments, voluntary agencies, religious organizations and the academia towards controlling the spectre of its persistence.

ETHICS OF RELIGIOUS VIOLENCE IN NIGERIA