ROLES OF CHRISTIAN RELIGIOUS EDUCATION IN PROMOTING HUMAN RIGHTS IN COLLEGES OF EDUCATION IN KADUNA STATE

CHAPTER 1

INTROUDCTION

1.1 Background to the study

Human rights are those rights which are inherent in our nature and without which we can not live as human beings and without which no society is viable and able to survive. Since the United Nations made a declaration of human rights, on 10^th December 1948, it has been receiving global attention. Almost every nation of the world, including Nigeria have it in their constitution. Human rights and fundamental freedom allow as to fully develop our human qualities, intelligence, talents and conscience and to satisfy our spiritual and social needs. They are based on mankind‟s increasing demand for a life in which the inherent dignity and worth of each human being receives equal respect and protection. Parajuli (2010), Deprivation of human rights and human rights abuses are the major causes of conflict in our society. When people discover that their fundamental human rights are violated, they either engage in violence or crime to pursue their rights at any cost. Inorder to respect people‟s right, Christian Religious Education has the potential to provide opportunities for both males and females to develop the skills, knowledge, values and attitudes necessary for survival in society. Religious education in the Christian sense includes all efforts and processes which help to bring children and adults into a vital and saving experience of God revealed in Christ Jesus. Christian religious education as a problem solving discipline is always interested in finding out the causes of violations and infringements on people‟s right (Quaarcoopome 2008). The social, moral and spiritual qualities could be learnt in Christian Religious Education. Man is a physical, mental, social, emotional and spiritual being. Any educational system which neglects the spiritual part is unbalance. (Musongole,, 2010). The contents of Christian Religious Education is based on the teachings

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contained in the Holy Bible which included the importing of knowledge about the existence of God, the creation stories, the salvation of God‟s people, imminent condemnation of the disobedient to the commandments of God, and his love and concern for the oppressed, the poor, orphans and widows. Through Christian education, education, young and adult have the potential to learn skills such as exploration of religious, human experience, and one‟s personal search

through observing, investigating, questioning, researching,, enquiring, listening and synthesizing. This makes Christian religious education unique and able to address issues on human rights.

ROLES OF CHRISTIAN RELIGIOUS EDUCATION IN PROMOTING HUMAN RIGHTS IN COLLEGES OF EDUCATION IN KADUNA STATE