Nigerian Nation and Religion.

Overview of the Series

This book, which is the first of a three-volume series of interfaith relationships in Nigeria, presents Nigeria as a multi-ethnic and multi-religious nation, with religion controlling almost every aspect of life. It highlights the deep-rooted religious divide in Nigeria and looks into various ways that we can move beyond the religious bitterness existing among the three dominant religions in Nigeria: African traditional religion, Islam, and Christianity, and live, work, and co-exist peacefully with one another as sisters and brothers.

Focus and Scope

Although this volume begins with the history of Nigeria as a nation, its primary interest, and indeed, the interest of the entire series, is not with the politics, economics, and culture of the Nigerian people per se; its primary focus is the religion of the people. Hence, it is a study of African Traditional Religion, Islam, and Christianity in Nigeria.

The focus is not the theological and dogmatic principles and faith life of these religions, nor the individual and various sects within these religions; rather, these religions are studied from the standpoint of interfaith encounter and relationships, as a requisite for peace, unity, and harmony in Nigeria.