Religious and Society Conflicts and Deliverance, a Case Study of Church History in Nigeria in the 30’s
CHAPTER ONE
Objective of the study
The objectives of the study are;
- To ascertain the real causes of religious conflict in the society
- To examine whether there was religious conflict in 30’s churches
- To find solution to religious conflict in Nigeria
CHAPTER TWO
REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE
Concept of conflict
Thompson and Hickey (2011) Society in Focus: an introduction to sociology, write that conflict is often considered to be opposed to human interests harmful to social order and something to be avoided or resolved as quickly as possible. Yet, as conflict theorists emphasize, conflict has a positive side. It may enhance social solidarity for nothing reduces conflicts and strains within a relationship (whether marital or between nations) better than an external threat. They also quote Robert Nisbet who said conflict may serve as a vehicle for social change in which stagnant beliefs and values are dissolved, old tyrannies loosened, and individuals released to achieve new and higher goals. This book will be of benefit to our research as we will get more information about the topic under discussion.
McSwain and Treadwell (1981) gave an excellent explanation of conflict in the church. They are of the view that, ―conflict is a situation in which two or more human beings desire goals which they perceived as being attainable by one or the other but not by both‖. They gave a vivid description of four different sources of conflict that can be experienced in the church. The first is attitudinal conflict which emerges when individuals have differences of feelings or perspectives about persons and issues. Another is substantive conflict which surfaces when there are differences of opinion about facts, goal, ends or means. For example two groups in a church disagree on a mode of baptism. Emotional conflict also occurs when personal value is attached either to attitudinal or to substantive form of conflict and lastly Communicative conflict which is a by- product of a breakdown in a healthy, open conversation about the sources of the conflict. In concluding remarks they make a significant statement by saying communication is the key to a reconciling ministry in each of the other conflict. The work of McSwain and Treadwell will go a long way in offering good material for this thesis.
CHAPTER THREE
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
Research design
The researcher used descriptive research survey design in building up this project work the choice of this research design was considered appropriate because of its advantages of identifying attributes of a large population from a group of individuals. The design was suitable for the study as the study sought to religious and Society Conflicts and deliverance, A case study of Church history in Nigeria in the 30’s
Sources of data collection
Data were collected from two main sources namely:
Primary source:
These are materials of statistical investigation which were collected by the research for a particular purpose. They can be obtained through a survey, observation questionnaire or as experiment; the researcher has adopted the questionnaire method for this study.
Secondary source:
These are data from textbook Journal handset etc. they arise as byproducts of the same other purposes. Example administration, various other unpublished works and write ups were also used.
Population of the study
Population of a study is a group of persons or aggregate items, things the researcher is interested in getting information religious and Society Conflicts and deliverance, A case study of Church history in Nigeria in the 30’s. 200 members of early churches in Anambra state was selected randomly by the researcher as the population of the study.
CHAPTER FOUR
PRESENTATION ANALYSIS INTERPRETATION OF DATA
Introduction
Efforts will be made at this stage to present, analyze and interpret the data collected during the field survey. This presentation will be based on the responses from the completed questionnaires. The result of this exercise will be summarized in tabular forms for easy references and analysis. It will also show answers to questions relating to the research questions for this research study. The researcher employed simple percentage in the analysis.
CHAPTER FIVE
SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION
Introduction
It is important to ascertain that the objective of this study was to ascertain Religious and Society Conflicts and deliverance, A case study of Church history in Nigeria in the 30’s. In the preceding chapter, the relevant data collected for this study were presented, critically analyzed and appropriate interpretation given. In this chapter, certain recommendations made which in the opinion of the researcher will be of benefits in addressing the challenges of religious and Society Conflicts and deliverance
Summary
This study was on Religious and Society Conflicts and deliverance, A case study of Church history in Nigeria in the 30’s. Three objectives were raised which included: To ascertain the real causes of religious conflict in the society, to examine whether there was religious conflict in 30’s churches and to find solution to religious conflict in Nigeria. In line with these objectives, two research hypotheses were formulated and two null hypotheses were posited. The total population for the study is 200 members of selected early churches in Anambra state. The researcher used questionnaires as the instrument for the data collection. Descriptive Survey research design was adopted for this study. A total of 133 respondents made pastors, elders, deacons and members were used for the study. The data collected were presented in tables and analyzed using simple percentages and frequencies
Conclusion
The conflict had negatively affected the main economic activity. This is because for security reasons could not get up early enough. The result of the conflict in Nigeria has significantly changed the cordial relationship among the citizenry. This has also shifted people‘s attention from developing the town. This has presented both challenges and opportunities for the people to understand the meaning of this phenomenon. The causes of the conflict are mentioned and elaborated in this study. These include, for example, doctrinal or liturgical, constitutional, leadership, declaration and non-observance of ban on drumming and noisemaking. It has been argued that chiefs and their elders tried many ways of resolving the conflict but all these ways failed, because there was allegation that the chiefs and elders were bias in the processes.
Recommendation
The study recommends promotion of faith-based peace-building by all the peace guarantors so that religious peace would be sustained in the country. The peace guarantors which include the government, civil society groups, traditional and religious institutions, local council of churches, private sector and business community, and the media need to work towards reducing religious conflicts. There is need for our brothers and sisters in Nigeria to know that the conflict is affecting the rights of people to worship their God freely.
References
- Aboagye, M., (2008). ―Religion and Science: Are they compatible‖. In Marfo, O.C., (Ed.) Reflections on Religion and Science. pp. 21-35. Kumasi: KNUST.
- Abotchie, C., (1997). Social Control in Traditional Southern Eweland of Ghana. Accra: Ghana University Press. …….―Legal Processes and Institutions.In Agbodeka, F, F., (Ed). A handbook of Ewe land: The Ewes of South-eastern Ghana. pp. 73-83 Accra: Woeli Publishing Services.
- Adeyemo, (Ed.) (2006a).―Leadership‖ in Africa Bible Commentary p.546. Kenya: Zondervan Corporation …….. (2006b).―Conflict Management‖ in Africa Bible Commentary pp.551-552. Kenya: Zondervan Corporation.
- Adomako, M. P.,(2010). The Growth of the Christ Apostolic Church International, Ghana from 1980 to 2008.(Unpublished Master thesis.) KNUST, Kumasi.
- Agbeti, J. K., (1986). West African Church History. Leiden: Brill Academic Publishers
- Agbodeka, F, F., (1997). A handbook of Ewe land: The Ewes of South-eastern Ghana. Accra: Woeli Publishing Services.
- Agyemang, S. Y., (2009). ―Drum speak‖ International Journal of Research in the Humanities. Vol.2.3.pp. 150-173.
- Ahiawodzi, A.K., (1997). ―Economic Activities‖. In Agbodeka, F, F., (Ed).A Handbook of Eweland: The Ewes of South-eastern Ghana.pp.250-280 Accra: Woeli Publishing Services. 139
- Akanji, A. (1995). The Church as Mother: an African Christian Perspective. (Master Thesis) Nigeria Baptist Theological Seminary Ogbomosho, Oyo State Nigeria.
