Religious aberration in Nigerian contemporary society: A critique

Religion has been a part of sociopolitical movements from the dawn of history. With a strong emphasis on morality, religion and religious people were expected to live an exemplary life in society. Thus, religion is a veritable tool for shaping and stirring of the human society. However, religion has...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Hervormde teologiese studies 2022, Vol.78 (4), p.1-7
Main Author: Onuorah, Chioma P.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Christianity
commercialisation of religion
Economics
Hypocrisy
Library materials
Materialism
Morality
Oppression
Religion
religious aberration
Religious aspects
Social aspects
Social structure
Society
Spencer, Herbert (1820-1903)
Spirituality
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Summary:Religion has been a part of sociopolitical movements from the dawn of history. With a strong emphasis on morality, religion and religious people were expected to live an exemplary life in society. Thus, religion is a veritable tool for shaping and stirring of the human society. However, religion has placed immense stress on public discourse as the literature on the manipulation of religion by religious leaders for their personal gain and aggrandisement is scanty. This research intends to fill this gap. The theoretical framework of this study is functionalism. It adopts a qualitative research approach. The data was derived mainly from primary and secondary sources. The discussions in this article expose the religious impropriety in Nigerian society, which includes intolerance, hypocrisy, commercialisation of religion, manipulation and exploitation of the adherents, subjecting them to laziness, frustration, desperation and poverty. This alters individual rights and personal development, which are deterrents to progress and oppose the religious tenets of holiness, truthfulness and sacredness. This article advocates good religious values for good behaviour to enhance the social structure and boost societal development.Contribution This contemporary time in Nigeria is the era of religious explosion, where there are uncountable new religious faiths and groups. Religious practices in Nigeria are commercialised. Church leaders have abandoned the precepts on which the Church and other religious practices are founded to pursue economic or commercial-oriented interests and tendencies.
ISSN:0259-9422
2072-8050
2072-8050
DOI:10.4102/hts.v78i4.7395