Religious Diversity and Religious Tolerance: Lessons from Nigeria

Abstract

This essay seeks to understand the impact of religious diversity on religious tolerance in developing countries and draws lessons from the case of Nigeria. Religious diversity appears to prompt religious intolerance in Nigeria when we view the country from a distance. However, this essay reveals important sub-national variation. Using original survey data, I compare the impact of religious observance on respect for religious freedom across four settings within Nigeria and find religious observance has a more positive impact on respect for religious freedom in the most religiously diverse and integrated of the four settings. In-depth interviews indicate that Christian and Muslim religious leaders more openly encourage religious tolerance in religiously diverse and integrated settings than in religiously homogenous settings. This essay suggests that religious segregation rather than religious diversity inhibits religious tolerance and reveals the importance of examining sub-national and individual-level data when discerning the social impact of religion.