Religious Misconceptions and the Challenge of Development in Nigeria

Abstract

AbstractSeveral sociopolitical and economic crises in Nigeria have ended up metamorphosing into religious conflicts. This is borne out of the misconceptions held by the adherents of the major religions in the country: Islam and Christianity, and is, at the same time, through the failure of the Nigerians to have strong nationalistic feelings toward the development of the country. It is in the light of these that this chapter explores some of the misconceived issues and how they negatively affect the lives of Nigerians, whichever religious bloc the community belongs to. Such issues include misconceptions on Sharia law and who it affects, the Islamic banking system and economic development, election processes, and secularism. The chapter maintains that a critical understanding of such issues as they relate to national development will contribute to lasting peace and development in the country. It is, therefore, the argument of the chapter that until policies or programs are positively conceived, notwithstanding where they come from, the path to national development has a long way to go. Hence, the rate of religiously affiliated conflicts will persist among Nigerians.KeywordsConflictMisconceptionPoliticsReligionSecularismSharia law