True religions and religious are now very rare to come by. Religious hypocrisy and fanaticism (fundamentalism) have become the order of the day. These trends negate the cores of religion with fake religious practices and bitter religious superiority contestation, chaos, intolerance and tension (crisis). Until the emergence of Protestantism and religious proliferation in the 15th century, the Catholicity of religion was upheld by the existing ones – Traditional Religion, Christianity (Roman Catholic Church) and Islam, among others, with little or no crisis. The case has become different in contemporary times.
The current motives of religions and the religious are now rather human, unethical, biased and materialistic, and thus the emerging endemic religious issues, fuelled by ethnicity, politics, neo/colonialism, linguistic conflicts and capitalism confronting nations like Nigeria and the like over the years.
This study is concerned with interrogating and exploring the foregoing problems. It maintains that a nation free from religious hypocrisy and fanaticism is bound to be truly religious and tap hugely from the rich prospects of religion, rather than the current otherwise obtained in Nigeria and the like nations. The ugly development calls for wide aggressive religious re-orientation and reformation, as this paper proposes. It relies on textual materials, besides non-participant observation and intuition, for data. The content-analysis is employed, involving qualitative approach and objectivism.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. The Concept of Religion
3. Functions of Religion
4. Understanding the Concept of Religious Fundamentalism
5. Religion and the Nigerian Nation
6. Religious Hypocrisy and Fanaticism
7. Religion and Politics in Nigeria
8. Expression of Religious Sentiments in Nigeria
9. Negating Classical Religious Tenets/Precepts: The Decline of Christianity and Islam
10. Conclusion
11. Recommendation
Objectives and Topics
This study explores the critical issue of how religious hypocrisy and fanaticism in Nigeria contribute to widespread societal problems, arguing that these negative trends contradict the core moral and ethical teachings of established religions and hinder national development. The research investigates the divergence between original religious tenets and contemporary practices, calling for a comprehensive re-orientation and reformation to restore the potential of religion as a force for unity and peace.
- The intersection of religious fundamentalism and socio-political instability in Nigeria.
- The role of political manipulation and leadership failure in fueling religious crises.
- The discrepancy between classical religious teachings and the actions of contemporary religious adherents and leaders.
- The urgent need for religious re-orientation, tolerance, and practical morality to foster national integration.
Excerpt from the Book
Religious Hypocrisy and Fanaticism
Religious contradictions constitute religious hypocrisy and fanaticism. The former is obtained when assumed religious people are in practise the reverse, as they merely pretend to be of or possess high moral standards, opinions and/or behaviours which they are actually not, but façade. The latter, fanaticism, is obtained when there exist extreme beliefs or behaviours attached to religion among a people(s), which degenerate to various endemic and pandemic religious issues, woes, pandemonium, calamities and crises. Religious contradictions are the contending or clashing religious interests, tenets, pursuits, methods/systems and practices that bring about religious hatred, with its shooting branches: ethnicity, religious politics (politics of religion), social disparities/dichotomies; religious crises; fuelled social vices; to mention but a few. Since the varied faithful seldom understand and reconcile the linguistic and perception difference as well as approaches that differentiate the varied religions, they tend to contrast and contradict these religions that share one common goal– worshiping of a Being, and various covert similarities.
Religious contradicts also manifest in form of deviation or digression from the basics of each religion by their respective faithful. When the unusual religious faithful, which are actually the reverse or the contrary of what their religion(s) uphold(s), practice(s) or teach(es) obtain, religious hypocrisy and fanaticism are realised. Religious contradictions breed religious hypocrisy and religious fanaticism, fundamentalism and tension (crisis and terrorism). Most religious first deviate from their religious tenets, norms, values and teaching, and thus become religious hypocrites and later metamorphose to religious fanatics who, like empty vessels, make the highest noise about religion(s) without reality or exemplary pragmatic religion. These trends characterise a religious nation like Nigeria, and consequently culminate to the various inherent religious problems that bedevil it (the nation).
Summary of Chapters
Introduction: Provides an overview of the challenges posed by religious-inclined societal matters in Nigeria and highlights the discrepancy between religious claims and actual moral conduct.
The Concept of Religion: Discusses the diverse etymological and academic definitions of religion, emphasizing the relationship between humans and the divine.
Functions of Religion: Outlines the positive social roles of religion, such as group integration, social control, and providing psychological support.
Understanding the Concept of Religious Fundamentalism: Analyzes the historical origins of fundamentalism and identifies its key characteristics, including anti-modernist tendencies and the rejection of pluralism.
Religion and the Nigerian Nation: Examines the historical presence of traditional African Religion alongside Christianity and Islam, and the resulting shift in societal harmony.
Religious Hypocrisy and Fanaticism: Explains how religious contradictions, fueled by political and identity factors, breed extremism and social unrest.
Religion and Politics in Nigeria: Investigates the manipulation of religious sentiments by political actors to secure power and the subsequent destabilization of national unity.
Expression of Religious Sentiments in Nigeria: Details the manifestations of religious prejudice in justice, interpersonal relationships, and education.
Negating Classical Religious Tenets/Precepts: The Decline of Christianity and Islam: Critiques the departure of contemporary religious groups from the core teachings of their founders and the resulting rise in materialism and corruption.
Conclusion: Summarizes the major factors contributing to religious distress in Nigeria, including failed leadership and intolerance.
Recommendation: Proposes strategies for religious re-orientation, advocating for tolerance, pragmatic spirituality, and government intervention.
Keywords
Religion, Hypocrisy, Fanaticism, Fundamentalism, Nigeria, Religious Pluralism, Social Vices, Ethics, Leadership, Politics, Morality, Secularism, Reformation, Tolerance, Faith.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this research?
The work examines how religious hypocrisy and fanaticism have become the dominant issues in a supposedly religious nation like Nigeria, leading to systemic social problems rather than moral progress.
Which key thematic areas are addressed?
The study covers the intersection of religious practice and politics, the decline of moral standards within major religions, the history of fundamentalist movements, and the necessity for religious re-orientation.
What is the primary objective of this paper?
The goal is to analyze the causes of religious distress in Nigeria and propose a path toward a society where genuine, pragmatic religion fosters unity rather than division.
Which research methodology is employed?
The study utilizes a qualitative approach, relying on content analysis of textual materials, non-participant observation, and objective analysis.
What is covered in the main body of the work?
The main body investigates the erosion of classical religious tenets, the role of political manipulation in religious conflicts, and the stark contrast between religious rhetoric and the observed actions of followers and leaders.
How would you describe the book with a few key terms?
The work is best characterized by the keywords: Religion, Hypocrisy, Fanaticism, Nigeria, Fundamentalism, and Moral Decadence.
How does the author characterize the role of politicians in religious crises?
The author argues that politicians frequently hijack religion, manipulating sentiments for selfish political gains, which builds dichotomies and fuels ethnic and religious intolerance.
Why does the author argue that Traditional African Religion should be examined in this context?
The author includes Traditional African Religion to show how its marginalization and the labeling of its adherents as 'pagans' by foreign religions contributed to the loss of a previously existing moral stability in Nigerian communities.
What specific solutions does the author propose for the government and religious institutions?
The author recommends that the government enact strong, non-discriminatory legislation and that religious leaders must abandon exploitative practices to return to the core, moral teachings of their respective founders.
What is the main conclusion regarding the future of religion in Nigeria?
The conclusion states that until religions return to their original, pragmatic teachings of truth and morality, the nation will continue to suffer from the devastating consequences of religious hypocrisy and fundamentalism.
- Citar trabajo
- Odey Simon Robert (Autor), Eric Ndoma Besong (Autor), 2017, Religious Hypocrisy and Fanaticism in Nigeria. The Apex Problem of a Religious Nation, Múnich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/358683
