This book provides a Biblical and theological underpinning to the concept of ethnic liberation in Nigeria. It argues that the present economic, political, ethnic and religious structure of Nigeria represents injustice and oppression to those in the so-called “minority groups”. The situation has resulted in division, unrest and mutual suspicion among people of different ethnicities and religions. Bringing together liberation theology, biblical hermeneutical and social studies to foster dialogue between theories and human relations in Nigeria, the book presents an exegesis of Galatians 3:26-29, weaving out a theology of ethnic liberation. As such, it will be useful to theologians, students of religious studies and philosophy, and political historians, as well as the general reader interested in African studies.
The emergence of an indigenous African theology, especially since the 1960s is well-documented. A wealth of literature has been published in the context of African theology, especially over the last two or three decades. This indexed bibliography contains a number of publications in and for the African context specifically relevant to the fields of systematic theology and ethics.
Human dignity, decent life and human rights are effects of extensive humanitarian struggles by a people to achieve reasonable life for all. The possibility of such El Dorado was stalled in the past by unforeseen circumstances and other man-made tribulations in global history. However, these struggles will remain incomplete without a global perspective. Thus, taking the responsibility to understand humanity and her shortfalls in other parts of the globe becomes necessary. This quest consequently triggers the thorough study on how, where and why their plight is intrinsically tied to their social, cultural, religious and political background. Such genuine consequent studies can uproot the causal effect and thus guarantee the success of that developmental slogan of 'helping people to help themselves.' This study attempts to provide a platform that could chart a path towards sustainable answers to basic social questions.
Tunde Bakare is a Nigerian Prophetic-Apostolic pastor. He has received national and international attention for his televangelism, which has sometimes been critical of the Nigerian government. He presides over Global Apostolic Impact Network (GAIN) - a network of churches, ministries and kingdom businesses committed to advancing the Kingdom of God on earth. Dr. Bakare is also the President of Latter Rain Ministries, Inc. (Church Development Center) in Atlanta, GA, USA.
This book examines the contributions, both intentional and unintentional, of Nigerian Pentecostal churches and NGOs to development, studying their development practices broadly in relation to the intersecting spheres of politics, economics, health, education, human rights, and peacebuilding. In sub-Saharan Africa, Pentecostalism is fast becoming the dominant expression of Christianity, but while the growth and civic engagement of these churches has been well documented, their role in development has received less attention. The Nigerian Pentecostal landscape is one of the most vibrant in Africa. Churches are increasingly assuming more prominent roles as they seek to address the social and moral ills of contemporary society, often in fierce competition with Islam for dominance in Nigerian public space. Some scholars suggest that the combination of an enchanted worldview, an emphasis on miracles and prosperity teaching, and a preoccupation with evangelism discourages effective political engagement and militates against development. However, Nigerian Pentecostalism and Development argues that there is an emerging movement within contemporary Nigerian Pentecostalism which is becoming increasingly active in development practices. This book goes on to explore the increasingly transnational approach that churches take, often seeking to build multicultural congregations around the globe, for instance in Britain and the United States. Nigerian Pentecostalism and Development: Spirit, Power, and Transformation will be of considerable interest to scholars and students concerned with the intersection between religion and development, and to development practitioners and policy-makers working in the region.
The inspiration behind this book emanated from earlier doctoral research that focused on the preferential option for the poor. Subsequent reflections focused more on the idea of religious schools subsidizing fees for poor children. The question is, How can the schools get the funding to offer free education or subsidize fees for the children? How does this reflect on each school’s mission integrity? These questions have preoccupied the thoughts of the author for a long period. The Catholic schools in Nigeria are categorized as private schools and are perceived to be expensive. However, people who have these views can hardly understand that most Catholic schools in Nigeria do not receive subsidies from the government at all levels, in contrast to the schools in countries such as Belgium, Germany, New Zealand, the Netherlands, England, Scotland, and Ireland, where Catholic schools receive significant support from public funds. The argument for the high fees is that lay teachers have to be well paid to enable them to function effectively and selflessly. There is also the need for an efficient supply of quality educational facilities and maintenance of school infrastructure. Therefore, if Catholic schools are expensive, the Church will be failing in its duty to offer educational services to the poor and to those who suffer from deprivation. These issues have been carefully analysed and dealt with in this book, and some suggestions are proffered that can help the schools to maintain their mission integrity in dealing with the principle of the preferential option for the poor. This book beseeches Catholic school board members, other Christian denominations and religious organizations, non-governmental organizations, philanthropists, individuals, and other interested parties to come to the aid of the poor by using education as an instrument.
Nigeria has become the arena of one of the most remarkable religious movements of recent times, reflecting the shift in the global center of Christianity from the North to the South. This book tells the story of one sector of this movement from its root in the Nigerian civil war to the turn of the new millenium. It describes a revival that occurred among the Igbo people of Eastern Nigeria and the new Pentecostal churches it generated and documents the changes that have occurred as the movement has responded to global flows and local demands. As such, it explores the nature of revivalist and Pentecostal experience but does so against the backdrop of local socio-political and economic developments, such as decolonization and civil war, as well broader processes, such as modernization and globalization.
The main objective of this book is to re-evaluate the true meaning of the term poverty' in the world as a whole and in Nigeria in particular. From a sociological point of view, poverty is the natural consequence of economic inequity amongst social groups, a type of inequity often generated by the inability of the political class to provide and maintain basic amenities in the society. This book highlights so many complex reasons that are responsible for this type of inability, prominent amongst them being mismanagement of funds in most political setups. Our investigation from this book shows that there's a great difference between the various forms of poverty in western countries and in other countries of the world. Poverty may be caused by individual, social, cultural, ethical and moral issues. These various causes of poverty are often correlated. In Nigeria, poverty is mainly caused by lack of moral sensitivities amongst political leaders and by lack of initiatives for cultural, social and economic empowerment of the less privileged. Most striking is the fact that there is no basic well-established governmental structure meant to assist those who languish in poverty. This book discusses the real-life situation of those who suffer and are living in abject poverty. The book also discusses proposals that can help improve their condition. In line with this, the effective contributions the church can make in order to fight poverty will be taken into consideration. In fact, it is not enough for the church to know that the situation of long-term injustice in Nigeria is crippling the country; rather, she has also to live up to her mission vis-à-vis the poor and the marginalised who are living in the country.
