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Religious Fundamentalism and Sustainable Development in Nigeria: Understanding the Intricacies

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Religious Fundamentalism and Sustainable Development in Nigeria: Understanding the Intricacies Journal of Religion and Theology Volume 2, Issue 2, 2018, PP 12-18 Religious Fundamentalism and Sustainable Development in Nigeria: Understanding the Intricacies Okpa, J. Thompson1, Benjamin Okorie Ajah2,Okunola, Rasidi Akanji3 1Department of Sociology, University of Calabar, Calabar, Nigeria 2Department of Sociology and Anthropology, University of Nigeria, Nsukka. 3Department of Sociology, University of Ibadan, Oyo State. *Corresponding Author: Benjamin Okorieajah, Department of Sociology and Anthropology, University of Nigeria, Nsukka. ABSTRACT Religious fundamentalism and sustainable development are inextricably linked. The understanding of these linkages is important, in order to correct public misconceptions as well as reveal the inherent power(s) in religious fundamentalism that are development driven. Fundamentalism is essentially about conformity; it fosters unity and abhors distinction. It draws its power(s) from its ability to provoke change in the minds of adherence to any particular belief system. With the high rate of corruption in governance and the failure of government institutions to provide the human good to its citizens, strict adherence to the tenets of the various religious beliefs could help in addressing this problem. This paper evaluates the intricacies surrounding religious fundamentalism and its place in bringing about sustainable development in Nigeria. Functionalism theory was adopted. Indeed, it has often been reiterated that if Nigerians live by the ethics and doctrines of their various religious groups, several societal problems would be averted and a holistic sustainable development would be a reality. The paper suggested that religious groups across the country should encourage obedience and compliance to the tenets of their various belief systemsKeywords: Sumer; Memphis; Kôngo; cosmology; religion; theology; natural theology. Keywords: religious, fundamentalism, sustainable development, understanding, intricacies INTRODUCTION According to Ekeopara and Ekpenyong, (2016), religion generally, teaches its adherents that All through human history, religious evil, bribery, violent crime, corruption, hate fundamentalism has proven to be the principal speeches, ethnicity, tribalism and nepotism is force behind human development. Adheres are proscribed while fundamentalism emphasis motivated by religious teachings, ethics and practical adherents and loyalty to these beliefs to develop spiritual qualities, that teachings. The later describes strict adherence to empowers them to sacrifice for others and to the tenets, rules and regulations of a particular contribute to the development of their community. group. Ekeopara and Ekpenyong, (2016) posit Religious fundamentalism and sustainable that strict adherence to the values and morals development are inextricably linked, such that belief system of various religious organisations the formal exert strong influence on the later. is a catalyst that could bring about change in Religion according to Agbiji and Swart (2015), human characters and attitudes and consequently constitutes the main structure of the black race, result to sustainable development anywhere in and is connected with their general existence, the world. They argued that the moral salvation including their socio-political and economic globally, lies only in their immediate return development. Mbiti (1999) observed that adherence to religious values and morals religion has pervaded all aspects of human life, system, which is the foundation for genuine to such an extent that it is not easy to separate conscience and sustainable development man from it. (Ekeopara&Ekpenyong, 2016). However, fundamentalism has come to be Strict obedience to universal spiritual principles applied to a tendency among certain groups, such as forbearance, kindness, compassion, mainly, though not exclusively, in religion, love, integrity, fairness, humility, sacrifice, which is characterized by a markedly strict honesty, sincerity, dedication to the well-being literalism as it is applied to certain specific of others, keeping of promises and agreements, scriptures, dogmas, or ideologies. as well as truth are the core values emphasised Journal of Religion and Theology V2 ● I2 ● 2018 12 Religious Fundamentalism and Sustainable Development in Nigeria: Understanding the Intricacies by religious fundamentalism, which is the technical sense, fundamentalism was first used hallmark of any sustainable development in North America in the early decades of the (Aminu, 2003). This core values regulates the 20th century. It was used by a Protestant behaviour, conduct, and actions of individuals, Christian Movement to refer to their religious leader and practitioners, as well as commitment to the fundamental teachings of government. Ekeopara and Ekpenyong (2016) Christianity (Karunadasa, 2013). The term observed that this spiritual virtues, if strictly usually has a religious connotation that indicates obeyed can be the source of social order, peace, unwavering attachment to a set of irreducible harmony, stability, and discipline in the society. beliefs. It is usually used, in secular intellectual Genuine and firm commitment to these values parlance, to refer to religious cultures or and morals according to Aminu, (2003) communities characterized by intolerance determine the political and socio-economic towards those who depart from a strict version behaviour of a people as well as the stability and of one or another religious tradition (Almond; development of such society. It is against this Sivan & Appleby, 1991). backdrop that Mbon (1991) asserts that, the Fundamentalism arose out of an internal conflict development or otherwise of a nation to a very in American Protestantism often referred to as great amount depends on the moral and the Modernist Controversy, during the late intellectual development or otherwise of its nineteenth and early twentieth century’s. people. Similarly, Sunday and Mordi (2017) According to Karunadasa (2013), this noted that religious values if courageously movement arose as a reaction against the adhere to, translate to high moral and ethical secularization of society due to the impact of values that all faiths aspire to achieve. In this science and technology. The movement wanted way, religions can serve as a catalyst for the to preserve and consolidate the Christian World- teaching and advancement of ethical principles, View against the emerging scientific World- which are essential in the development of strong View. The Protestant denominations gradually character particularly as it affect sustainable separated into two tendencies: 'Modernists' or development and nation development. 'Liberals', who argued that believers needed to The application and utilization of religious adapt to the findings of science and scholarship; principles, beliefs and precepts by the three and 'Traditionalists' or 'Conservatives', who main religious adherents (Christianity, Islam, insisted upon maintaining older views of and Africa Traditional Religion), which are revelation and biblical inerrancy (Weinberg quiet similar, can result into the development of &Pedahzur, 2003). physical, mental, psychological, and spiritual This process of polarisation led to a series of potentials of man, which could facilitate intra-denominational power struggles. As they sustainable development and national progressed, the views of the anti-modernists development in all spheres. According to were articulated in a set of pamphlets published Ademu (2011), Nigerian religions have a lot to between 1910 and 1915 under the title of The contribute to the development of ethical values, Fundamentals. Those who supported the which are greatly needed in the decadent booklets' positions began to use 'the contemporary society. In spite of it prospect to Fundamentals' as a catch-phrase for anti- promote progress and sustainable development, modernism, and by 1920 termed themselves perversion of religion in Nigeria have negatively 'Fundamentalists'. By the mid 1920s, however, it affected sustainable development. This has been became clear that fundamentalists were losing demonstrated by the incessant conflict between the battles (Weinberg &Pedahzur, 2003). In one Christians and Muslim that has led to the loss of denomination after another, modernists assumed lives and destruction of properties. This paper is control. The 1925 Scopes Trial was merely a design to correct some of the misconceptions national symbol of declining fundamentalist about religious fundamentalism as well as influence, as well as of fundamentalism's highlight the inherent powers in religious isolation from mainstream American culture. fundamentalism that can bring about sustainable development in Nigeria As it became clear that fundamentalists were losing ecclesiastical power struggles, they FUNDAMENTALISM: AN OVERVIEW responded by creating their own parallel Fundamentalism is a term that is widely used in institutions. These included publishing houses, different contexts such that its origins have been religious conferences, denominational structures obscured (Weinberg &Pedahzur, 2003). In a and educational institutions. This was in part a 13 Journal of Religion and Theology V2 ● I2 ● 2018 Religious Fundamentalism and Sustainable Development in Nigeria: Understanding the Intricacies function of their rejection by other Protestants, lead to tolerant, trust, hard work, honesty, hope, but it also symbolized the fundamentalists' own courage, peace and love which bring about conviction
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