Inter-religious Dialogue: A Veritable Tool for the Management of Religious Intolerance in Nigeria
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Date
2021-12-19
Authors
Abdul-Raheem, B.
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Faculty of Arts and Islamic Studies, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto
Abstract
It is a known fact that Islam and Christianity are the two religions with the largest adherents in the world. The peculiarity of Nigerian society is that it accommodates appreciable numbers of Muslims and Christians. This peculiarity makes Nigeria susceptible to the so-called religious acrimony due to the existence of religious intolerance. Doctrinal differences are regarded a fundamental factor responsible for religious intolerance and this creates enmity and suspicion between Muslims and Christians. Religious intolerance is taking its toll on the nature of religion because rather than seeing religion as an agent of peace and unity, religion is seen as an agent of crisis and disunity. The purpose of this study, therefore, is to examine how interreligious dialogue can mitigate the effect of religious intolerance between Muslims and Christians. The study reveals that the religious intolerance existing between Muslims and Christians is normal due to certain causes and these causes are fundamental and cannot be ignored. In this case, this religious intolerance must be managed for the sake of peaceful co-existence. Furthermore, there are agents whose roles can make or mar the management of religious intolerance. The study concludes that sincerity of purpose and mutual and genuine trust is critical to efficient inter-religious dialogue.
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Abdul-Raheem, B. (2021). Inter-religious dialogue: A veritable tool for the management of religious intolerance in Nigeria