Christian /Muslim relations in the Nigerian context

The purpose of this dissertation is to examine Christian/Muslim relations in Nigeria and propose possible solutions for creative and peaceful involvement between Igbo Christians and Muslims. We contend that Islam is a legitimate threat to the Christian identity of the Igbo people and requires a new vision for Christian/Muslim relations in the southeast of Nigeria. We use a historical, descriptive, and content-analysis approach to substantiate the reality of this threat. Sources included literary works, surveys, personal interviews, and site visits of some Islamic missionary activities in Igbo rural areas.;Chapter two focuses on the nature of the Christian/Muslim encounter. It reveals some very significant concerns and questions in the way which this encounter has unfolded in history. It serves to ascertain the problems and sheds light on our understanding of religious development in Colonial Nigeria.;Chapter three traces the religious development in Colonial Nigeria. It defines the period of Colonialism from 1900–1960. Indigenous religions of African origin, Islam and Christianity are the three main religions that occupy our discussions, particularly the ways they played out in the hands of the British Colonialists. It notes evidences of how the Colonialists bought into certain patterns that promoted the domination of one religion over the other.;Chapter four examines how the two competing religious communities participated in the drive for independence in Nigeria. Prior to Nigeria's independence, the religious dynamic reflects political and social instability, and insecurity. It discusses, to some extent, how the unsatisfactory conditions of the people were able to aid them to form a united struggle for freedom amidst religious differences.;Chapter five focuses on Muslim expansion in Post-Colonial Nigeria. It demonstrates how the Muslim community has expanded numerically and geographically. Muslims are on the march with renewed vitality, and they work together to affirm Islamic distinctives in political, social, economic and religious life. These definite efforts to expand in Nigeria have come with religious riots and threaten the unity of the Nigerian nation.;The final chapter offers a new vision for Christian/Muslim relations in Igboland. It defines the Igbo people and their religious quest to demonstrate that Igbos can favorably respond to Islam and be truly committed Muslims. Surveys, questionnaires, and interviews for the research reflect authentic reasons for such reality. It surveys current efforts for peaceful relations and offers new steps toward cordial relations between Igbo Christians and Muslims and finally suggests new areas of study.