A CRITICAL EVALUATION OF THE RESURGENCE OF AFRICAN TRADITIONAL RELIGION IN WEST AFRICA, PARTICULARLY IN NIGERIA

It is true that a new venture attracts interest from various quarters. These responses assume different forms ranging from indifference through discouragement to encouragement. The most interesting, however, are those who rise to the occasion and enjoy the stimulus of something new.;The editor then called on Christians among others to rescue the nation from this predicament. But the futility of any effort outside Christ is obvious. A comparison of Christianity today and its theological trend with early Christianity reveals a great difference. The tendency of modern Christians is increasingly towards what our fathers termed "heathenism".;The gross inadequacy of higher education, material prosperity, national pride, and cultural revival for the salvation of West Africa in general and Nigeria in particular.;This is why it is imperative for the Christian to understand his Bible and work hard for others to trust Christ absolutely as he does. To true Christians, Christ cuts across all human barriers. Christians belong to a new race of the new birth where all are one in Christ Jesus (Gal. 3:28; Col. 3:11).;The curiosity for this project was stirred by an editorial in the DAILY TIMES of June 1976, titled "Tyranny or Rule of Law?" while considering the social and moral climate of Nigeria. The assessment of the editor ran thus: "There is chaos in our schools. Our universities suffer from a profound failure of nerve. Our courts no longer play a significant role in regulating our lives. The public servant is demoralized, the private citizen disillusioned. Decency and honour have been dethroned in our affairs, and callousness and greed cushioned in the place...".;God wants West Africans who can pray like Elijah (I Kings 18:36-38). God wants African Christians who will endure like Jeremiah who was scourged and cast into prison by Pashur (Jer. 20:1-2). God is looking for West African Christians who have the zeal of Paul who preached everywhere to kings, philosophers, and all (Acts 17:16, 22, 23; 26:27, 28).;Any religion that does not build up the individual in the right direction. This fact is crystal clear. Christianity transforms character. One's character and conduct spring from one's intimate convication. Christ, when trusted, transforms convications and shapes a character that transcends any kind of life that was ever lived. . . . (Author's abstract exceeds stipulated maximum length. Discontinued here with permission of author.) UMI.