PROLIFERATION OF CHURCHES IN NIGERIA AND INCREASE IN MORAL DECADENCE IN THE SOCIETY

1.1 Introduction

Church proliferation describes the rapid growth or spread of religious organizations, customs, or ideologies. It might also make reference to the rise in sects or religious denominations within a given religion. The emergence of new congregations, churches, or religious institutions is known as proliferation. This phenomenon can be attributed to evangelism, religious revival movements, or missionary work. Within a specific religious community, the term can also refer to the expansion and diversity of religious expressions, worship styles, and theological positions.

The proliferation of churches in Nigeria has an impact on politics and government. Religious leaders and churches have become more important in influencing political discourse and taking part in sociopolitical issues. This has sparked discussions about the separation of church and state and raised questions about how religious organizations might become politically charged.

As a prelude to other parts of this study, this chapter will discuss the background upon which this study was initiated, the statement of problems that led to this study, the Aim and Objectives of the study. Others are Significance of the study, Scope of work, Research hypothesis and questions, Limitation of the study and Definition of terms.

1.2 Background of Study

In past centuries, Augustinian and Capuchin monks from Portugal brought Christianity to Nigeria in the fifteenth century (Haruna 2018). Due to the dominance of the slave trade and pepper as major commercial interests, there was little missionary activity in the fifteenth century (Adamolekun 2012). Both Europeans and Americans experienced a renewed fervor for religion following the outlawing of the slave trade (Adamolekun 2012). Several missionary groups attempted to establish their influence in Nigeria during the 19th century, which led to the successful expansion of Christian missions there (Okpalike & Nwadialor 2015). Henry Townsend founded the Church of England’s first mission in Badagry in 1842 (Haruna 2018).

As the Bible states (Proverbs 14:28; Acts 4:13), God cares about church growth and the piety of every member of the church. Christians are therefore expected to embody Godliness in all its forms. Therefore, in order to assure societal development, the growth of churches in any given society should coincide with a growing interest in living a godly life and fearing the Lord.

It is necessary to investigate the problem of moral decadence in our society. Since nobody understands why one should always act honorably in all situations, everywhere, and at all times, a lot of things have gone wrong. The most pressing issue of our time appears to be the ongoing decline in morality among people in the world’s societies. Although there has been political pressure from many outside the church to shift churches toward or away from a value-oriented approach, until recently, churches had retreated from their original roles in morality. This raises concerns and ideas about the best way to teach morality in today’s society (Oviawe, 2012).

The proliferation of churches in Nigeria has been a significant phenomenon with far-reaching effects on the country’s society. Nigeria has witnessed a sharp rise in the quantity of churches all over the nation due to its varied religious landscape. Aspects of Nigerian society including culture, politics, the economy, and social dynamics have all been impacted by this proliferation, both positively and negatively.

Oviawe, (2012) opined that moral and morale are polite, decent and appropriate way of portraying ourselves in our duties, home and society. It is a socially acceptable manner of life. It can also be referred to as the principle of right and wrong or decorum. Our parents and ancestors practices moral and morale to the core and had h9igh regards of them. They also handed them to us with diligence. At that time they paid particular attention to the manner of sitting, walking, talking, greeting, eating, principle of right and wrong, discipline and commitment in everything they did and the way they did it. They were conscientious about their duties, keeping to the rules and regulations related to them. They saw this as maintaining their own dignity and respect for themselves and others. They made sure that everybody was well brought up.

According to Asukwo and Aniefiiok (2022), one important effect of churches’ expansion in Nigerian society is their influence on customs and culture. The sheer quantity of churches has aided in a change in religious beliefs and cultural practices. As a result, morals, social mores, and even language usage have evolved. In addition, the advent of charismatic and Pentecostal churches has changed Nigerian culture by bringing in novel forms of religious expression and new methods of worship.

The current state of church proliferation in the nation is as follows: a street a few kilometers long may have at least fifty different churches on it, and in urban areas and cities with limited space, multiple churches may share a single story building. Because of this circumstance, the Nigeria Newspoint (2015) columnist declared unequivocally that Nigeria has the highest concentration of churches per capita in the world and that the nation has developed into an ideal environment for the establishment of independent churches.

Therefore, in Nigeria where the research was carried out, the activities that was conducted is to know the Proliferation of Churches in Nigeria and Increase in Moral Decadence in the Society.

1.3 Statement of Problems

Investigation revealed that most people are not willing to pay the price for success, health, happiness, and wealth. On sometimes, people might be prepared to pay a portion of the cost but not the entire amount. They constantly come up with justifications or excuses for not being self-disciplined enough to put in the effort necessary to accomplish their goals.

The issue facing our society now is the extreme moral decadence because institutions such as churches, parents, and tutors have failed to uphold moral education in their roles. This study aims to explore the relationship between the rise in moral decadence in Nigerian society and the country’s church proliferation.

1.4 Aim and Objectives of Study

The aim of the study is to scrutinize the Proliferation of Churches in Nigeria and Increase in Moral Decadence in the Society. In achieving this aim, the following specific objectives were laid out as follows:

1. To examine the role (contribution) of the church towards reducing moral decadence in the society;
2. To identify the factors responsible for the proliferation of churches in Nigeria;
3. To assess the effects of proliferation of churches on the Nigerian society;
4. To examine the extent to which moral decadence have eaten deep into our Nigeria society today; and
5. To proffer some solutions on how the problems of moral decadence can be reduced in the society.

1.5 Research Questions

The study came up with research questions so as to be able to ascertain the above stated objectives. The specific research questions for the study are stated below as follows:

• Does lack of moral education a cause of moral decadence?
• Does lack of parental care a cause of moral decadence?
• Does discipline in churches eradicate moral decadence?
• Does truancy in school lead to moral decadence?
• Is there high rate of divorce in Nigeria lead to moral decadence?
• What are the factors responsible for the proliferation of churches in Nigeria?
• What are the effects of proliferation of churches on the Nigerian society?
• What are the roles of the church towards reducing moral decadence in the society?

1.6 Significance of Study

The documents will function as a means of educating Christian leaders about the necessity of implementing moral education in churches.

Additionally, the study will educate the public on the reasons behind moral decadence and how to resolve this issue in the long run.

Furthermore, understanding the connection between church and morality is one of the research’s main lessons. It will act as a reference document for any questions regarding the moral decadence controversy.

1.7 Scope of Study

The scope of the research is focused on the Investigation of Churches Proliferation in Nigeria and Increase in Moral Decadence in the Society. This research is restricted to the Nigeria society.

1.8 Limitations of the Study

During the course of this study, there were some problems encountered which stood as limitations to the research work. Some of the limitations include:

1. Time Constraint: The time frame given to accomplish this project was very short due to school academic calendar and it was carried out under pressure which made the researcher not to implement some necessary features.
2. Research Material: availability of research material is a major setback to the scope of the study.
3. Financial Constraint: Insufficient fund tends to impede the efficiency of the researcher in sourcing for the relevant materials, literature or information and in the process of data collection (internet).

1.9 Definition of Terms

Proliferation:

Proliferation refers to the rapid increase or growth of something, especially in a rapid and uncontrolled manner.

Church Proliferation:

Proliferation in the context of the church refers to the rapid growth or spread of religious beliefs, practices, or institutions. It can also refer to the increase in the number of religious denominations or sects within a particular faith tradition.

Church:

A church building or church house, often simply called a church, is a building used for Christian religious activities, particularly for Christian worship services. The term is often used by Christians to refer to the physical buildings where they worship, but it is sometimes used (by analogy) to refer to buildings of other religions.

Effect:

Effect is a term that refers to the result or consequence of an action, event, or phenomenon. It is often used to describe the impact or influence that one thing has on another. Effects can be both positive and negative, and they can manifest in various ways, such as changes in behavior, physical alterations, or shifts in the environment.