THE RELEVANCE OF RELIGIOUS INTERACTION

1.1 Introduction

Religious interaction is the activity of talking to other people and understanding them. It is a reciprocal action (Adamolekun, 2012). Also, the social interaction is a basic social process represented in a mutual relationship between two or more individuals or groups. It is the process by which we act and react to those around us. In a nutshell, social interaction includes those acts people perform toward each other and the responses they give in return (Goffman, 2010). Religion adds meaning and purpose to the lives of the followers, helping them to appreciate the past, understand the present and hope for the future as well as giving psychological stability though religion dictates peace and good will, many battles and divisions have taken place (Smith et al., 2004).

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, Limitations of the Study and Definition of technical terms.

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1.2 Background of Study

Religious interaction is the understanding between two or more religions (Adamolekun, 2012). All religions promote peace and harmonious life. One way to achieve it is through interaction among the believers and non-believers of their specific adherence. With regards to Buddhism and Islam, both have their own perspectives of social interaction and their attitude towards other religions (Alwi and Rashid, 2011). Therefore, the major concept of this study was religious interaction.

Religion for Nigerian people is a set of beliefs and practices based on faith, which are sacred and defy rational scrutiny. Therefore, it can quite easily trigger off emotional reactions. Religion also makes the world more predictable, the vicissitudes of life more tolerable and its complexities more understandable. It provides psychological relief and inspiration for the individual. At the social level, it provides a medium for fellowship and mutual support. Conflicts are unavoidable aspects of human interaction. They arise from the pursuit of divergent interests, goals and aspirations by individuals or groups. Changes in the socio–political environment provide fertile grounds for conflicts involving individuals and groups probably interested in using these conflicts to achieve their selfish goals. Therefore, the negative exploitation of ethnicity and religion results into ethno–religious conflicts. These often arise out of mistrust, hostility, polarization of relations among groups and at times in a competitive setting.

The 1991 market fight between individuals in Tafawa Balewa took on religious coloring, spreading as far as Bauchi town. Similarly, the 2001 Jos fight that started as an ethnic conflict ended up as a religious conflict. The North has had a very large share of ethno–religious brand of conflicts especially since the Maitatsine conflict of 1980 to the recent times. Religious experiences are one of the most important experiences of mankind the world over, and every religion claims among other things, to be an agent of peace. Such claims seem to be true to some extent. That is why Asaju (1988:128) asserted that, “although, religious experiences differ, but one fact is that all people are affiliated to one Supreme Being, that is God who is worship under different names among different tribes of the world”. It is on these bases that the Nigerian constitution recognizes three religions. These are: Christianity, Islam and African Traditional Religion.

The practice of the African Traditional Religion in Nigeria before the advent of Christianity and Islam was very peaceful and accommodating because there was no any external influence or unhealthy rivalry among the Traditional Religious Cults. That is why Islam which came into Nigeria at the later part of the 14th century, and Christianity which finally settled in Nigeria in the middle of 18th century were both accommodated by the traditional religion. The toleration exhibited by the Nigerian indigenous religion was not in any way reciprocated by Islam and Christianity.

Therefore, in Imo State where the research was carried out, the activities that was conducted is to know the Relevance of Religious Interaction.

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1.3 Statement of Problems

Investigation revealed that the increasing rate of ethno-religious conflicts in Nigeria in the past and in the recent years shows that the adherents of the two major religions (Christianity and Islam) are not in good terms. Nigeria has witnessed several ethno–religious conflicts.

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1.4 Aim and Objectives of Study

The aim of the study is to examine the Relevance of Religious Interaction. In achieving this aim, the following specific objectives were laid out as follows:

1. To investigate the impact of Religious Beliefs on Social Interaction among people residing in the area under study
2. To assess the effect of social interaction towards religious belief among people residing in the area under study
3. To find out the relationship between Religious Beliefs and Social Interaction among people residing in the area under study

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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:

• Is there an impact of Religious Beliefs on Social Interaction among people residing in the area under study?
• Does social interaction negatively affect religious belief among people residing in the area under study?
• Is there any significant relationship between Religious Beliefs and Social Interaction among people residing in the area under study?
• What do you understand by Religious Beliefs on Social Interaction?

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1.6 Research Hypothesis

In order to pursue the objective of this study, the following generalized statements have been designed to guide and aids in obtaining the result for the experiment to be conducted. For this work, the null hypothesis will be represented with H0 while the alternative hypothesis will be represented with hypothesis H1.

Hypothesis One

• H0: There is no significant impact of Religious Beliefs on Social Interaction among people residing in the area under study
• H1: There is significant impact of Religious Beliefs on Social Interaction among people residing in the area under study

Hypothesis Two

• H0: Social interaction negatively affects on religious belief among people residing in the area under study
• H1: Social interaction positively affects on religious belief among people residing in the area under study

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1.7 Significance of Study

Teachers, students and researchers of religion, economics, sociology and history in Nigerian schools will find the work benefiting to them as it furnishes them with current information on the country’s social, economic, political and religious development. The research shall be useful to politicians and political leaders in decision making on issues that affects religion directly in the country. It will help in the provision of relevant data on the genesis, effects and measures towards the control of ethno-religious conflicts in Nigeria particularly the Northern part of the country. It will also unravel the awareness of decision makers on the effects of ethno-religious conflicts on the socio-economic and political development of Nigeria as a country.

This will help in the formation of favourable policies and decisions that will stimulate a conducive atmosphere for the practice of religion in the country. It will also serve as a means towards the development of a strategic action plan that will be a significant force in peaceful and harmonious co-existence amongst the practitioners of different religion in Nigeria.

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1.8 Scope of Study

The scope of this research focuses on the Relevance of Religious Interaction using Owerri-west Local Government Area, Imo State as a case study.

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1.9 Limitations of the Study

During the course of this study, many things militated against its completion, some of which are:

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. Frequent Power Failure: This made the researcher append more money on fuel to ensure sustainable power.
4. 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, questionnaire and interview).

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1.10 Definition of Terms

Religious Interaction: It is the understanding between two or more religions.

Interaction: It is the activity of talking to other people and understanding them. It is a reciprocal action (Adamolekun, 2012).