FOSTERING INTERRELIGIOUS DIALOGUE BETWEEN CHRISTIANS AND MUSLIMS IN NIGERIA

Abstract

Upon being confronted by the mystery of his being and those of other creatures around him, man realizes that there must be a Supreme Being behind these mysteries who deserves praise and worship since all things owe their existence to him. Man, therefore becomes essentially religious. Over the years, however, good number of religion has developed with millions of adherents. Each religion makes claim concerning man’s ultimate end and the way to attain it. Sometimes, these claims can be conflicting with each individual believing his or her faith to be the ultimate, and therefore, looks at other opposing views with suspicion and rejection. In Nigeria, this tendency is found more conspicuously between Muslims and Christians. Often time, Christians see their Muslim brothers as enemies and verse versa. This study employs critical method to evaluate how the situation can be rescued through interreligious dialogue. The research discovers that both Christianity and Islam ultimately propose to foster interreligious dialogue, and quite certain, little progress has been made so far in Nigeria. Yet a deeper sense of interreligious dialogue needs to be fostered between the two religions if peace and the long needed social development are to be achieved.