FORMATION OF THE HUMAN PERSON IN THE 21ST CENTURY
Proceedings of the 2nd International Conference Seminary of All Saints, Uhiele-Ekpoma, Edo State, Nigeria (March 18th – 20th, 2020)
EDITORS
Gregory OGBENIKA
Francis IKHIANOSIME
First Published in 2021.
A publication of The Seminary of All Saints, Uhiele-Ekpoma
Copyright © Seminary of All Saints, Uhiele-Ekpoma, 2021
EDITORIAL FOREWORD
The 21st Century is markedly identified by great discoveries in science and technology that it has christened as the age of information technology. Regardless of the advancement of knowledge in this century with mind-blowing discoveries like electric, driverless cars, cryptocurrency, 3D technologies and e-technologies like e-readers and e-cigarettes, the human person instead of advancing, is palpably and grossly undermined. While there is so much advancement in human reason which is meant to bring about a better place and dignity for the human person, paradoxically, the cost of the human person is more cheapened more than ever. The scandal of technological advancement is that, the rise in human knowledge has not brought about a better quality of life and a more secured world of the human person. Rather, the world has become more perilous. More and more, the purpose of man is diminished.
For instance, in Nigeria, we hear of harrowing experiences which not only diminish respect for human life, but also completely obliterate respect for the human dignity and person. There are daily orgies of violence and savagery brutality to the human person. Francis Ikhianosime captures the sad account and contempt for human life in Nigeria in the following words: “The human person has been pillaged from every side in Nigeria. The news of bloodbath occasioned from cult actions and restive youth violence, through to the chequered insurgency of Boko Haram insurgency and with its unbridled carnages, a smouldering band of herdsmen who maim and kill with reckless abandon and sometimes plunder an entire community without apprehension, broad-day marauding armed robbery and gory scenes of police brutality with heart-wrenching scenes and barbarity, sporadic mob-action of youths against perceived criminals, intermittent ethnic violence with sometimes unthinkable and profound bestiality on others, human life in Nigeria is simply brutish and short. The cost of human life is obviously on a deficit. Nigeria has become a charged zoned of violence. The respect for the human person and dignity is at a contemptible ebb in Nigeria” (Francis Ikhianosime, “The Word of God and the Sanctity of Human life in Nigeria”, Manual for National Laity Council, 2020). These experiences mirror the overall challenges to the human person globally.
The consequent effect is that the human person today feels more disintegrated, claustrophobic and small. Man, more than ever before, is in need of meaning. The search for meaning has led many back to God through religion. While some have argued that part of the pillaging of the human person is the politicisation of religion, and so religion has no place in reclaiming the human person, others, think, religion remains a vehicle for reclaiming the place of man and his purpose in the world. Arguably, the cost and value of man has been lost, hence, there is the need to redefine what it means to be human in the 21st Century. The issues are axiological, philosophical and even theological. There is need for a reappreciation of the Human Person in the world of today and only a transvaluation of values can help. This task is imminent and onerous, hence, the focus on the Formation of the Human Person in the 21st Century in our conference.
Why this topic is so important is because, at the centre of any authentic value or quality, would be human formation. In priestly formation, Human formation holds the pride of being the pivot for all other aspects of fomation. If the human person is not well formed, every other formation including, the spritual, pastoral or intellectual would be resting on a jaundiced foundation. Therefore, the need to have a thorough human formation not just for priestly formation, but for all human members of the society is at the heart of reclaiming the soul of the human person in the world of today. If there is a proper formation of the human person, the values of life, peace and a healthy environment would be sustained. Once, there is a proper formation of the human person, then, man can properly see all those ways that debases him in the society, and seek ways to reclaiming it. This is the attraction to the appeal for the formation of the Human person in the 21st Century.
This volume covers contributions on the subject matter. The papers presented at the conference which largely have been edited and rearranged according to special sections cover ecclesiastical/theological perspectives and seminary formaton, philosophical perspectives and human formation and then, religious/socio-cultural perspective and human formation. The issues discussed generally oscillate on the need to reposition the human person to his rightful place in the world. They, generally seek to draw on normative views of the human person which will bring about right living and peaceful and cohesive existence amongst all humans. A large part of contributions have devoted attention to seminary formation, since the Seminary, being a formation house, aims to train people who would be leaders and leaven in a sin-sick world. The keynote address and opening addresses set the tone for the conversation, while, the commissioned papers also further inspired new insight for this conversation. Other contributions, have approach the subject matter from different sides, bring about a beautiful tapestry of rich resources on the subject matter, which we have here handy in this volume. In all, these papers offer theoretical basis for a reclaiming of the place of man in the 21st Century.
CONFERENCE PROCEEDINGS
