VEJOH - VERITAS JOURNAL OF HUMANITIES

Attitude in Almsgiving: A Socio-Rhetorical Analysis of Matthew 6:1-4

2024-09-30T19:24:34+00:00

This study focuses on Mt 6:1-4, which discusses the act of giving to the needy. The researcher used a socio-rhetorical analysis to explore the importance of attitude in piety as it relates to giving. The study reviewed relevant literature, examined the immediate and social contexts of the passage, and compared giving practices in the first-century Mediterranean world to modern society, with reference to Nigeria. The study found that while giving to the needy is considered a noble act, people in all generations are concerned about their reputation and social status, making it difficult to give in secret. For this reason, the researcher suggested practical ways to cultivate a humble and sincere attitude towards giving, emphasizing its importance in the lives of contemporary Christians and for discipleship. Hence contemporary Christians will be able to appreciate to a greater extent, the deep spiritual import of the text and practicable ways of inculcating the tenets of Jesus’ teachings in their daily lives as Christians.

Education and Human Dignity: Connections and Perspectives

2024-09-30T19:24:34+00:00

New circumstances have arisen in the past decades of human history that call for a more profound discourse on human dignity, especially as it relates to other dimensions of human existence. The peculiarity of this paper among other papers on human dignity is that it makes a nexus between human dignity and education, an area of interest that has not received adequate attention of scholars. And by human dignity, this paper places its understanding within the context of the universal human dignity that pertains to all human beings to the same extent and cannot be lost as long as one is a human being. It is within the context of universal human dignity that this paper is making a connection between education and human dignity, and presents education as a means of advancing the dignity of the human person. The human rights, religious and indigenous frameworks will be employed for the purpose of creating a road-map for the sail of the paper. The expository and analytical methods of inquiry will also be employed. The paper discovered that the education of the human person is the promotion of the dignity of the human being.

An Evaluation of the Origin, Structure, and Impact of the Defunct Pankshin Division on the Traditional Political Dynamics of Ngas Ethnic Group

2024-09-30T19:24:35+00:00

This investigation delves into the historical context of Nigerian colonialism, focusing specifically on the establishment of the now-defunct Pankshin Division. The study scrutinizes the mechanisms employed by the British administration, particularly the Native Administration, and assesses its influence on the traditional political system of the Ngas people. The chosen methodology for this academic inquiry is the Historical Method, deemed most suitable for the nature of this research. Central to the study are the well-defined concepts of Native Authority and Traditional Political System. The ultimate conclusion drawn is that the Ngas political framework underwent significant disruption and restructuring by the British, primarily through the introduction of the Native Authority. This transformative action laid the groundwork for certain chieftaincy roles and boundary disputes that persistently afflict Ngas Land to this day.

Collectivism, Virtue and Human Rights in the Political Philosophy of Jomo Kenyatta

2024-09-30T19:24:35+00:00

The political philosophy of Jomo Kenyatta, who is the first President of Kenya and a prominent figure in the Pan-African movement, has been the subject of several academic debates and discourses in the past decades. While Jomo Kenyatta is often remembered for his famous statement, “in the onset of freedom, it is our duty to build a new nation that is strong, united and secure”. His philosophy, therefore,focuses more on freedom and the duty of nation building. Jomo Kenyatta’s thoughts focuses heavily on self-determination and the potential of African nations to become fully self-reliant.His concept of self-determination are rooted in the belief in African unity. This makes a connection between his thought and Pan-African movement with its emphasis on collective rather than individual power. This paper presented the path set by Jomo Kenyatta for the achievement of African self-determination, which involves gaining full autonomy economically and politically. The researchers adoptedthe expository and qualitative methods of research for the understanding and presentation of Kenyatta’s thoughts. The theory of collectivism was adopted as the theoretical framework for the interpretation and understanding of the thoughts of Jomo Kenyatta. The paper shows that the thoughts of Kenyatta, among others, is at the base of the present developments in Pan-Africanism.

The Human Being and Euthanasia: Roman Catholic Perspective

2024-09-30T19:24:35+00:00

This research delves into the highly controversial topic of euthanasia, focusing on the Catholic Church’s perspective. The study addresses fundamental questions regarding what constitutes a human being according to the Catholic Church, how theology and philosophy are applied to understand the human nature, the historical development of the Church’s stance on euthanasia and relevant doctrines guiding its views. Current knowledge shows the Catholic Church’s firm stance on life preservation and dignity; however, the literature review lacks analysis of evolving ethical dilemmas’ impact on this stance and is limited to the ones reviewed in this work. The research questions and objectives were explored, while contents analysis was used as a methodological approach. Additionally, the research examines the Catholic Church’s arguments against euthanasia by emphasising the preservation of human life and violation of human dignity. Results indicate the Catholic Church is being challenged by modern viewpoints, but it still adheres to the principle that euthanasia is unethical since it violates human dignity. The study contributes to the understanding of this complex issue and its ethical, moral, and religious dimensions. The Catholic Church’s role in healthcare and its impact on the broader discourse surrounding euthanasia are critically analysed, providing insights for future research and ethical debates in medical practices.

1Corinthians 12:12-31 and Unity: A Christian Response to Cultural and Religious Divides

2024-09-30T19:24:35+00:00

This paper delves into the profound relevance of Apostle Paul's words to the Corinthians, particularly in 1 Corinthians 12:12-31, within the context of cultural divides and societal fractures. The analysis explores the literary, historical, and social dimensions of the passage, addressing divisions based on leadership, spiritual gifts, disputes, selfishness, and moral issues in the Corinthian community. Drawing parallels, the paper extends its focus to the contemporary challenges of religious and cultural divides in Nigeria, a diverse nation grappling with historical tensions. The socio-rhetorical analysis of 1 Corinthians 12:12-31 reveals Paul's strategic use of metaphors, emphasizing unity, interconnectedness of spiritual gifts, mutual respect, and shared responsibility. The application of these principles to Nigeria involves fostering dialogue, empathy, and equal honour across cultural and religious lines. Ultimately, the paper aims to bridge the gap between ancient wisdom and present challenges, offering insights for a Christian response to societal fractures in Nigeria.

Textual Analysis of Netizen’s Reaction to All Progressives Congress’ Same-Faith Presidential Ticket and Its Implications on Nigeria’s Pluralistic Society

2024-09-30T19:24:35+00:00

In politics, actions and inactions attract reactions. In most cases, when such reactions generate further reactions, it results in controversial decisions. This happened to the All Progressives Congress in 2022 after the emergence of its presidential candidate for the 2023 presidential election. There was no indication on who the running mate would be. Public reactions trailed the silence. Almost stampeded, the party finally named the running mate. This resulted in more reactions: positive, neutral and negative. This study examined the response of netizens to the APC’s decision to field two candidates who share the same religious faith in a multi-religious society; and also analysed the implications of such a decision to the unity of Nigeria—a country known for hyper-sensitivity on ethno-religious matters. Based on a hermeneutic research method, the study was anchored on the public sphere theory. The outcome showed three frames of reactions: there were people who were opposed to the same-faith presidential ticket; another set of people supported the combination; while the third group remained neutral in its reaction. The study therefore raised the need for further enquiries on how politics and religion can be separated to avoid differences in reaction as observed

Examining (Im) Politeness in Nigerian Cyberspace: An Instagram Keyboard Warfare Experience

2024-09-30T19:24:35+00:00

Cyberspace interactions are characterized by verbal conflicts and disagreements which usually arise from differences in opinions, backgrounds, beliefs, professions and worldviews of participants. These unfortunately, degenerate into impolite exchanges and outright verbal aggressions sometimes. Recent studies have investigated diverse linguistic behaviors in motion: issues of flaming, banter, cyber bullying and impoliteness in the Nigerian cyberspace. However, not so much study has been done in the area of exploring impoliteness in multimodal discourses. This study seeks to identify impoliteness and linguistic aggressive exchanges in a selected Nigerian social media platform- Instagram, the probable cause(s) and characteristics of such exchanges. Data was purposively selected from an Instagram blog post and 16 first line comments were also purposively selected and anlysed anonymously using Culpeper (1996)’s (im)politeness super strategies. The study discovers that a face threatening act is a likely cause of linguistic impolite exchange in cyberspace interactions. And the impolite verbal exchanges analysed contain elements of appearance and body shaming, career shaming and insults. There was heavy use of Yoruba language and Nigerian Pidgin English. The study concludes that objectivity, civility and politeness can be achieved in cyberspace interactions if participants pay attention to face saving acts.

An Evaluation of Dale Jamieson’s Contribution to Climate Ethic

2024-09-30T19:24:35+00:00

Humanity is in a state of debit and huge resource crises. Year after year, it consumes more resources than nature can provide. This over-consumption has a direct effect on the climate. Climate change is a major challenge of our time that has direct consequences on humans and nature; thus, there is a need for climate ethics. This research provides a critical evaluation of Jamieson's work, examining his key arguments, concepts, and ideas on climate ethics. The work focuses on Jamieson's accounts of moral responsibility, justice, and the human-nature relationship, as well as his critiques of conventional ethical theories and his proposals for new approaches to climate ethics. The work assesses the strengths and weaknesses of Jamieson's contributions, considering its implication for climate policy, individual action, and the broader ethical landscape. By critically examining Jamieson's contributions, this research deepens the understanding of the ethical dimensions of climate change and inform more effective responses to this global challenge.

Traditional African Pedagogical Perspectives on Ethics

2024-09-30T19:24:36+00:00

Traditional Africa takes ethics seriously as foundational to building the community. Life is generally directed in the context of the moral requirements of the community. Ethics is considered not necessarily in so far as it studies morals but moral values in themselves in relation to the methodologies for getting the values instilled in the child. The philosophy has to do with devising methodologies for inculcation of moral values. The method adopted for the study is expository, critical, analytical and synthetic. The child is strategically targeted as foundation for the ethical community since tomorrow belongs to them. This is in relation to concrete moral principles that would be support-pillars in the background. The apprehension and consolidation of these principles in lived experience make the African a sound moral person. The modern African has had more exposure than the traditional counterpart especially in matters of global geographical interactions and literary theoretical expositions in matters of ethics. Unfortunately, the outstanding ethical theories of Kantianism and Utilitarianism have failed to makeup for the values abandoned in virtue ethics. Virtue ethics defined traditional African path to morality and still promises to deliver on modern expectations if recourse is had to whatever is substantial in it. Politics, economic and policy developments may continue to fail the citizenry in terms of procuring the good life until serious effort is made to imbibe virtue ethics as informing programs of action. The ethics of care is advocated for the dialectics of child moral development. The philosophy of care is meant to resolve the imbalances in father-figure authoritarianism and the mother-figure liberalism and outright pandering to the wishes and caprices of the child most of the time. The methodologies must have succeeded where the child is so guided as to internalize for own welfare and that of the community the moral values that are amenable to the developmental needs of the African community.

Challenges of (English) Teacher Educators during Covid-19 Lockdown in Nigeria

2024-09-30T19:24:36+00:00

This paper examines the challenges faced by teacher education during the Covid-19 lockdown in Nigeria. The study identifies and analyses the difficulties encountered by teacher education programmes and explores the impact of the lockdown on teaching and learning practices with special reference to the teaching of English language. The study, which is a qualitative one obtained its data from secondary sources like original research studies, government policies, books, newspapers, websites and the researcher’s observations of events at this period. The paper identifies that the sudden shift to online teaching and learning posed significant technological and infrastructural challenges like limited access to devices and internet connectivity. Also, the absence of face-to-face interactions impacted the quality of teaching and learning experiences like the absence of physical classrooms, language laboratory facilities, and resources which restricted practical learning opportunities for English teacher education. Other challenges identified include limited professional development opportunities, challenges of adapting to online teaching and the overall impact of the pandemic on the mental well-being of both students and teachers.

Naming and Identity Construction in Selected African Queer Films

2024-09-30T19:24:36+00:00

Several studies have examined queerism from different perspectives using queer theory, film theory, feminism theory and new media theory, amongst others. However, there is a dearth of literature on African queer movies which focus on naming patterns and ideological underpinnings in the way queerism has been linguistically codified. Hence, this paper from a critical pragmatic perspective interrogates the way language is used as a signifying practice and the ideologies projected in their discourses in elected African queer films. Dialogues were purposively selected thematically from two queer movies: Rafiki (Kenya,2018) and We Don't Live Here Anymore (Nigeria,2018). These movies were classified and analysed using principles of critical pragmatics. Findings revealed the use of rhetorical questions to satirise the reactions of homosexuals and people who support them. The choice of words such as abominable, misbehaving and deterrent in We don’t live here anymore gives an indication of the speakers’ perspective on the subject of discourse. The implicature derived is that the speakers’ orientation does not align with that of the queers and thus they are deviants. Also, queers are labelled as perpetrators of reprehensive acts in the two films. In Rafiki, the parents of Kena talked about her being cleaned because she has been possessed by demons while in We Don’t Live Here Anymore, Chidi’s mother asked God to deliver his boy from evil spirits. In fact, a deliverance prayer was organized for Kena. The choice of the derogatory nouns -fag and faggot in the two films as a naming strategy point to the perception of queers by the speakers. Other reference choices that show homosexuals as demystifying creatures include labelling them as ‘lost souls’ and ‘evil spirits’. Queers are also seen as juvenile delinquents. For instance, in We Don’t Live Here Anymore, queerism is labelled ‘teenage rebellion’, while in Rafiki, it is attributed to naivety and in turn a temporary feeling that would be outgrown. This implies that queers are perceived as juvenile delinquents who are still negotiating their identities. Although queer related discourse as seen in these two movies is still guided by the African societies’ non-conformist stance on the subject, the main characters in these two movies are not straight jacketed into maintaining this heteronormative stance.

Ubuntu: A Trinitarian Linkage and Ethic of Life in African Christian Ethics

2024-09-30T19:24:36+00:00

This study explores the theological and ethical framework and analysis of Ubuntu and how it functions as a Trinitarian connection and community interdependence. African Christian ethics and its distinguishing features as well as the world view of Ubuntu and its impact on ethics including group interest such as collaboration, solidarity and search for the common good are examined in this work. This research further explores the key principles of Ubuntu ethical code emphasising community well-being and inherent dignity of all persons. The challenges, objections and potential responses to the difficulties of Ubuntu philosophical ethics are discussed using concept analysis as the methodical framework. This scholarly research will add to the on going conversation on African Christian ethics and go a long way to encourage multicultural understanding and participation in ethical discourse by exploring the Trinitarian connection implicit in Ubuntu.

African Culture, Occidental Civilization, and Wole Soyinka’s Gender Hypotheses in Childe Internationale

2024-10-01T16:48:55+00:00

The paper interrogates the effects of globalization on African culture in the specific context of marital and filial relationship, as Wole Soyinka conceives it in Childe Internationale. Globalization has spread Western (and Eastern) consciousness to Africa especially through the Internet and this has modified African culture in many ramifications. The study is anchored on Toril Moi’s Post-feminist principles, which contests the achievability of the feminist agenda, as theoretical framework. In Childe International Soyinka portrays the negative impact of Westernization on African conjugal relationship and gender roles. This consequently breaks parent-child bond and promotes youth counter-culture. This is represented in Wife’s been-to arrogance which elevates her feminist agenda. And this attitude guides Titi, their daughter, into breaking cultural norms along the route of disobedience of her father, Kotun. The frustration that Kotun experiences as a result of gender confrontation compels him to seek company and solace in Godwin, the cook, who is also a man. This suggests that intra-patriarchal camaraderie is substituting African women affection due to feminist aggression. This situation has been occasioned by the misconception and interpretation of the concept of Westernization and cultural globalization by the contemporary African women. Wole Soyinka further suggests that this cultural menace appears to be perpetual on two fronts. The first is Wife’s feminist onslaught which is being instilled in their daughter, Titi. And the second is that globalization will not relent in the sustenance of the presence of Western civilization in Africa. This indicates that contemporary African women need a re-conceptualization of Westernization to ease gender tension in Africa.