RELIGIOUS SYMBOLS AND PRACTICES AMONG CHRISTIANS AND MUSLIMS: IMPLICATION FOR PEACE AND RECONCILIATION IN NORTHERN NIGERIA
1 Dept. of Religion and Philosophy, Faculty of Art, University of Jos.
* Corresponding author: pgdgoshit04@gmail.com
* Corresponding author: pgdgoshit04@gmail.com
Abstract
This paper examined the recent trend of escalating
explosion of ethno-religious conflicts arising from the
problem of religious symbols and practices among
Christians and Muslims in Northern Nigeria with special
focus on Jos North Local Government Area of Plateau State
and Nassarawa Local Government Area of Kano State. In
an attempt to discover the underlying factors that causes
mistrust and conflicts among the two predominant religions
in Northern Nigeria. The paper observes that the occurrence
of conflicts in any in the study areas as a result of
misunderstanding arising from the use of religious and
cultural symbols could be more violent, leading to wanton
destruction of lives and property. It notes that poor
understanding and the improper use of religious symbols
and practices in Northern Nigeria has hinder peaceful
coexistence in some selected communities. This paper
observes that there is a negative relationship between
Christian and Muslims with regards to the understanding
and usage of religious symbols and practices in Northern
Nigeria. This has great implications for peace and
reconciliation; hence recommends that the religious and
traditional leaders should take the business of addressing
issues of religious and cultural symbols as priority one on
the agenda to help their adherent towards achieving a
peaceful society. Mixed methods (qualitative and
quantitative), methodology has been used in the research
with writer's observations and semi-structured interview as
instrument of data collection.
Keywords
Conflicts
Peace
Practices
Reconciliation
Religious
Symbols.
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How to Cite
DEWAN, G. P. (2022). RELIGIOUS SYMBOLS AND PRACTICES AMONG CHRISTIANS AND MUSLIMS: IMPLICATION FOR PEACE AND RECONCILIATION IN NORTHERN NIGERIA. Humanity - Jos Journal Of General Studies, 13(1), 112-120. https://doi.org/10.67862/hjjgs.2022.a4u1etre
G. P. DEWAN, "RELIGIOUS SYMBOLS AND PRACTICES AMONG CHRISTIANS AND MUSLIMS: IMPLICATION FOR PEACE AND RECONCILIATION IN NORTHERN NIGERIA," Humanity - Jos Journal Of General Studies, vol. 13, no. 1, pp. 112-120, January 2022. doi: 10.67862/hjjgs.2022.a4u1etre