Department of Christian Studies

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Browsing Department of Christian Studies by Author "OLUBITAN, Adesina Abiodun"

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    A DIALYSIS OF HUMAN PERSONALITY AND THE EFFECT OF POVERTY ON CHARACTER
    (KWASU Journal of Religious Studies, Department of Religions, Kwara State University, Malete, Kwara State, Nigeria, 2018) OLUBITAN, Adesina Abiodun
    Abstract The concomitant effect of poverty on the character of a person cannot be over-emphasised. Poverty and the array of socio-economic woes in the society portend grave capacity that demeans and dehumanize the personality of an individual. A ‘person’ as a unit, loses personal ego and self-worth when the potential of what makes him/her a ‘Person’ and gives the individual voice and power in the society is lacking. In this scenario, a person’s character which is tied to personality will suffer some indignity. In the context of economic power therefore, viz-a-viz; poverty, the character of a Person cannot be fully exhibited, hence, the person is prone to a character dentations and incapacitation. This paper therefore, prods into the human personality in an attempt to conjecture the effect of poverty on the character of a person. If it can be said that the individual trait, character and temperament are the basic ingredients of personality; then it goes with the reason why personality reflects the different categories of people. Apparently, this explicates the purpose for having successful people and those who are not successful. The methods used in gathering data, are psycho-analytical, participatory observation, analytic and experiential.
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    ADOLESCENT MORALITY AND THE CONCEPT OF RELIGIOUS THINKING FROM CHILDHOOD
    (2017) OLUBITAN, Adesina Abiodun
    In the words of Plato, “the ignorance most fatal to States and individuals is not ignorance in the field of technology or professions, but spiritual ignorance”. In this contemporary age, the perception of the adolescent can no longer be seen to be static. Instead, it has keenly followed a dynamic trend over times. In the Victorian times, the child was regarded as passive, ‘like a piece of was on which impressions had to be made’. But nowadays, they have energetic urges, drives and instincts, thereby making an average adolescent an ‘internal combustion engine, capable of spontaneous activity’. Unfortunately, this change has greatly affected their morality and bring-up. This presents before us concerned nagging questions. How will the future be safeguarded? How can morality be inculcated in the fibre of the adolescent? Ultimately, the society, the church and family units are the major contributory agencies in the life of a child. But singling out the religious institution in this context, our aim is to articulate the connection between morality and a child and how religious thinking or education can affects or impinge on the growing up child into the adolescent stage. It is understood that human beings cannot escape the inherent imperativeness of religion and morality upon our consciousness and life. It is a fact of religion that God is at the centre of life. Hence, using analytical and experiential methods, engaging the tool of interaction and personal participation, our findings showed that when basic religious instructions are instilled in the life of a child, it grows with them thereby making them to live a positive life and constantly having a recourse during their adolescent stage.
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    “Adolescent Morality and the Concept of Religious Thinking from Childhood”.
    (Journal of Research and Development in Education (JORDE), Institute of Education and Professional Development. University of Uyo, Uyo Akwa Ibom State. Volume 7, No. 1, 2017) OLUBITAN, Adesina Abiodun
    Abstract In the words of Plato, “the ignorance most fatal to States and individuals is not ignorance in the field of technology or professions, but spiritual ignorance”. In this contemporary age, the perception of the adolescent can no longer be seen to be static. Instead, it has keenly followed a dynamic trend over times. In the Victorian times, the child was regarded as passive, ‘like a piece of was on which impressions had to be made’. But nowadays, they have energetic urges, drives and instincts, thereby making an average adolescent an ‘internal combustion engine, capable of spontaneous activity’. Unfortunately, this change has greatly affected their morality and bring-up. This presents before us concerned nagging questions. How will the future be safeguarded? How can morality be inculcated in the fibre of the adolescent? Ultimately, the society, the church and family units are the major contributory agencies in the life of a child. But singling out the religious institution in this context, our aim is to articulate the connection between morality and a child and how religious thinking or education can affects or impinge on the growing up child into the adolescent stage. It is understood that human beings cannot escape the inherent imperativeness of religion and morality upon our consciousness and life. It is a fact of religion that God is at the centre of life. Hence, using analytical and experiential methods, engaging the tool of interaction and personal participation, our findings showed that when basic religious instructions are instilled in the life of a child, it grows with them thereby making them to live a positive life and constantly having a recourse during their adolescent stage.
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    AFRICAN THEOLOGY OF PEACEMAKING: PANACEA TO CONFLICTS MANAGEMENT AND HUMAN DEVELOPMENT
    (: https://www.galda-verlag.de, 2023) OLUBITAN, Adesina Abiodun
    Abstract The interpretation of the Christian faith in the context of African culture, religious life experiences and contemporary socio-political situations has been classified as what came to be formed as African theology. Parratt, on Reinventing Christianity in Mbiti (1998) states that African theology tries to bring about dialog and harmony between Christianity and the African cultural-religious heritage. In order words, African theology accommodates the engagements of Africans in political life, socio-cultural and religio-economic situation. In this context, it is important to align the crave for African theology to the pursuit of peaceful co-existence and peace building in African communities and Nigeria in particular. Africa needs peace to foster development and socio-economic growth. This paper therefore, invokes the framework of African theology as that which evokes African reality in manner, perspectives and worldview in constructing agenda for peace building process. The parameter for our data gathering is analytic and historical methods while relying on the instruments of personal participatory for data interpretation. We adduce here that, peace is instrumental to human and social development, hence, African theology content and context of community spirit and being our brother’s keeper will no doubt be an appendage of peacemaking process in our nation building.
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    AN ASSESSMENT OF POVERTY IN THE OLD TESTAMENT: A CHALLENGE FOR THE CONTEMPORARY CHURCH IN NIGERIA
    (Journal of Philosophy and Christian Studies, Department of Religious Studies, Nasarawa State University, Keffi-Nigeria, 2017) OLUBITAN, Adesina Abiodun
    Abstract Poverty has become an unprecedented phenomenon and indeed, a household name in Nigeria. Its escalating trend is alarmingly on the increase every day. However, the Church in Nigeria has her root and manual from the Bible. And in this biblical context where Christianity has its root, issues pertaining to the poor and poverty did not go unaddressed. The Bible presents to us the various understanding of poverty. Based on this discovery, it sufficed us to know, how has the contemporary church in Nigeria abide by this biblical tenet, to address the problem of poverty and the situation of the poor in Nigeria. This paper is however not to accuse the church in Nigeria of not doing anything or much to ameliorate the suffering of the masses poor; but to show how poverty and the social conditions of the poor were dealt with in the Old Testament and how the contemporary church in Nigeria can saddled herself with the responsibility of catering for the poor in line with the Old Testament injunctions and the theme of liberation theology on the poor. In this context, upon the assessment of the Old Testament on poverty we intend it to lay credence to the call on the church in Nigeria to see poverty alleviation as a challenge and a clear-cut obligation in order to stem-up her efforts in combating poverty and social malaise in Nigeria.
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    "CHRISTIANITY AND SOCIO-ECONOMIC CHANGE: ENVISIONING ST. BASIL’S LEADERSHIP FOR POVERTY ALLEVIATION STRATEGIES IN GOVERNANCE IN THE 21ST CENTURY.
    (Humanitatis Theoreticus (H.T) Journal, University of Yaounde, Cameroun, 2022) OLUBITAN, Adesina Abiodun
    Abstract Contemporary analytic economic science has consistently search for ways out in the fight against endemic poverty that has continued to plague Nigeria as a nation, and Africa at large. This accentuates the various intervention programmes being marshalled toward tackling this lingering phenomenon. It is obvious that, Africa in the 21st century needs a sporadic transformational development and national prosperity which can only be conceptualized in good governance and visionary leaders. Stemming from this understanding, Christianity, has contributed greatly in changing socio-economic landscape of Nigeria as a nation. Hence, this paper beams its searchlight into the patristic period in order to articulate poverty alleviation strategies in the light of the 21st century. What can be learnt from a fourth-century leader and Bishop concerning the lingering poverty situation of our day? Could a pre-modern church father provide contemporary analyst the framework for socio-economic change and governance? These research questions shall modulate the direction of this work. To this end, the historical and analytical research methods are employed in this paper. Our findings however, crystallized a clear vision of poverty alleviation in the founding of St. Basil the Great’s Basileias and the contribution that Christian doctrine and practice might make in catalyzing the poor out of the throes of poverty and how this can be envisioned or retrieved to help governance in Nigeria in the 21st century in order to actualize socio-economic change.
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    “Cultural Implication of Peaceful Religious Co-Existence in the Nigerian Pluralistic Society”
    (THE PERFORMER Ilorin Journal of Performing Arts, Department of The Performing Arts, Faculty of Arts University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria; Vol. 20, (2018: Special Edition), 2018) OLUBITAN, Adesina Abiodun
    The age of the Anthropocene can be said to be characterized by religion. It is a statement of fact that man is "incur-ably religious"; and “this religion has continued to play a central role in the geo-political landscape and societal milieus of the world”. Peace and justice, of certainty cannot be undertaken or addressed in a meaningful way by any one religious tradition. It is obvious that no one religion can claim to be exclusive of the other in this God’s own universe. We are in a society shared by people of different cultures, races and diverse religious tenents. People of various religious groups do not only confront each other and not merely live side by side confronting modern problems, but jointly constitute the societies and communities of which we are all active members. In this conjecture, what can one say could be the possible cause(s) of violence? Also, what has made it so difficult to achieve peace in our world? It is obvious that, dialogue has to do with interreligious encounters in the process or processes of thinking together in order to champion a common cause. It is understandable that religion is an integral “shaper of values” which has critical foundational role. Hence, in line with this trend, the future of humanity especially in the Nigeria context in days ahead will depend on how well we manage the tool of dialogue for a peaceful co-existence. But, has dialogue really achieved much? What is the possibility of achieving authentic peaceful co-existence? It is in this nexus that this article is advocating for ‘value placement’ on each other’s religion for a peaceful religious co-existence in the society. This idea sub-sets in the understanding of religious and cultural social realities. The methodology for this work stems from experiential, observatory and participatory in addition to the use of secondary sources.
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    POVERTY ALLEVIATION PROGRAMMES IN NIGERIA: CHALLENGES AND PROSPECTS
    (Department of Religious Studies, Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye, Nigeria, 2014) OLUBITAN, Adesina Abiodun
    Poverty is a pervasive and complex problem in the developing countries of sub-Saharan Africa. In Nigeria and especially in the rural regions of Nigeria, its indicators include low family incomes, poor remuneration for workers, inadequate housing, prevalence of diseases, acute water shortage, a pervasive unemployment rate, low producer prices, poor market outlets, and a lack of road networks to enhance transportation of farm produce1. Wealth created in rural areas is easily engulfed by the capitalist-oriented state economy, while restrictions are placed upon the capacity of the local people to develop2 . According to the rural poverty report of 2001 by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), the task of eradicating poverty requires sustained and consistent, yet flexible, joint action. IFAD maintains that efforts to reduce rural poverty must be multi-targeted because the challenge of ending poverty in developing countries like Nigeria has many dimensions3. The dimension employed in our assessment however, shall be from the Christian perspectives. To this end, this paper aims at articulating the extent and the miasma of poverty in Nigeria; its challenges and the prospects of alleviating it.
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    RELIGIOUS PLURALISM AND THE PURSUIT OF PEACEFUL CO-EXISTENCE IN NIGERIA
    (Adekunle Ajasin University Press, 2021) OLUBITAN, Adesina Abiodun
    Abstract There is nothing that can out-weigh an environment of peaceful co-existence; where individuals of different tribes, ethnic, cultural, and religious affiliations live by side in mutual understanding. This is what some termed as unity in diversity. But in the Nigeria context, it appears that oneness and togetherness is dis-integrating and fallen apart. Nigeria as a nation, is languishing in internal strife and ethnic rivalry that are mostly orchestrated by religious differences. This brings us to the nub of the matter; how can religion that is being seen as the underlining factor for disagreement be utilize to foster mutual understanding and peaceful co-existence? Many have hinges the solution on religious tolerance. But this has not yielded the desired results. The efforts of dialogue on the parameter of tolerance can best be described as palliative measures to curtail unforeseen future occurrences. The question that has kept resonating, however, is who is to tolerate who? On what ground would one religion tolerate the other? On what basis is our dialogue, if at all? Given all these, where can we find the way out of religious and ethnic conflicts cum crises? How can religious pluralism be contextualized in a way that best soothe the individual religious professions without undermining the core of our faith? The above questions raised are answered in this study. Analytic, literary interpretative and historical methods are research tools employed for this work. Our findings fulcrum on the fact that, religious pluralism can be profitable in a clime of ethnic diversity like Nigeria if it is contextualized and integrated.
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    TRENDS IN POVERTY ALLEVIATION PROGRAMMES IN NIGERIA: THE FUNCTIONAL ROLE OF THE CHURCH
    (KWASU Journal of Humanities, Faculty of Humanities, Management and Social Science, Kwara State University, 2021) OLUBITAN, Adesina Abiodun
    Abstract Christianity as an institution that can comfort, research has shown is becoming a core pointer to solving the poverty and mirage of socio-economic situation in Nigeria. Recently, precisely around October of 2019, there are verified social media reports that the President and Founder of Living Church World-wide approved a whopping some of six hundred and fifty million naira for the construction and rehabilitation of Sango-Ota/Idiroko road. Some of these efforts from the church are welcomed approach to complement the efforts of the government. On the other hand, the Nigerian government, as evidence shows, has put in place various poverty alleviation mechanisms from the Federal level to the State and even to the Local government areas. Hence, our objective is to articulate the functional role of church in Nigeria in curtailing the menace of poverty. There is the understanding that, some activities in the church concerning poverty alleviation are palliatives, charity actions; but what about empowerment programmes or service to the community? This work therefore takes a swipe at the functional role of the church in combating this endemic phenomenon called poverty. The interview and participatory methods are used for data collection; while the historical and analytic are engaged for data interpretations. It behoves us to emphasise from findings that a functional complementary effort is vital to get people out of poverty. The fight against this venom should not be left in the hands of the government or private sector.