Abstract

The thrust of this work is on the necessity of peaceful coexistence between Christians and Muslims to enhance and strengthen sustainable development in Nigeria. Christianity and Islam are the two major and decisive religions in Nigeria. Deplorably, the two religions that should teach and promote love, tolerance, and unity as enshrined in both the Bible and al-Qur’an, have been subtlety used as an indicator of political and social identity in a way that rouse conflicts over resources, land, political and economic power. This has led to the upsurge in religious intolerance and bigotry, unbridled and aggressive action of the fundamentalists, wrong religious orientations, mindless selfishness among some religious leaders, and low level of religious literacy among some adherents, which is currently posing a crucial threat to sustainable development in Nigeria. Therefore, this study critically examines the interplay of peaceful coexistence between Christians and Muslims through dialogue for the transformation and sustainable development of Nigeria. The study employed a descriptive research method, purely based on written sources comprised of books, journals, and websites. The study, among other things, revealed that peaceful coexistence between Christians and Muslims is crucial for the economic, political, and social development of Nigeria. It was discovered that through dialogue, the intolerance and conflict situation in Nigeria can be transformed into a culture of peace characterized by respect, trust, liberty, tolerance, equality, and brotherliness that will foster sustainable development. The study, therefore, concluded with the recommendation that since religious isolation and bigotry are not conducive to sustainable progress and development, individual and religious institutions should embrace and proclaim dialogue reflecting brotherhood, peace, solidarity, unity, and love, which will play a vital role in shaping and establishing a better prosperous future for the nation.

Keywords: Religion, Christianity, Islam, Nigeria, Sustainable Development, and Peaceful Coexistence.

Impact Statement

“Christian-Muslim” peaceful coexistence: a sine qua non for sustainable development in Nigeria” discusses the nexus and necessity of peaceful coexistence between people of different faiths, such as Christians and Muslims, on sustainable development in Nigeria. Peaceful coexistence is critical in driving progress and prosperity and attaining sustainable growth and development in a nation. Embracing peaceful coexistence through tolerance and respect for religious diversity strengthens social bonds and encourages economic growth and cultural enrichment. Such improved relationships create a more conducive environment in the nation, enhance unity, reduce wanton destruction of lives and properties, promote growth, and foster a thriving environment conducive to national integration and development. The findings of this study shed light on the indispensable role of peaceful coexistence in building a cohesive society and prosperous nation. The study, among other things, revealed that peaceful coexistence between Christians and Muslims is crucial for the economic, political, and social development of Nigeria.

About Author

Victor IFATOKUN holds a Master of Theology in World Religions and is a researcher in the field of Comparative Religion Studies. His areas of interest include, but are not limited to, Theology, Sociology of Religion (Religion and Social Institutions), and Philosophy of Religion. He has published chapters in books and articles in local and international journals. 

Cite this Article

APA (7th ed.): Ifatokun, V. (2024). Christian-Muslim Peaceful Coexistence: A Sine Qua Non For Sustainable Development In Nigeria. Edumania-An International Multidisciplinary Journal, 2(1), 219–234. https://doi.org/10.59231/edumania/9028

Chicago (17th ed.): Ifatokun, Victor. “Christian-Muslim Peaceful Coexistence: A Sine Qua Non For Sustainable Development In Nigeria.” Edumania-An International Multidisciplinary Journal 2, no. 1 (2024): 219–234. https://doi.org/10.59231/edumania/9028.

MLA (9th ed.): Ifatokun, Victor. “Christian-Muslim Peaceful Coexistence: A Sine Qua Non For Sustainable Development In Nigeria.” Edumania-An International Multidisciplinary Journal, vol. 2, no. 1, 2024, pp. 219–234. https://doi.org/10.59231/edumania/9028.

Statements & Declarations

Peer Review: The scholarly quality and contribution of this research on Christian-Muslim peaceful coexistence and sustainable development in Nigeria have been confirmed through a rigorous and independent peer-review process conducted by experts in the relevant fields.

Review Type: This article underwent a double-blind peer review, wherein the identities of the author (Victor Ifatokun) and the reviewers were concealed from each other. The review was conducted by subject experts in religious studies, interfaith dialogue, peace studies, and development studies.

Competing Interests: The author, Victor Ifatokun, declares that there are no financial, professional, or personal competing interests that could be perceived to have biased the work presented in this manuscript.

Data Availability: This manuscript is a conceptual and analytical paper based on religious texts, scholarly literature, and analysis of interfaith relations in Nigeria. It does not present primary empirical research data. All sources, including religious documents and scholarly works, are cited within the article.

Funding: This research received no specific grant from any funding agency in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors. The work was completed as part of the author’s institutional affiliation with Baptist College of Theology, Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria, and personal scholarly effort.

License: This article is an open-access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives (CC BY-NC-ND) 4.0 International License. This license allows others to download this work and share it with others for non-commercial purposes, as long as they credit the author, but they cannot change it in any way or use it commercially.

Ethical Approval: Ethical approval was not required for this study, as it is a conceptual and analytical paper based on religious and scholarly analysis and did not involve the collection of data from, or experimentation on, human subjects or animals. The work adheres to the highest standards of academic integrity and research ethics in religious and peace studies, with particular respect for the sensitive nature of interfaith dialogue.

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