Date of Award
8-2024
Document Type
Thesis - SCU Access Only
Publisher
Santa Clara : Santa Clara University, 2024
Degree Name
Licentiate in Sacred Theology (STL)
Director
Monica Marcelli-Chu
Abstract
Over the past two decades, Nigeria has experienced the proliferation of religious extremism and violence. This thesis addresses the precarious issue of religious extremism, which is often engineered by extreme religious views and ideologies. The thesis explores the root causes of these phenomena, cutting across the role of politicians and religious leaders who exploit the youths for their selfish interests. This study highlights the devastating impacts of Islamic religious extremism, which has caused severe wounds to the entire country. This has caused loss of lives, destruction of properties, and excessive fear among citizens. This thesis also explores the historical context, fundamental theories, and several approaches needed to combat religious extremism and violence in Nigeria. The approaches involved in this thesis include Catholic Social Teaching, the virtue-based ethic of nonviolent peacemaking, the education of youths, the pastoral approach, the cultural perspective of youth formation, and interreligious dialogue. All are to foster peace, unity, and human flourishing in Nigeria. Employing these comprehensive approaches, the major aim of this thesis is to contribute to the ongoing conversation about reducing religious extremism and violence and promoting a culture of peaceful co-existence in Nigeria.
Recommended Citation
Kwekwe, Lucius Okezie, "The Role of the Church in Youth Formation and Pedagogy: A Response to Religious Extremism and Violence in Nigeria" (2024). Jesuit School of Theology Dissertations. 142.
https://scholarcommons.scu.edu/jst_dissertations/142
