Religion in Nigeria to many critics has caused more division, leading to loss of lives and wanton destruction of property.
In today's news analysis correspondent writes on the need for all Nigerians irrespective of religious beliefs to always respect each other religions, so as to enhance peaceful coexistence and religion tolerance needed for sustainable growth and security of lives and property.
Peaceful coexistence and religion tolerance simply means the ability to live together in harmony and achieving this is through non violent way.
Nigeria as an heterogeneous nation has different religions such as Christianity, Islam and a small fraction who practices African traditional religion.
Growth and development in a multi ethnic and diverse nation like Nigeria can only be attained when all Nigerians coexist peacefully irrespective of their diverse cultures and different religious beliefs.
The conflict in most parts of the country especially in the northern part are due to religious misunderstanding, because a clear knowledge of the different religions will help people to cherish and respect one another faith.
Therefore the fact that no meaningful development can be achieved in an atmosphere of rancour and chaos is indisputable as conflict breeds retardation and stagnation rather than progress and development.
Furthermore, no matter the religion one belongs to what is pertinent is that all religions do ascribe to worshipping a Divine Being.
The belief that one religion is superior or better than the other needs to be discouraged because all religion makes us to understand that God created us male and female and not Christian, Muslim, Pagan and so on.
Thus the onus lies on our religious leaders to always preach the important of peaceful coexistence and religion tolerance to their followers rather than preaching against the religion of others.
The idea of soul winning is a good one but it should be on those living wayward lives and not forcefully compelling those in other religion to join them but rather leave them to willingly make up their minds to join or remain where they worship.
Religious followers on their parts should learn how to use their senses as they exercise their faith rather than blindly taking all that their spiritual leaders say.
Also religious followers should strive to know about the doctrine of the faith that belongs to as well as study the Holy Book of their faith.
It is the duty of any reasonable government to be firm in sanctioning and penalizing those who are in the habit of encouraging religion divide.
The mass media as the fourth estate of the realm should also not be seen fanning the embers of discord in their reportage but should constantly promote views, comments, articles, feature reports and programmes that encourages peaceful coexistence and religion tolerance.
For the Nigerian society to witness sustainable growth then all faith based bodies and their followers must appreciate and pursue peaceful coexistence and religion tolerance
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