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Full Project – IMPACT OF CHRISTIANITY ON COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

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CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

Christianity is involved in human development and poverty alleviation programmes. Many third world nations received political freedom from Western colonialists, but many of these countries failed to successfully exploit the political freedom to improve economic growth and human development. Poverty is therefore one of the major problems facing people in third world countries. Any form of development should put human beings at the centre. Human beings are makers of their own destiny, but only on condition that they are truly human, are conscious of their destiny and strength and are free from all forms of oppression and exploitation (Chapunda, 2010).

The message of liberation which Christianity carries is addressed to a people in the fringe of human existence. Christ‘s message of salvation is to be proclaimed not only to these in purple robes who dwell in palaces, but also to the multitude of peoples, men and women, young and old, who sleep on the side of the road in our towns, who live under the overhead bridges in our cities and compete with vultures in scavenging for food. The historical experience of those to whom the Christian faith is being addressed in Nigeria, and who must find meaning for their religious preoccupation is indeed one of poverty, disease, oppression, widespread abuse of human rights, structural injustice, dictatorship, large-scale corruption unemployment, ignorance, violence and death (Ehusani, 1996). The Nigerian environment in which the gospel of Christ is to be preached is one that is thoroughly depressed. It is an environment in which the majority of people have very little confidence in the present and even have hope in the future. The vast majority of Nigerians, who are today consigned to the fringe of life, will hardly embrace a religion solely for its intellectual content. They will not embrace a religion because of its superior doctrines, no matter how profoundly formulated. They will not embrace a religion that only offers salvation for the soul after a miserable existence in the world. The leaders of the Nigerian Church are today challenged to present the Christian message in such a way that it brings hope to a despairing people (Ehusani, 1996).

The impact of Christianity can be felt in the dismantling of inhuman practices and institutions such as slavery, human sacrifice, killing of twins, and in the establishment of Christian villages which eventually gave way to schools for formal education. Translation of the Gospel into the vernacular languages and the production of catechisms in vernacular languages showed the good sense of recognizing the native culture, for language or tongue is a main vehicle of culture and development. Many local customs were banned as ―pagan‖ and there is need today for inculturation in terms of appraising and recognizing good traditional values (Onwuanibe, 1995).

By building schools which range from the primary to secondary levels Christianity recognized the importance of education in development. Christianity has also had a programme of medical, social and personality development. She lays great emphasis especially through the voices of recent ecclesiastical hierarchy on the determining role of a just and widespread development for all the corners of the globe. She sees this condition as a prerequisite for world

peace via international solidarity. She even gives development a new name: peace (Paul VI, 1967). Christianity therefore stresses on the true condition of integral development, one that does not disfigure the human person by a neglect of any of the important constituents of his personality.

1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

Communities in Nigeria have been bedeviled by numerous development challenges which include: severe economic, political and social crises, decline in the standard of education, moral and infrastructural decay, cultural crisis predicated on the fact that traditional values in the people‘s cultures have been heavily impacted by materialism, science and technology and ideologies. Health facilities are in total decay.

All these problems call to question the role of Christianity in still contributing to the provision of needed succor in these problem areas. In view of these problems and issues, the big question is the relevance of Christianity in the present situation. Since relevance is an important feature of any meaningful phenomenon, event or institution, especially in the sphere of human life, Christianity‘s role in the solution of problems in the 21^st century Nigerian society may be definitive in the justification of its existence among the Nigerian people.

Moving from the great signs of vitality and great contributions of Christianity to community development since the advent of the early missionaries to Eastern Nigerian, this work will look at the role of Christianity in Nigeria today and set how it can help address itself to several problems of poverty and other social problems facing the people and see how it can further join the government and other stakeholders in bringing sustainable development among the people for which it was a source of hope in the past.

1.3 OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

The specific objectives of the study include:

To identify to what extent Christianity can contribute to community development.
To determine to what extent Christianity has been vital and relevant in community development of Nigeria.
To determine the problems of development still facing Christianity and how it can still contribute in developing the communities in Nigeria.

1.4 RESEARCH QUESTIONS

Has Christianity played any role in community development in Nigeria?
To what extent has Christianity been relevant in community development of Nigeria?
How can Christianity help provide sustainable development in Enugu State in the 21^st

century?

1.5 RESEARCH HYPOTHESES

Ho Christianity has played a significant role in the community development of Nigeria.

H1 Christianity has not played a significant role in the community development of Nigeria

1.6 JUSTIFICATION OF THE STUDY

This study is significant in various ways:

It will provide valuable insights into existing relationship between the government and Christianity in providing development in our rural communities. It will bring to the fore the prominent roles Christianity has been playing in development since she made her advent and the situation today. It could also motivate the various stakeholders in community development to partner well with Christianity in bringing development to the grassroots. It will add to existing knowledge and equally serve as a benchmark for further studies. It will serve as a model to other NGOs in their contributions to community development.

1.7 SCOPE OF THE STUDY

To determine and study the various roles Christianity has been playing in the field of development in Nigeria. It is restricted to the socio-economic, cultural and political roles of Christianity especially in Enugu State.

1.8 DEFINITION OF TERMS

The following terms were used in the course of this study:

Church: A Church is the body of Christ and also the place where believers gather to worship.

Community development: Community development seeks to empower individuals and groups of people with the skills they need to effect change within their communities.

Christian: Christian is a person who follows or adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ.

Christianity: This is a religion that is based on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ, who is the focal point of the Christian faith. It is the world’s largest religion, with over 2.4 billion followers, or 33% of the global population, known as Christians.

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Full Project – IMPACT OF CHRISTIANITY ON COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

Full Project – IMPACT OF CHRISTIANITY ON COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

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