CHAPTER
ONE
1.0 INTRODUCTION
1.1 BACKGROUND
OF THE STUDY
Religious socialism is the belief that
Christianity stands for a structure of society which will enable men, women,
old and young to live and work together in unity as brethren, and that competition
is not a universal law. Thus, religion/Christianity has proved to be a bed-rock
and a tool for peaceful co-existence, through her preaching against coup-detat,
tribalism, ethnocentrism, sectionalism corruption as well as initiating
religious dialogue for an understanding of one another faith; and by
organizing conferences and workshops to enlighten the people to reduce their
socio-economic and political tension.
The missionaries therefore utilized
education as an effective tool for evangelizing Ezza-North Local Government
Area of Ebonyi state. This was the effort that was very much responsible for
the local government area manpower development. Christianity via education has
therefore enlightened the generality of the Ezza-North society, Christian and non-christians alike. Establishment of
primary, secondary schools, churches and health centers in the area are develop
beyond expectation.
Religion according to Durkheim (1997)
is a unified system of beliefs and practices relative to sacred things, uniting
into a single moral community all those who adhere to those beliefs and
practices. This shows that mangers of religious group share common concern
about the unknown and unexplainable things in the world. That is, man is in
atmosphere of uncertainty, insecurity and incompletion and is led to attribute
things that cannot be supernatural things.
The history of Christianity and its
influence upon human societies, according to Abiola (1974) the Portuguese made
their first contacts with Benin, the capital of the present Edo state in 1485. Those
various contacts were made for various purposes viz: to meet the demands of the
better trade on the Gold Coast, to study the political system of government of
the kingdom and most importantly of all, to spread Christianity to the land not
yet acquired by most power. From the beginning Christian religions has gone
hand in hand with biblical teaching. The principle of parental responsibilities
for youths the motivating power of love, the necessity of literacy, the unity
of all truth in God and other principles basic to Christian education have
biblical sources.
By and large, the study of religion
shows that religion has been used as instrument for social changes. The
reformation era of Amos, Micah and Isaiah reminds the Jews of their religious
obligations for the socio-political and economic lives of their communities.
For a society to experience dynamic and real changes in its political order,
such a society must have come into contacts with Christian religion, the Apostle
were accused of turning the world upside down (Acts 17:6) this was made
possible by their teaching and preaching acquired through contact with Jesus
Christ himself the founder of the Christian religion.
Milton J. Yinger produced a functional
definition of religion. He defined religion as a system of beliefs and
practices by means of which a group of people struggles with the ultimate
problems of human life. It is the refusal to capitulate to death, to give up in
the face frustration, to allow hostility to tear apart one’s human association Sharf
(1970:32). According to him, religion is a resistance against death,
frustration, hostility, suffering, anxiety, despair and hatred. According to Sharfs
view, it entails the conclusion that religion is a constant factor in human
life.
Thomas F. O. Dea (1966. p. 27) asserts
that religion is a central element in culture. Religion performs the same
functions which other aspects of culture perform. A consideration of religion
as a core element in culture summarizes the human significance of religion. The
content of religion may be either in harmony or in conflict with existing
situations or transformations which are in progress in society.
According to Milford E. Spiro, religion
is defined as an institution which consists of culturally patterned
interactions with culturally postulated supernatural beings. In his view
religion is an aspect of social groups and a component part of their cultural
heritage. As a result religion features are acquired by means of enculturation.
Thus, religion is a major source and
concern of the values of culture.
1.2 STATEMENT
OF THE PROBLEM
Influence of
religious practicing on the political growth as the researcher has early stated
that religion has been used as an instrument for social change in any given
society or nation. Religion has a place in the lives of every nation, Nigeria
included. Therefore irrespective of the faith or denomination, religion when
truly practiced in its truest form and spirit, has been and remains sacred. The
researches also pointed out that it plays a vital role in purposeful
leadership, community building, social juristic, law and order, peace – making,
reconciliation, spirit of forgiveness and the healing of wounds, be it family
or personal/political issues in Ezza – North Local Government Area Ebonyi State.
1.3 PURPOSE
OF THE STUDY
The main aim
of this study or research work is to investigate the influence of religious
practice on the political growth in Ezza – North Local Government Area of
Ebonyi state. To be précised, the study equally finds fit the target of
achieving the following objectives.
(1) Does religious practices influence
political growth in Ezza-North Local Government Area of Ebonyi state.
(2) To what extend does religion influence the
political activities in Ezza-North.
(3) What are effects of religion on political
growth.
1.4 SIGNIFICANCE
OF THE STUDY.
This research
will lead to a greater understanding of the key role religion played in political
development in Ezza-North local Government Area of Ebonyi State. It will also
help or helps to present order in their political activities.
1.5 SCOPE
OF THE STUDY.
The study of influence of religious
practice on the political growth is delimited to Umuezeokoha Community, Oriuzor
Community, Umuogharu Community, Oshiegbe Community and Ndiegazu Community in
Ezza-North local Government Area of Ebonyi State.
1.6 RESEARCH QUESTION
1. Does influence of religious practices, on
political growth exist?
2. Does influence of religious practice on politics
promotes political development or growth in Ezza-North local government Area of
Ebonyi State?
3. Does influence of religious practices
affects politician positively in their day-to-day activities?
CHAPTER TWO
2.0 REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE
2.1 WHAT
RELIGION IS ALL ABOUT
2.2
2.3
2.4
CHAPTER THREE
3.0 RESEARCH METHOD
This chapter discusses the method
employed by the researcher in carrying out the study. It is discussed order the
following sub-headings: design of the study, area of the study, population of
the study, sample and sampling technique, instrument for data collection,
validation of the instrument method of data collection and method of data
analysis.
3.1 DESIGN
OF THE STUDY
This design
can be referred to as descriptive survey. This design, according to Maduasum
(1999), is one in which data are collected from a relatively large number of
people or items considered to be reprehensive of the whole population of group.
He asserted also that descriptive survey is concerned with description of
events as they are area of the study.
The area of the study is Ezza-North
Local Government Area of Ebonyi State. The Local Government consists of
parents, party ward – delegates, at local and state levels teachers, counselors,
tradition rulers Rev. Fathers/Pastors, and youth leaders.
3.2 POPULATION
OF THE STUDY
The population
of this study comprised of all party ward delegates, state party delegates,
counselor, traditional rulers, headmaster/mistress, principals of secondary
schools, Rev. Fathers/Pastors and youth leaders from Umuezokoha community,
Ndegazu community, Umuoghara community, Oshiegbe community Oriuzor community
and Oharugo community.
The population is three hundred (300)
persons muezeokoha community has fifty person, Umuohara community has fifty
person, Ndieuazu community has fifty persons, Oshiegbe community has fifty
persons, Ohanugo community has fifty and Oriuzor community has fifty persons.
3.3 SAMPLE
AND SAMPLING TECHNIQUE
The population
was sampled using simple random technique. The total number of the population
was (300) three hundred fifty person was drawn from each of the six communities
which constituted Ezza-North Local Government Area of Ebonyi State. The
researcher deemed it fit to use 30% of the size, which represent 30% of the
target population.
3.4 INSTRUMENT
FOR DATA COLLECTION
Instrument for
data collection in this study was a structured questionnaire adopted by the
researcher as well as personal or oral interview. However there were structured
as to elicit the relevant information needed for the study. Consequently, the
questionnaire has both content and faces validity as it was structured with
different opinion to answer the question which will help in carrying out the
research with the help of the project supervisor.
Furthermore, as regards the
administration of the questionnaire, the researcher employed the used of hand
delivery method, in fact, all 300 copies of the questionnaires distributed came
back successfully and carefully filled.
3.5 VALIDATION
OF THE INSTRUMENT
The draft was
first presented to the project supervisor who made necessary correction as
regard the language content and sentence structure. The instrument was also
presented to two senior lectures in the department of Arts and Social Science
Education and other two lectures in Measurement and evaluation at Ikwo College
of Education Abakaliki.
These lectures retted each items in
term of sentence structure and adequacy of the instrument. Based on their
comments and suggestions, some of the original items was dropped. Therefore the
view and suggestion of these experts were incorporated in the final
questionnaire.
3.6 METHOD
OF DATA ANALYSIS
The data
collected were analyzed by the research, through the use of mean and frequency
distribution table. Frequency destruction table were developed while mean
computed. The mean were calculated thus:
Where x = mean
Z = sum of
F = frequency
N = total number of
score
A cut – off point of 2.5 was used as
the decision rule. A mean score up to 2.5 was regarded as positive, while mean
score below 2.5 were considered negative. This cut – off of 2.5 was obtained by
adding the sum of the normal rating value divided by the number of rating
items.
For example
Strongly Agreed (SA) = 4 point
Agreed (A) ________ __________ 3
point
Strongly Disagreed (SD)
_______ 2 point
Disagreed (D) _________ 1 point
Then mean (grand) x = 10/4 = 2.5
The decision rule is that which is
equal or greater then 2.5 was accepted as after affecting the variable under
investigation. Any means that was less than 2.5 was rejected or did not affect
the variable under investigation.
CHAPTER FOUR
4.0 DATA PRESENTATION AND ANALYSIS
This chapter
involves the actual presentation of data obtained from the field through the
use of questionnaire and interviews based on the three research questions that
guided that study.
4.1 RESEARCH
QUESTION
4.2 RESEARCH
QUESTION 2
4.3 RESEARCH QUESTION 3 – TABLE
4.4 SUMMARY
OF FINDING
CHAPTER FIVE
5.0 DISCUSSIONS
OF FINDINGS, EDUCATIONAL IMPLICATIONS CONCLUSION, RECOMMENDATION AND SUMMARY
5.1 CONCLUSION
The research focused on the influence
of religious practicing on the political growth of Ezza – North Local
Government Area of Ebonyi State. Three hundred respondents comprising all party
ward delegates, state part delegates, counselor, tradition rulers headmaster/Headmistress,
principals of secondary schools Rev. Fr. Pastors and youth leaders from the
Communities in the Ezza-North; were interviewed by using the Questionnaires.
The researcher discovered that
influence of religion practicing on the political growth of has created a lot
of positive impact of the political development in Ezza- North Local Government
Area.
It was discovered that, actually,
religion and politics co-exist. That, there is no possible means to avoid
influence of religious practice on polities.
5.2 SUMMARY
The study was
focused on the influence of religious practices on political on the growth in
Ezza-North Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, for successful research work
to be carried out, three purposes were formulated to guide the study thus
(1) Does influence of religion practices on
politics exist.
(2) Does influence of religious practice
affects politician positively in their day-to-day political activities.
3. Does influence of religious practice
promote political development or growth in Ezza-North Local Government Area of
Ebonyi State.
Three research questions were also
formulated to guide the research work. The research question include-:
(1) Does influence of religious practice on
politics exist.
(2) Does influence of religion promote
political growth or development in Ezza-North Local Government Area of Ebonyi
State
(3) Dose influence of religious practice
enhances politicians in their political activities in Ezza-North Local
Government Area of Ebonyi State.
The design employed in the study was
descriptive survey. The population of the study was three (300) hundred person
or respondents. Due to the population size the researcher deemed it fit to use
30% of the total population.
Data collection was through structured
questionnaires. Data was analyzed on individual items using means frequency and
standard deviation.
5.3 RECOMMENDATIONS
Based on the research work or study on
the influence of religious practices on political growth or development in Ezza-North
Local Government Area of Ebonyi State. The following recommendations were made.
- That based on the finding the positive
social charges which Christianity or religions practices has brought into
society, it is recommended that the teaching of Christian religion be made
compulsory for Christian students up to senior secondary school level of
Nigeria educational system.
- That religion being an important part of
lives from birth to death and commands immense influence in our national
politics it is therefore recommended that government at all level should
organize seminars and workshops aimed at enlightening the masses on the
positives associated to religious practice as it affect our lives.
- That it is recommended that religious
people should be loyal to, and to cooperate with those in authority. And that
it is place of those in authority to guarantee religious liberty in the (and.
In the this way, religion legitimize, political authority.
- That government should strongly maintain
what is documented in the Nigeria constitution, which state that “government
shall not establish i.e. adopt any religion as a state religion.
5.4 LIMITATION
OF THE STUDY
The limitation of the research work
were as follows:-
1. It was discovered that man hardly succeeds
in an act. Hence things have got so repulsive that some even take their answers
and so did not give true opinions on the items providing extreme difficulty for
researcher to elicited information from such respondents.
2. In most cases, distance disposition of the
respondents and materials made the work pose much trouble in appropriate cover
of research scope. This was again aggravated by lack of financial assistance as
it proves essential commodity in a research engagement.
3. Reluctance and inability to fill in a
appropriately by the respondents were also militating against the research,
though in spite of all set backs, the researcher kept a look on success which
was the research target.
4. Limited time available to the influenced
the finding
5.5 SUGGESTION
FOR FURTHER STUDIES
Based on the
findings and limitation of the study other researchers should address the
following areas, which demands for further research work to be carried out.
1. The singular fact that the want of
knowledge is insatiable, makes no researcher work complete in itself therefore
the researcher is suggesting that more study be undertaken on the influence of
religious practices on political growth in Ezza-North Local Government Area of
Ebonyi State.
2. It is also suggested that, this type of
research work should be carried out in other States, Federal, private and other
schools of higher learning involving larger population. Thus, a study involving
the entire country will enhance to promote effective and cordial relationships
between politics are religion.
3. Further research on this study will at
long run reduce religious conflicts in Nigerians and its implications on
Socio-economic in National system of government.