Several religions in Nigeria coexist, helping to accentuate regional and ethnic distinctions. All religions represented in Nigeria were practiced in every major city in 1990. The world's principal Religions and spiritual traditions may be classified into a small number of major groups or world religions'. Nigeria, officially named the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal Constitutional republic comprising thirty-six states and one Federal But Islam dominated in the north and held strong numbers in the South Western, Yoruba part of the country. For other meanings including people named 'Islam' see Islam (disambiguation. The Yoruba (Yo•row•ba ( Yorùbá in Yoruba Orthography) are one of the largest ethno-linguistic or Ethnic groups in West Africa Protestantism and local syncretic Christianity are also evidence in Yoruba areas, while Catholicism predominates in the Igbo and closely related areas. Protestantism refers to the forms of Christian faith and practice that originated in the 16th century Protestant Reformation. Syncretism consists of the attempt to reconcile disparate or contradictory beliefs often while melding practices of various schools of thought Christianity ( Greek Χριστιανισμός from the word Xριστός ( Christ)is a monotheistic Religion centered on the life and teachings As a Christian Ecclesiastical term Catholic —from the Greek adjective, meaning "general" or "universal"—is described Both Protestantism and Catholicism dominated in the Ibibio, Annang, and the Efik lands. The Annang (also spelled Anaang) is a cultural and ethnic group that lives in the coastal southeast Nigeria. The Efik people are a branch of the Ibibio, who in the early 1600s migrated down the Cross River from Cameroon and founded numerous settlements in The 1963 census indicated that 47 percent of Nigerians were Muslim, 35 percent Christian, and 18 percent members of local indigenous congregations. If accurate, this indicated a sharp increase in the number of Christians (up 13 percent); a slight decline among those professing indigenous beliefs, compared with 20 percent in 1953; and only a modest (4 percent) rise of Muslims. There has been growth in the Christ Apostolic Church (the first Aladura Movement in Nigeria) and the Aladura Church, an indigenous Christian sect that was especially strong in the Yoruba areas, and of evangelical churches in general, spilling over into adjacent and southern areas of the middle belt. Aladura is a Religion founded c1922-1930 in West Nigeria by various people with around 1 million adherents worldwide The Church of the Lord (Aladura is an African Initiated Church founded by the first Primate and Late Prophet Dr Protestantism refers to the forms of Christian faith and practice that originated in the 16th century Protestant Reformation.

In general, however, the country should be seen as having a predominantly Muslim north, a mixed Christian and Muslim Southwest and a non-Muslim, primarily Christian South East and South-South, with each as a minority faith in the other's region.

Religion	Year Reported	Number of Adherents (Based on 140M. Pop. ) [1]	Percentage of Total Population
Islam	1999	70,000,000	50%
Christianity	1999	56,000,000	40%
Other	1999	14,000,000	10%

Contents 1 Islam 2 Christianity 2.1 Roman Catholicism 2.2 Church of Nigeria 2.3 Location 2.4 Missionary Work and Christianity in Nigeria 2.5 Offshoots of European Denominations 2.6 Combination with Traditional Practices 2.7 Social Class and Religion 2.8 Inter Ethnic Conflict 3 Indigenous Beliefs 3.1 Origins 3.2 Practices 3.3 Secret Societies 3.4 Sorcery and Witchcraft 3.5 Traditional Religion among the Yorubas 3.6 Conflicts with Newer Beliefs 3.7 Reviving Traditional Practices 4 Other religions 4.1 Judaism 4.2 Hinduism 4.3 Bahá'í Faith 4.4 Chrislam 4.5 The Grail Movement 4.6 The Rosicrucian Order 4.7 Freemasonry 4.8 The Reformed Ogboni Fraternity 5 See also 6 References 7 Links

Islam

Main article: Islam in Nigeria

Islam is a traditional religion in West Africa. For other meanings including people named 'Islam' see Islam (disambiguation. Christianity ( Greek Χριστιανισμός from the word Xριστός ( Christ)is a monotheistic Religion centered on the life and teachings The Other or constitutive other (also referred to as othering) is a key concept in Continental philosophy, opposed to the Same Fifty percent of the population of Nigeria adheres to Islam. Islam came to Northern Nigeria as early as the ninth century and was For other meanings including people named 'Islam' see Islam (disambiguation. West Africa or Western Africa is the Westernmost Region of the African Continent. Nigeria has one of the largest Muslim populations in Africa. A Muslim (مسلم pronounced Muslim, not Muzlim) is an adherent of the Religion Islam came to Northern Nigeria as early as the eleventh century and was well established in the major capitals of the region by the sixteenth century, spreading into the countryside and toward the middle belt uplands. For other meanings including people named 'Islam' see Islam (disambiguation. Shehu Usman dan Fodio established a government in Northern Nigeria based on Islam before the advent of Colonialism. Shaihu Usman dan Fodio (عثمان بن فودي ، عثمان دان فوديو‎ (also referred to as Shaikh Usman Ibn Fodio, Shehu Uthman Dan Fuduye or Shehu Usman dan Fodio The British Colonial Government therefore established indirect rule in Northern Nigeria based on the structure of this government. Islam also came to South Western Yoruba-speaking areas during the time of Mansa Musa's Mali Empire. For other meanings including people named 'Islam' see Islam (disambiguation. Yoruba (native name èdè Yorùbá, 'the Yoruba language' is a Dialect continuum of West Africa with over 25 million speakers The Mali Empire or Manding Empire or Manden Kurufa was a Medieval West African civilization of the Mandinka from c The Yoruba's colloquially referred to Islam as "Esin-Mali" or some will say "Esin-Mole", which means religion from Mali. For other meanings including people named 'Islam' see Islam (disambiguation. Muslims in Nigerian practice the Maliki school of jurisprudence and are mostly Sunni Muslims, The Shia Muslims of Nigeria are primarily located in the Sokoto State,^{[2] [3]}

Christianity

Christianity is the second largest religion in Nigeria, after Islam. The Maliki Madhhab ( Arabic مالكي) is one of the four schools of Fiqh or religious law within Sunni Islam Sunni Islam is the largest denomination of Islam. Sunni Islam is also referred to as Ahl as-Sunnah wa’l-Jamā‘h (Arabic Christianity ( Greek Χριστιανισμός from the word Xριστός ( Christ)is a monotheistic Religion centered on the life and teachings Nigeria, officially named the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal Constitutional republic comprising thirty-six states and one Federal For other meanings including people named 'Islam' see Islam (disambiguation. The World Factbook and the World Almanac both list Christians as comprising 50% of the population, with Muslims as 49%. The World Factbook ( ISSN; also known as the CIA World Factbook) is an annual publication of the Central Intelligence Agency of the The World Almanac and Book of Facts is an American-published Reference work and is the bestselling almanac conveying information about such subjects as world changes ^{[4] [5]} More than 50 million persons in Nigeria belong to the church. ^[6]

The ecclesiastical provinces of the Church of Nigeria are: Lagos, Ibadan, Ondo, Bendel, The Niger, Niger Delta, Owerri, Abuja, Kaduna and Jos. The Church of Nigeria is the Anglican Church in Nigeria. It is the second-largest Province in the Anglican Communion, as measured ^[7] Its primate is Peter Jasper Akinola. Peter Jasper Akinola (born 27 January 1944) is the current Anglican Primate of the Church of Nigeria. ^[8] The Church of Nigeria has about 17 million members. ^[9]

The Nigerian Baptist Convention has about 3 million baptized members. The Nigerian Baptist Convention is the second largest Baptist convention affiliating with the Baptist World Alliance, and the third largest in the world ^[10]The Archdioceses of the Roman Catholic Church are: Abuja, Benin City, Calabar, Ibadan, Jos, Kaduna, Lagos, Onitsha and Owerri. ^[11] It has about 39 million members in Nigeria. ^[12] Cardinal Francis Arinze is a Roman Catholic Cardinal from Nigeria. Francis Cardinal Arinze, (born 1 November 1932) is a Nigerian Cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church. ^[13]

Roman Catholicism

Main article: Roman Catholicism in Nigeria

Church of Nigeria

See also: Church of Nigeria

The Anglican Church of Nigeria is the second-largest Province in the Anglican Communion, as measured by baptized membership, after the Church of England. The Catholic Church in Nigeria is part of the worldwide Catholic Church, under the spiritual leadership of the Pope and Curia in Rome The Church of Nigeria is the Anglican Church in Nigeria. It is the second-largest Province in the Anglican Communion, as measured The Church of Nigeria is the Anglican Church in Nigeria. It is the second-largest Province in the Anglican Communion, as measured An ecclesiastical province is a large jurisdiction of religious government so named by analogy with a secular Province, existing in certain hierarchical Christian See also Anglicanism The Anglican Communion is an international association of national Anglican churches The Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England, the Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican It gives as current membership "over 18 million"^[14], out of a total Nigerian population of 140 million. Anglicanism is only one of Nigeria's several Christian Denominations.

Location

The majority of Christians are found in the south East and South-South. A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, a monotheistic Religion centered on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth A few isolated mission stations and mission bookstores, along with churches serving southern enclaves in the northern cities and larger towns, dotted the Muslim north. Christianity in Yoruba area traditionally has been Protestant and Anglican, whereas Igboland has always been the area of greatest activity by the Roman Catholic Church. Anglicanism is a tradition of Christian faith Churches in this tradition either have historical connections to the Church of England or have similar beliefs Other denominations abounded as well. Presbyterians arrived in the late seventeenth century in the Ibibio, Annang and Efik land and the Niger Delta area and had missions in the middle belt as well. Presbyterianism is a family of Christian denominations within the Reformed branch of Protestant Western Christianity The Annang (also spelled Anaang) is a cultural and ethnic group that lives in the coastal southeast Nigeria. The Efik people are a branch of the Ibibio, who in the early 1600s migrated down the Cross River from Cameroon and founded numerous settlements in The Niger Delta, the delta of the Niger River in Nigeria, is a densely populated region sometimes called the Oil Rivers because it was once a The works of the Presbyterian Church in Calabar from Scotland by missionaries like Rev Hope M. Calabar is a city in southeastern Nigeria. The City is watered by the Calabar and Great Qua Rivers and creeks of the Cross Waddell in the late seventeen century and that of Mary Slessor of Calabar being examples. Small missionary movements were allowed to start up, generally in the 1920s, after the middle belt was considered pacified. Each denomination set up rural networks by providing schooling and health facilities. Most such facilities remained in 1990, although in many cases schools had been taken over by the local state government in order to standardize curricula and indigenize the teaching staff. Pentecostals arrived mostly as indigenous workers in the postindependence period and in 1990 Pentecostalism was spreading rapidly throughout the middle belt, having some success in Roman Catholic and Protestant towns of the south as well. Pentecostalism is a renewalist religious movement within Christianity that places special emphasis on the direct personal experience of God through the Baptism There were also breakaway, or Africanized churches that blended traditional Christian symbols with indigenous symbols. Among these was the Aladura movement that was spreading rapidly throughout Yorubaland and into the non-Muslim middle belt areas. Aladura is a Religion founded c1922-1930 in West Nigeria by various people with around 1 million adherents worldwide

Missionary Work and Christianity in Nigeria

Apart from Benin and Warri, which had come in contact with Christianity through the Portuguese as early as the fifteenth century, most missionaries arrived by sea in the nineteenth century. Benin (bə'nɪn officially the Republic of Benin, and also known as Benin Republic, is a country in Western Africa. Warri is a Major Oil city in Delta State, Nigeria, with a population in the range of over a million people Portugal, officially the Portuguese Republic (República Portuguesa is a country on the Iberian Peninsula. As with other areas in Africa, Roman Catholics and Anglicans each tended to establish areas of hegemony in southern Nigeria. After World War I, smaller denominations such as the Church of the Brethren, Seventh-day Adventists and others worked in interstitial areas, trying not to compete. World War I (abbreviated WWI; also known as the First World War, the Great War, and the War to End All The Church of the Brethren is a Christian denomination originating from the Schwarzenau Brethren ("Schwarzenauer Neutäufer" organized in 1708 by eight The Seventh-day Adventist (abbreviated " Adventist " Church is a Christian denomination which is distinguished mainly by its observance Although less well-known, African-American churches entered the missionary field in the nineteenth century and created contacts with Nigeria that lasted well into the colonial period. African Americans or Black Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have origins in any of the black populations of Africa

Offshoots of European Denominations

African churches were founded by small groups breaking off from the European denominations, especially in Yorubaland, where such independence movements started as early as the late nineteenth century. They were for the most part ritually and doctrinally identical to the pavent church, although more African music, and later dance, entered and mixed with the imported church services. The music of Africa is as vast and varied as the continent's many regions, nations and Ethnic groups Although there is no distinctly pan-African A number also used biblical references to support polygyny. Polygyny (which comes from neo- Greek: πολύ poly "many" + γυνή gyny "woman" is a specific form of Polygamy, With political independence came African priests in both Roman Catholic and Protestant denominations, although ritual and forms of worship were strictly those of the home country of the original missionaries. By the 1980s, however, African music and even dancing were being introduced quietly into church services, albeit altered to fit into rituals of European origin. Southern Christians living in the north, especially in larger cities, had congregations and churches founded as early as the 1920s. Even medium-sized towns (20,000 persons or more) with an established southern enclave had local churches, especially in the middle belt, where both major religions had a strong foothold. The exodus of Igbo from the north in the late 1960s left Roman Catholic churches poorly attended, but by the 1980s adherents were back in even greater numbers, and a number of new churches had been built.

Combination with Traditional Practices

The Aladura, like several other breakaway churches, stress healing and fulfillment of life goals for oneself and one's family. African beliefs that sorcery and witchcraft are malevolent forces against which protection is required are accepted; rituals are warm and emotional, stressing personal involvement and acceptance of spirit possession. Theology is biblical, but some sects add costumed processions and some accept polygyny.

Social Class and Religion

Major congregations of the larger Anglican and Roman Catholic missions represented elite families of their respective areas, although each of these churches had members from all levels and many quite humble church buildings. Nevertheless, a wedding in the Anglican cathedral in Lagos was usually a gathering of the elite of the entire country, and of Lagos and Yorubaland in particular. Such families had connections to their churches going back to the nineteenth century and were generally not attracted to the breakaway churches. All major urban centers, all universities, and the new capital of Abuja had areas set aside for the major religions to build mosques and churches and for burial grounds.

Inter Ethnic Conflict

Interethnic conflict generally has had a religious element. Riots against Igbo in 1953 and in the 1960s in the north were said to be fired by religious conflict. The riots against Igbo in the north in 1966 were said to have been inspired by radio reports of mistreatment of Muslims in the south. In the 1980s, serious outbreaks between Christians and Muslims occurred in Kafanchan in southern Kaduna State in a border area between the two religions. Kafanchan is a town in southern Kaduna State in north-central Nigeria. Geography History The state is the successor to the old

Indigenous Beliefs

Alongside most Nigerian religious adherence were systems of belief with ancient roots in the area. These beliefs combined family ghosts with relations to the primordial spirits of a particular site. A ghost is said to be the apparition of a Deceased person frequently similar in appearance to that person and usually encountered in places she or he frequented In effect the rights of a group defined by common genealogical descent were linked to a particular place and the settlements within it. The primary function of such beliefs was to provide supernatural sanctions and legitimacy to the relationship between, and the regulations governing, claims on resources, especially agricultural land and house sites. Access rights to resources, political offices, economic activities, or social relations were defined and legitimized by these same religious beliefs.

Origins

The theology expressing and protecting these relationships centered, first, on the souls of the recently dead, ghosts who continued their interest in the living as they had when they were alive. Theology is the study of a god or the gods from a religious perspective The soul, according to many religious and philosophical beliefs is the self-awareness, or Consciousness, unique to a particular living That is to say, authoritative elders demanded conformity to rules governing access to, and inheritance of, rights to resources. Indigenous theology also comprised all of the duties of the living to one another and to their customs, including their obligations to the dead ancestors whose spirits demanded adherence to the moral rules governing all human actions. The second pantheon were the supernatural residents of the land. These spirits of place (trees, rock outcroppings, a river, snakes, or other animals and objects) were discovered and placated by the original founders, who had migrated to the new site from a previous one. Spirits of the land might vary with each place or be so closely identified with a group's welfare that they were carried to a new place as part of the continuity of a group to its former home. In the new place, these spiritual migrants joined the local spirit population. Such deities developed from an original covenant created by the founders of a settlement between themselves and the local spirits. See also List of deities A deity is a Postulated Preternatural or Supernatural Being, who is always This covenant legitimized their arrival. In return for regular rites and prayers to these spirits, the founders could claim perpetual access to local resources. In doing so, they became the lineage in charge of the hereditary local priesthood and village headship and were recognized as "owners of the place" by later human arrivals. Both sets of spirits, those of family and those of place, demanded loyalty to communal virtues and to the authority of the elders in defending ancient beliefs and practices.

Practices

In addition to ensuring access to, and the continual fertility of, both land and people, the spiritual entities protected their adherents from misfortune, adjudicated disputes through trials by ordeal or through messages divined by special seers, and punished personal or communal immorality through personal and group failures, sickness, drought, fires, and other catastrophes. Special practitioners were in control of supernatural forces to heal illnesses, counter malevolent intentions by others and/or the ghostly entities, and diagnose witchcraft--the effects of malefactors whose personal spirits might cause harm, sometimes without the actual knowledge of the evildoer. Witchcraft, in various historical anthropological religious and mythological contexts is the use of certain kinds of Supernatural or magical powers Protection against misfortune was strengthened by charms, amulets, and medicinal products sold by the practitioners. In everyday life, misfortune, sickness, political rivalries, inheritance disputes, and even marital choices or the clearing of a new field could be incorporated and explained within this religious framework. Given these beliefs, causal relations were stipulated and explained through the actions of supernatural entities, whose relations to the living involved interventions that enforced morality and traditional values.

Secret Societies

As with many peoples around the world, especially in Africa, the adult men were organized into secret societies that imitated the activity of the spirits in maintaining the moral order. Secret society is a term used to describe a variety of organizations In the 1980s in Igboland and in similar societies in neighboring areas, social control and conformity to moral order was still enforced by secret societies. The Igbo [iɡɓo] ( Igbo: Igbo, sometimes Nd'Igbo) sometimes referred to (usually formerly as the Ibo, Eboe, Ebo The Ekpe society of the Efik, Ibibio, Annang people of southeastern Nigeria is a strong example. Ekpe, also known as Egbo ( English: Lion is a Secret society flourishing chiefly among the Efiks of the Cross River State and the The Efik people are a branch of the Ibibio, who in the early 1600s migrated down the Cross River from Cameroon and founded numerous settlements in The Annang (also spelled Anaang) is a cultural and ethnic group that lives in the coastal southeast Nigeria. The Ekpe society developed Nsibidi writing of Africa. Ekpe, also known as Egbo ( English: Lion is a Secret society flourishing chiefly among the Efiks of the Cross River State and the Nsibidi is a traditional ideographic set of symbols indigenous to West Africa. In the 1970s, this pattern was observed spreading into small, originally autonomous communities of the southern middle belt at the northern rim of Igboland. Generally, adult men received some training and were then initiated into membership. In 1990 memberships were more selective, and in some places such organizations had died out. Specifically, these societies enforced community morality through rituals and masked dances. During these performances, secret society members imitated the spirits. They preached and expressed displeasure with and gave warnings about individual and communal morality, attributing accusations and threats to spirits of place and family who were displeased with their human charges. . . . . . . .

Sorcery and Witchcraft

Sorcery and even witchcraft beliefs persisted and were discussed as forms of medicine, or as coming from "bad people" whose spirits or souls were diagnosed as the cause of misfortune. Medicine is the art and science of healing It encompasses a range of Health care practices evolved to maintain and restore Human Health by the There also were special ways in which the outcomes of stressful future activity, long trips, lingering illnesses, family and other problems could be examined. Soothsayers provided both therapy and divinatory foreknowledge in stressful situations.

Traditional Religion among the Yorubas

In the city-states of Yorubaland and its neighbors, a more complex religion evolved that expressed the subjugation of village life within larger polities. The Yoruba (Yo•row•ba ( Yorùbá in Yoruba Orthography) are one of the largest ethno-linguistic or Ethnic groups in West Africa These city-states produced a theology that linked local beliefs to a central citadel government and its sovereignty over a hinterland of villages through the monarch. The king (oba) and his ancestors were responsible for the welfare of the entire state, in return for confirmation of the legitimacy of the oba's rule over his subjects. Oba, (pronounced Or-ba means King or ruler in the Yoruba language In Oyo, for example, there were a number of national cults, each with its own priests who performed rituals under the authority of the king (alafin) in the public interest. Shango, god of thunder, symbolized the power of the king and of central government; Ogboni represented the fertility of the land and the monarch's role in ensuring the well-being of the kingdom. Ogboni (also known as Osugbo in Ijèbú) is a Fraternal institution indigenous to the Yoruba language -speaking polities of Nigeria, Republic

Conflicts with Newer Beliefs

In 1990 these indigenous beliefs were more or less openly practiced and adhered to among many Christians and Muslims in various parts of the country. In many Muslim and Christian households and villages, a number of the older religious practices and beliefs also survived. On the other hand, research indicated that many, especially younger people, believed the older traditions to be apostasy so that it was common, particularly in rural areas, to see mixtures of local beliefs with either Christianity or Islam. And in some instances, although the overall trend was away from indigenous religions and toward monotheism, older people suffered such mental and physical anguish over denouncing inherited beliefs that they abandoned the newer one. For the Celtic Frost album see Monotheist (album In Theology, monotheism (from Greek grc [[wiktμόνος μόνος]]

Reviving Traditional Practices

Organizations seeking to revive African Traditional Religions back to its pre-colonial state include the Neo Black Movement of Africa which was founded at the Ekehuan Campus University of Benin, Nigeria. Religion in Africa is multifaceted Most Africans adhere to either Christianity or Islam. The Neo Black Movement of Africa is a socio-cultural organisation that seek to revive retain and modify where necessary those aspects of African culture that would provide vehicles The University of Benin, in Benin City, Nigeria, is one of the country's major universities. Nigeria, officially named the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal Constitutional republic comprising thirty-six states and one Federal The Black Axe Confraternity have stemmed from this movement and have since been denounced by the founding body.

Other religions

Judaism

Main article: Jews of Nigeria

Judaism is practiced by about 40,000 people (about 0. The Igbo Jews or Ibo Benei-Yisrael, are members of the Igbo people of Nigeria who practice the Jewish religion and are said to be descended Judaism (from the Greek Ioudaïsmos, derived from the Hebrew יהודה Yehudah, " Judah " in Hebrew יַהֲדוּת Yahedut 02% of the Nigerian population), mainly members of the Igbo tribe in eastern and the Ibibio, Annang, and Efik southern Nigeria. The Annang (also spelled Anaang) is a cultural and ethnic group that lives in the coastal southeast Nigeria. The Efik people are a branch of the Ibibio, who in the early 1600s migrated down the Cross River from Cameroon and founded numerous settlements in Judaism is believed to have an ancient presence in the country, and in the region as a whole (see Jews of Nigeria). The Igbo Jews or Ibo Benei-Yisrael, are members of the Igbo people of Nigeria who practice the Jewish religion and are said to be descended

Hinduism

Main article: Hinduism in Nigeria

Hinduism spread to Nigeria mainly by immigration of Hindus from India and of Hare Krishna Missionaries. Hinduism spread to Nigeria mainly by immigration of Hindus from India and by way of Hare Krishna Missionaries. Many Nigerians have converted to Hinduism mainly due to efforts of ISKCON Missionaries. The International Society for Krishna Consciousness ( ISKCON) also known as 'the Hare Krishna ' movement is one of several Vaishnava groups ISKCON has inaugurated the Vedic Welfare Complex in Apapa. The International Society for Krishna Consciousness ( ISKCON) also known as 'the Hare Krishna ' movement is one of several Vaishnava groups Hinduism ^[15]

Altogether including Nigerians of Indian origin and NRIs there are 25,000 Hindus in Nigeria. Hinduism spread to Nigeria mainly by immigration of Hindus from India and by way of Hare Krishna Missionaries. Most of them live in Lagos, the former capital of Nigeria [1]

Bahá'í Faith

Main article: Bahá'í Faith in Nigeria

After an isolated presence in the late 1920's,^[16] the Bahá'í Faith in Nigeria begins with pioneering Bahá'ís coming to Sub-Saharan West Africa in the 1950s especially following the efforts of Enoch Olinga who directly and indirectly affected the growth of the religion in Nigeria. After an isolated presence in the late 1920s the Bahá'í Faith in Nigeria begins with pioneering Bahá'ís coming to Sub-Saharan West Africa The Bahá'í Faith is a Religion founded by Bahá'u'lláh in nineteenth-century Persia, emphasizing the spiritual unity of all humankind A pioneer is a volunteer Bahá'í who leaves his or her home to journey to another place (often another country for the purpose of teaching the Bahá'í Faith. The Bahá'í Faith is a Religion founded by Bahá'u'lláh in nineteenth-century Persia, emphasizing the spiritual unity of all humankind Sub-Saharan Africa is a geographical term used to describe the area of the African continent which lies south of the Sahara, or those African countries West Africa or Western Africa is the Westernmost Region of the African Continent. Enoch Olinga (1926 &ndash September 16, 1979) was born to a Christian family of the Iteso ethnic group in Uganda. Nigeria, officially named the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal Constitutional republic comprising thirty-six states and one Federal ^[17] Following growth across West Africa a regional National Spiritual Assembly was elected in 1956. Spiritual Assembly is a term given by `Abdu'l-Bahá to refer to elected councils that govern the Bahá'í Faith. ^[18] As the community multiplied across cities and became diverse in it's engagements it elected it's own National Spiritual Assembly by 1979^[19] and had 1000 Bahá'ís in 2001. ^[20]

Chrislam

Main article: Chrislam

Chrislam is a blend of Christianity and Islam that takes practises from both the Bible and the Koran. Chrislam, or the The Will of God Mission or Ifeoluwa Mission (Ifeoluwa is a Yoruba word meaning "God's Love" is a Nigerian syncretic Chrislam, or the The Will of God Mission or Ifeoluwa Mission (Ifeoluwa is a Yoruba word meaning "God's Love" is a Nigerian syncretic Etymology According to the Online Etymology Dictionary, the word bible is from Latin biblia, traced from the same word through Medieval Latin and Late Latin The Qur’an ( القرآن, literally "the recitation" also sometimes transliterated as Qur’ān, Koran, Alcoran It hopes to quell religious feuds among Nigerians. ^[21]

The Grail Movement

Main article: Grail Movement

Nigeria has become an African hub for Grail Movement, inspired by the work of Abd-ru-shin, principally In the Light of Truth: The Grail Message. The Grail Movement is an organization which originated in Germany in the late 1940s inspired by the work of Oskar Ernst Bernhardt (also known by his Pen name The Grail Movement is an organization which originated in Germany in the late 1940s inspired by the work of Oskar Ernst Bernhardt (also known by his Pen name ^[22]

The Rosicrucian Order

The Rosicrucian Order, Ancient Mystical Order Rosæ Crucis (AMORC) is a worldwide mystical, philosophical, educational, humanitarian and fraternal organization devoted to the investigation, study and practical application of natural and spiritual laws. Martin Luther (November 10 1483 February 18 1546 was a German Monk, theologian, university professor Father of Protestantism, and church reformer The Ancient Mystical Order Rosæ Crucis (AMORC, also called Rosicrucian Order, is a philosophical and humanist worldwide Fraternal organization. Membership is open to both men and women of the age of 18 or older. Its eclectic character and tolerance towards all beliefs is demonstrated by the fact that adherents of various religious persuasions can be found amongst its membership. ^[23]

Freemasonry

Freemasonry is a fraternal organization. Arising from obscure origins (theorized to be anywhere from the time of the building of King Solomon's Temple to the mid-1600s), it now exists in various forms all over the world, and claims millions of members. All of these various forms share moral and metaphysical ideals, which include in most cases a constitutional declaration of belief in a Supreme Being. [1] [2]

The Reformed Ogboni Fraternity

A fraternity incorporating references and insignia from the original Ogboni, is based on ancient rites, usages and customs. Established in 1914 by the Ven. Archdeacon T. A. J. Ogunbiyi. Membership is open to all adults who embrace a non-idolaterous faith in God. The fraternity is headquartered in Lagos, Nigeria. In 1996 it had about 710 conclaves/Lodges or Iledi in Nigeria and overseas. [3]

See also

• Church of Nigeria
• Catholic Church in Nigeria
• Jews of Nigeria
• Aba Nigeria Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

References

Links

• Christianity in Nigeria

This article contains material from the Library of Congress Country Studies, which are United States government publications in the public domain. The Country Studies are works published by the Federal Research Division of the Library of Congress ( USA) freely available for use by researchers The federal government of the United States is the central United States Governmental body established by the United States Constitution. The public domain is a range of abstract materials &ndash commonly referred to as Intellectual property &ndash which are not owned or controlled by anyone

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