-
Impacts Of Christianity
CHAPTER ONE -- [Total Page(s) 3]
Page 1 of 3
-
-
-
CHAPTER ONE
GENERAL INTRODUCTION
1.1 BACKGROUND
Christianity
as a religion has been involved in many cities of the world since the
emergence of the world. However, with the various denominations in
Christianity, I would focus more on Anglicanism. This project
work would therefore encompass the history of Christianity in Nigeria,
the spread to Nnewi in Anambra State with the case study of the
Anglicans stressing out its impacts. The history of Christianity in
Nigeria especially in Nnewi town which is among the towns in Igboland
located in Anambra State in the South eastern part of Nigeria present
certain discoveries that are both positive and negative. Discoveries has
been made on the people of Nnewi and their culture, they are known to
have great cultural value that makes them unique. Religion is part of
them and thus they cannot live without it. An adage says :- “Okpukpem bu
ndum. Onye nwere
Okpukpem Nwere ndumâ€. This means :-
“My religion is my life. Whoever takes away
my religion takes my lifeâ€.
1 The Igbo
people place so much values and attachment to their religion. With the
advent of Christianity in Nigeria, especially in the Igbo land, the
traditional religion of the Igbo people began to encounter some
challenges. Some of the traditional practices were abandoned when
Christianity took a firm ground in Nnewi town. The first
Christian contact in Nigeria occurred in the fifteenth century when the
Portuguese introduced Roman Catholicism. However, it was virtually
extinguished over the following 200 years until Roman Catholic
missionaries returned in the 1800s.Since then, the catholic church has
grown and now claims approximately 19 million members and adherents
mainly in the south east. The Anglican church of Nigeria now
numbers over 11 million members and adherents. The growth of the church
of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) since the end of the slave trade has
been a very rapid one. It is interesting to know that within two
centuries, Christianity and indeed Anglicanism which started like
child’s play in Badagry and Abeokuta has spread like wild fire to all
nooks and crannies of our country Nigeria. Christianity came
into Nigeria in the 15th century through the efforts of Augustinian and
Capuchin monks from Portugal.However, it was not until 1842 that Henry
Townsend of the church missionary society sowed the seed of Anglicanism
properly when he landed in Badagry from Freetown, Sierra Leone.
2
The background of this study is that Christianity has come to stay in
Nigeria and states within the country. Although, Christianity poses a
form of threat due to its various denominations which sometimes speak in
different voices. Christianity in Nnewi, Anambra state is what I
would research on and expose in this work, I would specialize more on
the Anglicans, other things to be considered in this work include the
origin of the people of Nnewi, their religion and activities of the
missionaries and how they affected the traditional religion of the Nnewi
people. 1.2 AIMS AND OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY - This work sets to
expose the impacts of Christianity in totality to the Nnewi people but
focusing on the Anglicans. - To put away the people’s faith in the
powers of idol worshipping and to help them find peace in Christianity. -
This work is aimed at looking into the relevance of Christianity in the
development of the Nnewi nation. - To expose the relation of the
Anglican church to other denominations and its emergence in Nnewi
nation. - To examine the origin of the Nnewi people and their religion,
how peculiar it is to them and also the activities of the Christian
missionaries in Nnewi, Anambra state. - To make
suggestions/recommendations on how the Anglican church of Nigeria can
reflect the life patterns of Nnewi traditional society.
CHAPTER ONE -- [Total Page(s) 3]
Page 1 of 3
-
-
ABSRACT - [ Total Page(s): 1 ]Christianity as a religion has affected all spheres of life among the people of Nigeria. A careful study of the religious background of the Nnewi people will show that Christianity has found its way into both the urban and rural areas of the Nnewi society. This study is aimed at looking into the relevance of Christianity in the development of the Nnewi nation. For better understanding of the project, a brief introduction to the lifestyle of the Nnewi people prio ... Continue reading---
