From Clash to Dialogue of Religions : A Socio-ethical Analysis of the Christian-Islamic Tension in a Pluralistic Nigeria

September 11, 2001 is now etched into the collective world consciousness as a water-shed in the modern history of relationship between the world civilizations. These civilizations are essentially rooted in religious faiths that are largely ignorant of each other and consequently mutually hostile. Hopefully, not too late, the world has woken up to this awesome reality. This work started by the author some years ago before September 11, 2001 is appearing at a most auspicious time, when Nigeria indeed, is like the world-stage in microcosm where the contradictions between faith and praxis in the relationship between these world religions are played out. Using Nigeria as a case-study the author painstakingly analyses the commonly shared areas of faith between Islam and the Christian Faith and carefully scrutinizes the background, motives and characteristics of the friction points between the two religions. The result of his research challenges both religions by exposing how much they have in common to co-exist peacefully and assure humanity that peace is inexorably bound up with religion. It also underscores the Catholic Social Teaching with its principles, values and norms for the foundation of a sound social Order and structure of social life.