Christian Resistance to Gay-Proselytism in a Secular Nigeria: Anathema or Social Heroism?
The criminalization of homosexuality in Nigeria has partially been inspired and acclaimed by a number of religious schools of thought, including Christian opinion leaders. Such an influence of religion on politics has been seriously questioned. Using observations and literary sources, this paper und...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Sciendo
2015-12-01
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| Series: | European Review Of Applied Sociology |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1515/eras-2015-0006 |
| _version_ | 1818755896508940288 |
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| author | Endong Floribert Calvain Patrick |
| author_facet | Endong Floribert Calvain Patrick |
| author_sort | Endong Floribert |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The criminalization of homosexuality in Nigeria has partially been inspired and acclaimed by a number of religious schools of thought, including Christian opinion leaders. Such an influence of religion on politics has been seriously questioned. Using observations and literary sources, this paper underlines the unconstitutionality of Christian antigay proselytism at the political sphere of the Nigerian State, anchoring its claim on the constitutional provision stipulating the secular character of Nigeria. It however interprets such a move (the “influential” Christian anti-gay proselytism) as an inevitable expression of the religious character of Nigeria’s social and cultural spheres. Furthermore, the paper argues that the Nigerian Federation is “fully secular” only on paper and not in practice. Secularity is partially observed at the political sphere of the State. Religion and populism continue to shape major socio-political schemes (as seen in the criminalization of homosexuality in Nigeria). With such a socio-political influence of religion, legislative projects such as the Same-Sex Marriage (Prohibition) Act and political strategies such as the Nigerian Government’s resistance against western gay-proselytism can only be massively celebrated. In line with this, (Christian) anti-gay proselytism at the Nigeria’s political sphere is logically viewed less as an anathema, and more as socio-political heroism. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-18T05:46:26Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-d94242e93efe43fc81538164c9199dd3 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2286-2552 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-18T05:46:26Z |
| publishDate | 2015-12-01 |
| publisher | Sciendo |
| record_format | Article |
| series | European Review Of Applied Sociology |
| spelling | doaj.art-d94242e93efe43fc81538164c9199dd32022-12-21T21:19:01ZengSciendoEuropean Review Of Applied Sociology2286-25522015-12-0181161310.1515/eras-2015-0006eras-2015-0006Christian Resistance to Gay-Proselytism in a Secular Nigeria: Anathema or Social Heroism?Endong Floribert0Calvain Patrick1Department of Theatre and Media Studies, University of Calabar, PMB 1115, CRS, Calabar-NigeriaDepartment of Theatre and Media Studies, University of Calabar, PMB 1115, CRS, Calabar-NigeriaThe criminalization of homosexuality in Nigeria has partially been inspired and acclaimed by a number of religious schools of thought, including Christian opinion leaders. Such an influence of religion on politics has been seriously questioned. Using observations and literary sources, this paper underlines the unconstitutionality of Christian antigay proselytism at the political sphere of the Nigerian State, anchoring its claim on the constitutional provision stipulating the secular character of Nigeria. It however interprets such a move (the “influential” Christian anti-gay proselytism) as an inevitable expression of the religious character of Nigeria’s social and cultural spheres. Furthermore, the paper argues that the Nigerian Federation is “fully secular” only on paper and not in practice. Secularity is partially observed at the political sphere of the State. Religion and populism continue to shape major socio-political schemes (as seen in the criminalization of homosexuality in Nigeria). With such a socio-political influence of religion, legislative projects such as the Same-Sex Marriage (Prohibition) Act and political strategies such as the Nigerian Government’s resistance against western gay-proselytism can only be massively celebrated. In line with this, (Christian) anti-gay proselytism at the Nigeria’s political sphere is logically viewed less as an anathema, and more as socio-political heroism.https://doi.org/10.1515/eras-2015-0006homosexualityreligionpro/anti-gay proselytismsecularismsame-sex prohibition act |
| spellingShingle | Endong Floribert Calvain Patrick Christian Resistance to Gay-Proselytism in a Secular Nigeria: Anathema or Social Heroism? European Review Of Applied Sociology homosexuality religion pro/anti-gay proselytism secularism same-sex prohibition act |
| title | Christian Resistance to Gay-Proselytism in a Secular Nigeria: Anathema or Social Heroism? |
| title_full | Christian Resistance to Gay-Proselytism in a Secular Nigeria: Anathema or Social Heroism? |
| title_fullStr | Christian Resistance to Gay-Proselytism in a Secular Nigeria: Anathema or Social Heroism? |
| title_full_unstemmed | Christian Resistance to Gay-Proselytism in a Secular Nigeria: Anathema or Social Heroism? |
| title_short | Christian Resistance to Gay-Proselytism in a Secular Nigeria: Anathema or Social Heroism? |
| title_sort | christian resistance to gay proselytism in a secular nigeria anathema or social heroism |
| topic | homosexuality religion pro/anti-gay proselytism secularism same-sex prohibition act |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1515/eras-2015-0006 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT endongfloribert christianresistancetogayproselytisminasecularnigeriaanathemaorsocialheroism AT calvainpatrick christianresistancetogayproselytisminasecularnigeriaanathemaorsocialheroism |