INTER-RELIGIOUS DIALOGUE BEYOND BINARIES: RE-EXAMINING CHRISTIANITY AND AFRICAN TRADITIONAL RELIGION AS PARTNERS FOR SOCIAL COHESION IN NIGERIA
This paper critically re-examines interreligious dialogue between Christianity and African Traditional Religion (ATR) as a tool for social cohesion in Nigeria. Despite Nigeria's religious diversity, national interfaith frameworks, such as the Nigerian Inter-Religious Council, exclude ATR, focusing solely on Christian–Muslim relations. This marginalisation overlooks ATR's rich ethical resources and indigenous peace-building mechanisms. The main objective is to assess how meaningful dialogue between Christianity and ATR can foster mutual understanding, prevent conflict, and strengthen social cohesion. Guided by the central question: Can inclusive interreligious dialogue that is identified with ATR contribute to sustainable social cohesion in Nigeria? The research employs a qualitative design using critical discourse analysis and secondary case synthesis, evaluating policy documents, theological writings, media reports, and documented community initiatives. Findings reveal that while formal dialogue is absent, informal and communal engagements (e.g., joint peace ceremonies, cultural festivals) demonstrate significant potential for coexistence. However, barriers such as Pentecostal exclusivism, stigmatization of ATR as “pagan,” political erasure, and cultural erosion impede progress. The study identifies a critical gap: the lack of institutional recognition of ATR in national peace-building structures. It fills this by proposing a decolonial, triadic model of dialogue that centres on indigenous knowledge. The research contributes to scholarship by repositioning ATR as a legitimate dialogue partner and offers practical recommendations: legal recognition of sacred sites, inclusion of ATR in education and NIREC (Nigerian Inter-Religious Council), and support for community-led interfaith initiatives. Future research should explore youth attitudes, comparative models in West Africa, and the impact of inclusive curricula on interreligious prejudice.
Keywords: : Inter-religious dialogue, Christianity, African Traditional Religions, Social cohesion and Nigeria