Oracle of Wisdom Journal of Philosophy and Public Affairs

This paper strongly argues that before the advocacy for the revival of Igbo Traditional Religion of the type taking place today in some Igbo societies become very fruitful, there are preliminary objections that must be addressed. That is the reasoning behind the choice of 'prolegomena' as our title. Those preliminary objections encompass intellectual, historical, theological and missiological concerns all having to do with the nature, the essence, the content, the message and the ultimate goal of Igbo Traditional Religion. It asks whether the religion has got the conceptual coherence and theological basis necessary to sustain a credible religious movement. Instead of the sporadic and uncoordinated methods trying to bamboozle people into adherence to the religion, by over and above all the instrumentalization of the entertainment value of the Mmonwu sacred institution, we are proposing that a systematic effort be put into place to address the evident lacunae in Igbo Traditional Religion. We think that these gaps have never been addressed before in African religious scholarship in a way that we are calling attention to. By adopting a historical, phenomenological and critical approach, our philosophical analysis of the issues at stake bring a much needed academic direction to the promotion of Igbo Traditional Religion.

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