RELIGION, MIGRATION AND HUMAN RELATIONS: ESSAY IN HONOUR OF REV. FR. PROF. B.A.C. OBIEFUNA

Religion, migration, and human relations are so intertwined that they have, throughout human history, influenced human society. While religion deals with man's relationship with the divine, migration concerns man's movement from place to place in search of survival. Human relations deal with man's bid to relate with one another to advance society. The Holy Bible and other religious literature are replete with religious practices, migratory activities and human interactions that have helped to keep the society going. Unfortunately, due to man's inordinate quest for wealth, people have migrated for the wrong reasons whilst using religion to cause disaffection that has negatively affected human relations. It’s so worrisome that scholars and other social crusaders are concerned that it has led to mankind's abuse. Religious discrimination, xenophobia and social tensions have negated the original intent of migration that has spurred this discourse. This paper examines the role of religion in fostering human relations among migrants. The causes, effects and strategies for promoting tolerance and coexistence in a diverse world are also discussed. The paper uses documentary data analysis to interpret the data harnessed from secondary sources, which include books, Holy Scriptures, newspapers, magazines, journal articles and Internet resources. It concludes that human relations are possible if migration and religion are practised as righteously as possible for the success of society.

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