Globalization in a Religiously Pluralistic Environment: The Nigerian Experience

Abstract

Globalization has become one of the commonplace terms which describe the current world in which we live. The substantive ranks with such other
adjectives like cybernetic, technological and democratic. Specifically the term points to the rallying together or homogeneity of world culture in its economic, technological and cultural dimensions, especially across national frontiers. Religion, being an indispensable part of culture, is not left untouched by this wind of global interpenetration, accelerated by rapid
developments in telecommunications and socio-economic  interdependence. Such a convergence in a divergent or pluralistic religious environment like Nigeria, creates an inner and also a visible tension. This paper explores this tension with a view of proffering ways it can be cushioned. Primary and secondary means in the collection of data are used in the research procedure. Analytic and synthetic approaches were mainly used in the interpretation of data. The paper points out that while the good effects of globalization in a multi-religious milieu as in Nigeria, like good interreligious understanding and exchanges should be appraised, ugly undertones of globalization like religious imperialism and penetration of negative secularism and humanism as new religious movements, should be seen as an old enemy in a new disguise.