Integrity as a Christian religious value versus corruption in Nigeria: A dislocated relationship

Abstract

Integrity as the practice of being honest and showing a consistent and uncompromising adherence to strong moral and ethical principles and values, is a virtuous value which the society at large expect its members to inculcate. As a Christian religious value, Christians are expected to promote social control and live acceptable standard of lives in the society thereby assisting in reducing vices such as corruption in Nigeria. Focusing on the Christian religion, this paper argues that the prevalence of corruption in Nigeria today is an indication that the Christian religion is not doing enough in promoting integrity as a religious value in the society. The paper adopted a descriptive analytical methodology making use of both primary and secondary sources for its research. The work discovered that Christianity has been bastardized and commercialized to the extent that it is losing its appeal as a promoter of integrity as a religious value. The paper concluded that Christianity as an antivirus is not doing enough in its function to cure a virus such as corruption in Nigeria and recommended that religious leaders, Christians and entire masses should get involved in the fight against corruption in Nigeria.