Religion and Marriage in the Book of Ruth: The Implications for Contemporary Nigeria

Abstract

This paper made a survey of the Old Testament book of Ruth with special interest in the marriage between Ruth and Boaz. The work considered the positive impact of this marriage for the Judeo-Christian world especially as manifested in the personalities of King David and Jesus Christ who of course came from the lineage of Boaz and Ruth. The menace of discriminations among contemporary Christians in choosing marriage partners can be stopped through the proper understanding and internalization of the message of the book of Ruth on marriage. This understanding is necessary for the effective and sincere practicing of Christianity in Nigeria bearing in mind that it is the same God that created mankind in his own image.