Islamica

INTRODUCING THE SERIES:

Studies in Christian-Muslim Relations

 

            Available Titles:

                     Vol. 1--Nigeria’s Decades of Blood

                     Vol. 2--Muslims: Why the Violence?

         Vol. 3--Christians: Why the Muslim Violence? (For now, only on CD)

         Vol. 4--Muslims: Why We Reject Secularism (For now, only on CD-Rom)                  

More titles on the way.         

 This series of studies deals with Christian-Muslim relations.  Though I concentrate on Nigeria, it is Nigeria as a case study from several points of view that have global implications. 

·        What dynamics develop when you have two large blocks of these religions living together?  These large blocks are some 60 million each!

·        What happens when you have these two aggressive missionary religions competing for a place in the sun?

·        What happens when a once almost supreme Muslim community is confronted with an emerging Christian community that has woken up to a growing sense of political awareness and power?

·        What happens when you have a confrontation between a Muslim community that vehemently rejects secularism in favour of sharia and a Christian community that insists on a form of secularism? 

·        What happens when both communities are fearful, mistrusting of and angry with each other so that they can no longer hear each other out?

 

The flow of events in Nigeria is a powerful example of how things are NOT to be done from either side.  I expect that Nigerians who read these monographs will feel deeply ashamed of the violence they unleash on each other in the name of their respective religions.

 

But these studies are not written primarily to embarrass Nigerians. Their purpose is to arrive at some parameters within which they can develop more positive relations with each other, relations of respect and tolerance, that will allow both religions to flourish within the one nation. 

 

These relations have been bedeviled by untold blood shed and destruction ever since 1980. The series describes and explains the riots themselves and the issues of confrontation. Most of the study concentrates on the opinions of Nigerian Muslims and Christians themselves by providing extensive quotations and appendices, especially from the media. Each volume deals with a separate aspect of the relationship.

 

These studies do away with political correctness and religious wishful thinking. We are encouraged to get real. The fatal influence and role of secularism in these relationships in Nigeria come across very pointedly. The weak inheritance of a dualistic gospel transmitted by Christian missions also is explained and constitutes a major reason for confusion in Nigeria.

 

Purpose of these studies:

 

q       To contribute to the search for a solution to Nigeria’s religious violence by establishing some necessary parameters.

q       To demonstrate the horrors and dangers that arise when religious institutions are distorted into power blocks and parties or into weapons of manipulation instead of vehicles for service. 

q       To illustrate that secularism….

§         Leads  to anger and resentment among Muslims.

§         Derails Christian thought.

§         Prevents approachement between the two religions.

§         Is not a suitable solution in Nigeria due to secularism's anemic view of    

                  religion, its arrogance, self-delusion and partiality.

q            To help Christians develop a more Biblical and wholistic view of their  

           religion.

q       To urge Muslims to adjust and update their traditional sense of pluralism and tolerance to the current situation in Nigeria.

q       To convince the secular West that it must take religion seriously, respect it-- not merely tolerate it-- and incorporate it in their political equations.

 

          Some of these goals will merely be implied, not argued.

 

 

 

 

For Companion CD-Rom version, see below.

 

VOLUME 1:

NIGERIA'S DECADES OF BLOOD

(1980-2002)

 

This volume describes the religious riots that have punctuated Nigerian affairs the past few decades. Many people are wondering about what is going to happen between Christians and Muslims.

This book tells you what is happening in a country where fifty million Muslims and fifty million Christians face each other--Nigeria. Over the last twenty years rivers of blood have flowed into the abyss. This book describes these religious riots and how it all happened--the killings, the violence, the arson of churches and mosques, homes and businesses.

It answers questions like these:

·        Who started what?

·        How did it get started?

·        Who got hurt and how many were killed?

·        What did Christians do? And what about Muslims?

·         What did the government and its security organs do about it?

 

 

Table of Contents:

 

Chapter 1-INTRODUCTION--The Nigerian Condition

·        Christian-Muslim Relations

·        A Kuyperian Perspective (See Note below)

·        Parameters and Spirit of Discussion

 

Chapter 2-THE STANDOFF

·        Introduction to the Riots

·        Types of Riots and Organizations

·        The Riots:

·        Maitatsine Series

·        Kano Series-1982, 1991, 1995

·        Kaduna Series-Kafanchan, Zangon-Kataf, Kaduna City

·        Katsina-1991

·        Bauchi Series-Tafawa Balewa 1991, 1994, 2000 and beyond

·        Potiskum-1994

·        Plateau Series-1994, 2001 and beyond

·        Maiduguri-1998

·        Concluding Remarks

 

APPENDICES:

1. Press Statement, Ahmadu Bello University Lecturers, 1987: "The Violent Politics of Religion and the Survival of Nigeria."
2. Chief Daniel Gowon, 1987: "Submission to the Kaduna State Commission of Enquiry into the Recent Disturbances in Kaduna State."
3. Yusuf Gwada, 2000: "Death and Destruction at Baptist Seminary, Kaduna, in 2000."
4. Bala Abdullahi and Kayode Kolade, 2000: "Kaduna's Killing Fields."
5. Onimisi Alao, 2000: "Escalation of Rage."
6. Umar Sanda, 2000: "Avoidable Carnage in Kaduna."

 

NOTE: For further information about a Kuyperian Perspective see my Kuyperiana  page.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Volume 2:

MUSLIMS: WHY THE VIOLENCE

 

This book gives the Muslim explanation for the riots described in Monograph 1.  The book contains numerous quotations from Muslim sources and a number of appendices also written mostly by Muslims.  So, you hear it right from the horse’s mouth.  Again, a blunt, hard-hitting book that tells it as it is.  For many Christians it will be an eye opener. 

 

Table of Contents:

 

1.         Introduction

 

2.                  Historical Background

 

3.                  Interpretations of the Riots

 

4.                  Selected Personalities and Organizations

 

Appendices

1.         M. Sadisu, “America Is Doomed.”  (Chapter 2)

2.         M. Y. Ali-Agan, "Commendable: The New Initiatives in Changing

the Nurses Uniforms."  (Chapter 2)

3.         Jawayriyya Badamasuyi,  "Awake: Muslim Women."  (Chapter 2)

4.                  Ibrahim I. Malumfashi,  "Rikicin Kafanchan." (Chapter 2)

5.                  Osa Director with Danazumi Musa, "The Hausa Fulani Own Tafawa Balewa

Area." (Chapter 3)

 

Bibliography

 

Index

 

COMPANION CD-ROM

 

 

In addition to the expanded contents, the advantages of the CD version are:

 

(1) It enables you to work with the materials computer style. Finding specific text,  subjects or words is much easier on a CD than in a book!  Quoting will be a cinch.

 

(2) The volumes will be available on CD before the books come out. For example, at this time of writing, the CD already contains Volumes 3, but it will be August, 2004 or later before that volume comes out in print. Soon the pre-publication version of Volume 4 will be added--some 6 months prior to the paper publication. 

 

(3) It is cheaper. At the moment it includes Vol. 1 as is and expanded versions of Vols. 2 and 3--a current total of some 600 pages as per publisher's paper format. 

 

 

 

This CD is available ONLY from the author, not from the publisher.  The current price of $15 (incl. P&H) is subject to change without prior notice as subsequent materials are added or expenses increase.

 

However, those who have already purchased an earlier version and want to update to the latest,  may order the most recent version by sending $10.00 (incl P&H) in either Cdn or US currency.  Orders in Canadian currency only if CD is to be sent to Canadian address.  Orders from countries other than these two will attract a higher price P&H charge. 

 

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Published:

Western-Christian-Muslim Relations

I have published three slightly different versions of an article in different magazines in Canada, US and South Africa. It is avaliable online as a Word document: Western-Christian-Muslim Relations in the Current Crisis - A Christian Challenge.

"Western-Christian-Muslim Relations in the Current Crisis: A Christian Challenge." Woord & Daad,* no. 380, pp. 24-28.

"Nigerian Islam vs Secularism", Woord & Daad,* No. 379, 2002, pp. 20-24.

"Western-Christian-Muslim Relations in the Current Crisis", Christian Courier,** May 20, 2002

"The Voice of Islam." Christian Courier,** Nov. 26, 2001

"The Christian-Muslim Standoff in Nigeria"

• Part I: "The Christian Viewpoint." Christian Courier, Jan. 22, 2001
• Part II: "The Muslim Viewpoint." Christian Courier, Feb. 5, 2001

"The Nigerian Christian-Muslim Standoff: Some Underlying Issues."

• TCNN Research Bulletin, No. 33, March, 2000, pp. 4-23. (Photocopy)
  TCNN website: www.tcnn.edu

Christianity and Islam under Colonialism in Northern Nigeria, 1988, 68 pp.

• In dialogue with a former Nigerian Muslim Minister of Education.

Contact Christian Courier at cceditor@aol.com

NOTES:

* Woord & Daad is a magazine from the University of Potchefstroom, South Africa.

** Christian Courier is a Christian bi-monthly based in St. Catherines, ON, Canada.

*** TCNN Research Bulletin - TCNN is the Theological College of Northern Nigeria.

Unpublished Papers Read at a Theological Society:

(Photocopies available)

"A Tragedy of Wasted Opportunity: Two Decades of Religious Violence in Nigeria."

"The Nigerian Christian-Muslim Standoff: Some Underlying Issues; Parameters for a Solution."

"Islam Vs Secularism: The Nigerian Radical Position."

John H. Boer
907-1250 Bute Street
Vancouver, BC
Email: boerjf@hotmail.com
CANADA V6E 1Z9
Telephone: 604-646-8016