Browsing by Author "Ogunade, Raymond"
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Item African Eschatology and the future of the Cosmos(Department of Religions, University of Ilorin, 2000-12) Ogunade, RaymondAfrican Religion, human beings are the most important of the creatures of God and they are composed of the material and the immaterial parts. The material part is that which is tangible, visible, and can be described in concrete terms. This, in fact, is the body. Any part of the body can be lost without the loss of life. A damaged pa it can be cured or replaced, and people continue in existence. But this is not the same when we come to the second part of a person which is the immaterial, the intangible and the invisible entity.Item African Religion in Democracy(Eldoret: Moi University Press., 2010) Ogunade, RaymondReligion and politics has played and continue to play vital roles in the socio-cultural and geographical development of Nigeria as a nation state. The two influences had ramified all facets of Nigeria socio-economic development. So much is attached to these factors that, almost invariably, the intra and inter state polarization along religions and political lines are often discernible in vital policy decisions by the political leadership. The situation described above is all pervasive nation wide. It is in fact arguable that party political formation and membership had been more often than not, along religious learning. Nigeria is religiously heterogeneous nation with principal religions as Christianity, Islam and traditional or indigenous religions. Each of these religions had played a prominent role in evolution, sustenance and continued operation of democracy in Nigeria.Item African Traditional Religion in African and African Diaspora Scholarship(Switzerland: Palgrave MacMillan Cham., 2022) Ogunade, Raymond; Dada, OlorunfemiScholars of African Traditional Religion (ATR) have addressed some challenges which are associated with the study of religion such as ATR, which is dynamic, multi-cultural, multi- lingual, has varieties, and entertains secret-sacred. These challenges include the non- availability of written sacred scripture, the issue of appropriate name for the belief system of the Africans due to the varieties of African traditions, how to straighten out the faulty notions of the colonia l scholars’ of ATR, and the felicitous methods to be adopted in the study of the religion amongst others. Scholars of ATR in African and African diaspora have carried out studies to discuss and reveal the original state, content and nature of ATR, but the extent of their scholarly activities on ATR had not been considerably appraised by scholars. Consequently, this chapter was predicated on the dearth of studies that consider the activities and efforts of African scholars on ATR within and outside the border of Africa. The study, therefore, aims at examining the views of African scholars on ATR. Historical and descriptive methods were used for this study to gather and present data through existing literature of African scholars. It was discovered that there are some areas of study that need to be addressed by African scholars on ATR, and need for constant study due to the dynamic nature of the religion was identified. The study recommended that journal of ATR and association of the study or scholars of ATR should be created for research visibility and inter-connectivity or networking in Africa and the Diaspora.Item Contemporary Pedagogy of Applied Yorùbá Sacred Text(University of Florida, 2022) Ogunade, Raymond; Akintola-Thomas, Kolawole; Elebuibon, IfayemiINTRODUCTION The major religions of the world have written scriptures which serve as spiritual guides for their adherents. In these contemporary times, Prothero in his seminal book God is Not One narrowed down major religions to these: Islam, Christianity, Confucianism, Hinduism, Buddhism, Yorùbá Religion, Judaism, Daoism, and Atheism. The Yorùbá religion that is referenced here is specifically Ifá and Òrìṣà worship, to which most Yorùbá globally subscribe, and such subscription is mostly oral. It is that oral transmission of knowledge and wisdom that forms the basis of our interrogation and attention in recognizing writers and scholars in contemporary times, who have been providing coherent documentation and pedagogy of the oral forms of Ifá and Òrìṣà worship as sacred texts. Such efforts are now contextualized and referenced as the Odù Ifá Literary Corpus.Item ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES IN YORUBA RELIGION? IMPLICATIONS FOR LEADERSHIP AND SOCIETY IN NIGERIA(Faculty of Arts, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria., 2004) Ogunade, RaymondIntroduction The world over is beginning to pay renewed attention to the issues of the environment, and Nigeria is no exception. Individuals, in different life-threatening situations', have confessed how small they appeared to themselves, and how mighty Mother Nature was when "natural disaster" struck. Some of the incidences that posed as dangerous were consequences of human interference with harmony of nature. Either out of omission or commission, humanity the world over, has consistently devastated the environment, tampering with the orderliness and the sacredness of the biosphere, the marine and aquatic lives. When nature decides to react, the manifestations are evident in form of epidemic, flood, marine pollution, diseases, pestilences, famine and sometimes, terrible storms. In view of these, nations of the world now engage in programmes of collating and harvesting the vast pieces of information that can assist them in managing the environment for harmonious relationship with it. Recently, the Nigerian government mapped out activities that will encourage her citizens to be environmental friendly and also treat it with some measure of-respect. As shown-on the network news, the Vice President of Nigeria, Atiku Abubakar planted a tree and encouraged every Nigerian to plant at least fifty. This attitude is in line with the global wave of romance with the environment. The enormity of the necessity to embrace and care for the earth and all her wealth is the reason we are postulating the attitude of Yoruba religion (to the environment) to the Nigerian leadership and society.Item Exploration of Anthropic Principle as Theistic Argument: A Study in Christian Thought and Science(University of Kabianga: Division of Planning, Research & Development., 2018) Ogunade, Raymond; Olusanya, K. J.There have been conscious and systematized attempts to establish the existence of God as far back as the 4th century BC. This attempt is tagged theistic arguments; arguments for the existence of God. This paper is another in the series of attempts at engaging in discourses about the existence of God. The focus of this paper is to establish the legitimacy and appropriateness of using insights from the natural sciences in the formulation of theistic arguments. This paper specifically examined the concept of anthropic principle, which connotes that the fundamental parameters and properties of the universe, as described in physics, cosmology and other areas of natural science, fall within precise values and satisfied the narrow requirements needed for life to have emerged in the Universe, thereby raising the question of ultimate causation. A qualitative approach to research was employed in this paper. Literatures on the concept of anthropic principle were consulted and analysed. The study revealed that chance, necessity, multiverse, and design are explanations for anthropic principle. In view of the weaknesses and inadequacy of the first three, it was argued that design is an appropriate explanation for anthropic principle; and where there is design, it makes sense to postulate a designer. The designer, however, may not necessarily fit in into the traditional description of the Christian God. The broad implication of this is that natural science can, at least, point beyond naturalism, thereby corroborating the idea that dialogue between Christian faith and science can enrich human epistemic commitments.Item The future of African Religion, Islam, Christianity and Science in Africa(University of Ilorin: African Center for Religions and the Sciences, 2003) Ogunade, RaymondIntroduction The nature of African Religion is such that it gives serious significance to the physical cosmos. The religion itself evolved via the conception of the African peoples of their environment. To the people, God is seen, felt, and experienced in ever}thing. This is echoed in Bolaji Idowaf s popular saving " Africans are everything religious.' In this regard the African (especially the traditional African) holds in high esteem all of the creatures of God, both animate and inanimate. Everything, no matter how little, eveiyone no matter how seemingly insignificant, has its importance in the order of the created world. So modern science readily fmds absolute relevance in the religious life of the Africans for it agrees totally with the general African Cosmology. Furthermore, African Religion and African Science complement each other; they are interwoven. This is largely due to the fact that a lot of spirituality is involved with some preparations of African Science, By African Science we mean an African account of nature and how it works. This account contains hypotheses, many of which are not acceptable to the people of Western culture. The testing ground of ail sciences, be it African or Western.Item Hierophant and Hierophany in Yoruba Spirituality: Ori-Oke Ajaforunti, Egbe, Nigeria as a Case Study(Bamenda: Langaa Research & Publishing CIG, 2018) Ogunade, Raymond; Zaccheaus, G.The nomadic nature of African religion, sometimes deprives it of some concepts that are attributed to the two major world religions – Christianity and Islam. The concept of Ori-Oke (hierophany), for instance is usually interpreted as a Christian ideology. Experience has shown that this may not be true. This chapter attempts to demonstrate that Ori-Oke phenomenon is a common concept in Yoruba religious beliefs and that personification of natural objects as spiritual entities (hierophants) is a direct consequence of the possession of such domains by spiritual beings, as in the case of Ori-Oke Ajaforunti in Egbe, North Central Nigeria. This reality of indigenous perspective presents to us that natural phenomena become sacred as a result of the resident spirituality which attracts adherents to them for worship. The methodology employed in this exercise include; historical, theological, sociological and interpretative. We also deployed oral interview and participant observation, as tools to get into the minds of the worshippers of Ori-Oke Ajaforunti and also experienced first-hand practices and rituals involved in their ceremonies. We discovered that despite the incursions of the Christian Community to take custody of Ori-Oke Ajaforunti as Christians Prayer Mountain, it has not been possible and also the unflinching faith of the Egbe traditionalists in the Ori-Oke continued to wax stronger.Item The Influence of Psychology on Social Work: Scope for Alternative Perspectives on Attachment and Spirituality in Developing Societies(University of Nigeria, Nsukka: Department of Social Work, 2019) Ogunade, Raymond; Rees, PSocial work in industrialised countries has traditionally looked to psychology for theory. As the professions have evolved this dependence has remained strong. However, both professions increasingly recognise that the application of psychological theory in social work can be problematic, especially in certain contexts. For the purpose of illustration this paper firstly explores the dominance of Attachment Theory in social work despite its questionable deterministic assertions. Second, the lack of regard psychology has typically shown towards matters of spirituality and the consequential influence on social work is discussed. The potential implications for social work in developing societies of adopting similar outlooks on attachment issues and spirituality are considered. A collaborative international social work training initiative (Nigerian-United Kingdom) serves to contextualise these considerations. The paper concludes that social work in developing societies should be judicious when drawing on psychological theory and ensure due attention is paid to indigenous knowledge.Item Interplay Between Religion and Science: Level of Inclusion and Relevance in Religious Studies in Nigeria(University of Kabianga: Division of Planning, Research & Development., 2018) Ogunade, Raymond; Kayode, John OlusanyaFrom the point of view of the scientific skeptics, scriptural literalists, and anyone who eschew some form of fundamentalism or religious conservatism, religion and science are two different human endeavors, which do not have anything in common and as such hold no prospect for mutual interaction or any form of rapprochement. It is not impossible to also find great men and women of science, religion and philosophy with undeniable touch of most current pattern of reasoning falling into this category. This worldview is predicated on the thinking that the respective internal logic and metaphysics of science and religion are such that bringing them into dialogue will, on the one hand, lead to conflation, and as a consequence, conflict; and on the other hand, a corrosion of the truth and integrity of religious faith. A conceptual analysis approach was adopted to analyze the nature of both science and religion with the aim of laying bare the underlying assumptions that tend to vitiate the nature of these frameworks thereby significantly affecting how relationship between them can be construed. We argue in this paper that such conclusion in respect to the relationship between religion and science is inappropriate and premised on erroneous assumptions. Rather, we submitted that an apprehension of reality, devoid of unnecessary naivety, demands that we employ insights from both modes of experiencing and analyzing reality to attain wholesome human self-understanding and that of the entire universe. We also pointed out that in view of the relevance of religion-science debate, deliberate efforts should be made to further inculcate this interdisciplinary approach in the enunciation of religion in Nigeria and other parts of Africa; particularly in the study of religion.Item ‘Outsider’ and ‘Insider’ Study of African Traditional Religion(Switzerland: Palgrave MacMillan Cham, 2022) Ogunade, Raymond; Grillo, OluwaseunThe paper sets before ‘Outsider’ and ‘Insider’ as pivot, the study of African Traditional Religion which it argued that has undergone various stages of evolution. It then proceeds to contribute to the on-going efforts of scholars of African Traditional Religion to identify the classification of scholars of African Traditional religion that could be described as ‘Outsider’ and ‘Insider’. This distinction we found to be blur, overlapping, interface and cross-pollinating. The paper argues that to clarify the distinction between the ‘Outsider’ and ‘Insider’ study of African Traditional Religion, there is the need to expunge biological, racial and geographical sentiments. It posited in its conclusion that other parameters like prejudice, brainwashing, hyper-diffusion, theological gymnastics, and conceptual convoluted thoughts of running African Traditional Religion on the template of other religions with Judeo-Christian at the fore should be given sufficient considerations.Item A Religious Survey of Technological Oddity: Humanoid as Case Study(Bamenda: Langaa Research & Publishing CIG, 2018) Ogunade, Raymond; Zaccheaus, GINTRODUCTION. There is a profound anxiety about the fate of the world, taking cognizance of the fleeting inventions of life with regard to the continuous engagements between religion and technology. Ostensibly, technology is a basic aspect of humanity, but its functionality is expected to be within a framework of moral values and religious factors of the people it serves. It therefore becomes problematic when technological breakthroughs pose underlying threats to moral sensibilities and the religious order, of which humanoid robots with Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a focal paradigm of this discourse. Employing the multiple approaches of socio-cultural, anthropological, and analytical methods, this chapter provides a survey of humanoid robots, exploring the spirituality of the same in Yoruba Religion and Christianity respectively portraying these religions as monitors towards technological oddities in our society. This chapter reveals that the moral implications of unmonitored technologies especially the humanoids have greater defects than the benefits they are intended to offer.Item The Resilience and Challenges of Yoruba Religions Worship in Modern Context(Langaa Research & Publishing CIG., 2017) Ogunade, RaymondThis chapter gives attention to worship, as the essence and rhythm of life of the Yoruba people in all spheres of life. By worship, we do not mean the limited area of rituals and liturgies alone, but also the totality of the people’s relation to the supernatural order of the deities, Chief of who is Olodumare (the Supreme God). The Yoruba people of homeland in Nigeria and of the Diaspora in foreign countries such as Brazil, Cuba, Republic of Benin, Togo, United Kingdom, France, India, Japan, and United States of America continue to practice their indigenous religious faith despite the challenges of modernity and foreign religions, especially Christianity and Islam. Hence, this chapter demonstrates the resilience and adaptation of Yoruba Religious Worship for relevance in the global context. It also shows that instead of being overwhelmed by Christianity, Islam and Modernity she is getting stronger. Methodology for this chapter includes the phenomenological, descriptive and historical approaches, with interviews as tools of research. It must be accepted that the challenges from Christianity and Islam have helped Yoruba Religion to deploy some of the modern media of propagation to enhance her reputation and population growth.Item The Role of Spirituality on Health, Fitness and Sports(University of Ilorin: Physical and Health Education Department., 2000) Ogunade, RaymondThis study attempts to locate the links between spiritual exercise, physical fitness and good health.We discover that spirituality has a lot to do with the physical world. A sound spiritual mind enhances dynamic health and physical well-being. This study also advocates that spirituality provides room for better performance by sport men, in terms of conduct, endurance, morals, discipline and fair-lay. It can also aid laudable performances in competitions. A spiritually minded person is conscious of his environment and is also considerate with his fellow men. He is not likely to beat the Umpire or Referee. Two Relmions - African Religion and Christians were employed as yardsticks for spiritual periscope. They are practicable spiritual exercises bordering on sound mind, physical fitness, good health, hygienic living the total well-being of mankind which when employed naturally makes better sportsmen. The study sums up by recommending to sport's and health ambassadors, the importance of spiritual exercises to physical fitness and good healthy living.Item The Scientific Universe in Yoruba Religion(Moi University Press., 2010) Ogunade, RaymondINTRODUCTION. For some time now, the enmity between science and religion has been so volatile that science considered religion as a timid consolation to human problems; while religion on the other hand viewed science as a quick but sly, cunning and selfish approach to human needs. The past fourteen years have witnessed a gradual romance of these two aspects of human existence, as scholars in both fields dialogue with one another on the benefits for humanity when science and religion are interpreted correctly. In this wise, serious intellectual discussions have taken place, especially in the West. Some western scholars have even gone ahead to design courses on dialogue between science and religion, to be taught in higher institutions of learning. About six years ago, these engagements of science and religion came to Africa. Theologians and scientists began serious attempts to take a cue from their western contemporaries. Academic seminars and conferences were organized. Courses on science and religion dialogue were also designed to be taught in African Universities. But unknown to them and their western colleagues is the fact that there had always been a mutual relationship between science and religion among the Yoruba.Item Secret Societies and Cultic Activities in Nigerian Tertiary Institutions(The General Studies Division, University of Ilorin, 2002) Ogunade, RaymondINTRODUCTION. Cultism is a social crime now common in our tertiary institutions in the country. Many lives and properties have been lost to it. Cultism as a social crime is not limited to higher institutions. It is a common phenomenon characterizing our society. What we find in the higher institutions today is just a reflection of the level to which our society has gone. If some parents could be members of one "fraternity" or the other and their children are aware of it. what behaviour do we expect from the children outside?Item Social Welfare in Nigeria and the UK: Reformation Through International Education, Collaboration and Research(Association of Commonwealth Universities, 2010) Ogunade, Raymond; Rees, PaulItem The Spiritual and Ethical Implications of Oath-Taking in Nigerian Politics(Adonis & Abbey Publishers Ltd, 2018) Ogunade, Raymond; Awofeko, E. O.Oath-taking is not a new thing in Nigerian politics. Today, it raises alarm as it assumes another dimension because of the horrific behaviours and outcomes of office holders during and after their tenure in political offices. Existing religions in Nigeria stand against non-adherence to oath-taking generally and there are attendant consequences for violation of oath-taking. It is from this aspect that this paper examined oath-taking in a general view through its practice in Nigerian politics, non-adherence to oath-taking by political office holders, with its implications from both spiritual and ethical perspectives focusing on the main religions in Nigeria – Christianity, Islam and Indigenous Religions. The methodologies adopted in this study are historical, interpretative, descriptive, and comparative. The paper spelt out the possible outcomes of non-adherence to oath-taking by our leaders, which are economic woes, political instability, insecurity, corruption, and setbacks to the nation at large. To address these, recommendations were given as a way forward to curb this menace.Item Spirituality and Human Flourishing Among the Yoruba(Olabisi Onabanjo University: Department of Religious Studies, 2006) Ogunade, RaymondMost Yoruba of Western Nigeria live much longer than their counterparts, found elsewhere in the world. The Yoruba are everything religious. To the Yoruba, God is seen, felt, and experienced in everything. They hold a deep communion with the Earth. In this regard, the Yoruba holds in high esteem all of the creation of God, both animate and inanimate. Everything, no matter how little and everyone no matter how seemingly insignificant, have their importance in the order of the created world. The Yoruba strong belief in the existence of spiritual beings, require that they attend their day to day activities and relationships with caution, and respect for human dignity. Hence, it is not unlikely to find spiritual ceremonies attached to significant stages of human development - what has often been described by Yoruba scholars as “Rites of Passage.” Offences, wickedness, violation of societal norms, and other sinful acts are not spared by the gods – the guardians and custodians of the Yoruba traditions. This paper is therefore, an attempt to show that the indigenous Yoruba conducts their daily affairs in ways that the Earth, the environment, humanity, the spiritual entities, even non-human beings and objects live in harmony in order to enhance spirituality and human flourishing. This way peaceful human co-existence, good health, healing and longevity is encouraged and promoted. The paper will also show those Yoruba traditional sacred ethics that are derivative of indigenous spirituality which enhances the positive aspect of modern science and discredit its sour sides. The paper additionally, reveal how the Yoruba indigenous communities have consistently and successfully resisted the havoc and value erosion that modern science brings with it. It is our hope that the Yoruba spirituality and models of human thriving will be better understood, appreciated and emulated.Item THE THEOLOGIANS AS SOCIO-POLITICAL RADICALS – THE NIGERIAN SITUATION(Balifik Education Publishers., 1995) Ogunade, RaymondContemporary political circumstances demand that religious leaders must recapture and relive the great noble ideals and militancy of those inspired and immortal Prophets, Apostles and Evangelists, who had the divine courage to proclaim the truth of God … and to call cant, humbug, political murderers and brutes and devils in human flesh by the very names.