HUMAN RELATIONS AS FOUNDATIONAL FOR RELIGIOUS TOLERANCE IN NIGERIA.

Nigeria is not only pluralistic in terms of ethnic and cultural groupings but most sensitively, Nigeria is a religious pluralistic country. Religious crises, fanaticism and extremism have been witnessed in Nigeria for years. This work looking at the ugly trends of religious intolerance in Nigeria evident in religious conflicts, observes a lack in sound human relations. Underneath these crises, good human relations is lacking. This work made use of secondary sources of information to obtain its data. The work holds that the principles of good human relations have not been effectively promoted among the adherents of various religious faiths in Nigeria more than how each faith is primed above others by the adherents of the faith. It is held that good human relations is basic for solving religious intolerance in Nigeria with its concomitant effects. It recommends that human relations should be a major part of the teachings of religious practitioners in Nigeria; schools and other institutions of learning should have human relations as a course of study to promote its principles in Nigeria. It is the conclusion of this paper that with good understanding of human relations with its attendant benefits, religious intolerance is reduced to the barest minimum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]