CHRISTIAN THEOLOGY OF LIBERATION AS A FRAMEWORK FOR ADDRESSING RELIGIOUS TERRORISM IN NIGERIA

Abstract

Religious terrorism remains a persistent challenge in Nigeria, despite the peace-oriented teachings embedded within the country’s dominant religious traditions. This study examines Christian Theology of Liberation as a framework for addressing this contradiction between religious ideals and violent realities. The paper adopts a qualitative, interpretive approach, relying on critical analysis of biblical texts and relevant theological and socio-political literature. It situates liberation theology within its broader intellectual tradition and explores its emphasis on justice, human dignity, and the liberation of the oppressed as a basis for engaging the structural and ideological drivers of religious violence. The study identifies key factors sustaining religious terrorism in Nigeria, including poverty, intolerance, political manipulation of religion, and fanaticism, and argues that these conditions create fertile ground for extremist mobilization. It further contends that liberation theology, when properly contextualized, offers a constructive lens for rethinking religious engagement in conflict situations by promoting non-violence, social responsibility, and interfaith coexistence. However, the paper also recognizes the practical and institutional limitations that may hinder its full application within the Nigerian context. The study concludes that Christian Theology of Liberation provides a viable, though not exhaustive, framework for addressing religious terrorism by foregrounding justice-oriented and transformative religious practice.