The Limits of a Divided Nation with Perspectives from the Bible
Ebook
Michael Udoekpo's work brilliantly and pastorally discusses the issues of conflict, friction, and disunity in the world--and in Nigeria in particular--from biblical, historical, and sociocultural perspectives. These issues, he stresses, are endemic in various fabrics of the Nigerian society, traceable to the family as the foundation of any given society. They are also found in religious, political, and media groups. Contributing factors, Udoekpo argues, are materialism, infidelity, relativism, and fundamentalism. Others are ethnocentrism, anthropocentricism, ignorance, bribery, and corruption with other forms of injustices. Drawing from the Bible, Udoekpo proposes prayer, proper education, truth-telling, restoration of family values, interreligious and cultural dialogue, ecumenism, enforcement of rule of law, faith, and absolute trust in God as antidotes to conflict, violence, friction, and disunity in our contemporary society.
“At this time when there is so much violence, conflict,
terrorism, and division, beginning from the family to the
international community, this book comes as a timely masterpiece to
address these issues. The author’s masterly use of the Scriptures
to critique and correct the current status quo makes it convincing
that peaceful coexistence is possible in Nigeria and elsewhere. The
depth of scholarship and simplicity of language commend this volume
as a must read.”
—Donatus Udoette, Uyo Catholic Diocese, Nigeria
“Multifaceted problems in religion and society are caused by humans
who have lost touch with what it means to be human. If these
problems are to be resolved, these responsible agents need to be
repositioned to reclaim their true identity as people created in
God’s ‘image and likeness.’ . . . Fr. Udoekpo is to be very highly
commended for painstakingly illustrating this truth and offering
sustainable solutions.”
—Teresa Okure, SHCJ, Catholic Institute of West Africa,
Nigeria
“Fr. Mike Ufok has successfully woven together those social factors
which inhibit the search for ethics and unity in Nigeria and
globally, factors such as corruption, injustice, oppression,
kidnappings, terrorism, crimes, fear, unemployment, human
degradation, and the rising tide of atheistic secularism. . . . He
is able to proffer a remedial process of returning to core family
values and the rule of law. . . . Highly recommended for both
academics and policy makers.”
—Basil A. Ekot, Veritas University Abuja, Nigeria
“Insightful and analytical in nature. Dr. Michael Udoekpo gives the
reader deep and clear root causes of human failures as an
individual and as a society and proposes a spiritual and moral
revolution that ought to start immediately from within.”
—Anselm Camillus Etokakpan, University of Uyo, Nigeria
“This multifaceted study wades into the causes of conflict and
disharmony in the world, and particularly Nigeria, and emerges
unscarred with concrete proposals on how to deal with them. The
author exemplifies this with select texts from the Bible and
in-depth analysis of the role of the family, mass media, and
politics in guaranteeing the stability of any nation. In a society
marked by incessant conflicts and threats of war, I highly
recommend this book.”
—Emmanuel O. Nwaoru, Catholic Institute of West Africa,
Nigeria
Product Details
- Title : The Limits of a Divided Nation with Perspectives from the Bible
- Authors:
- Udoekpo, Michael Ufok
- Udoette, Donatus
- Publisher: Resource Publications
- Publication Date: 2020
- ISBN: 9781725256132
Michael Ufok Udoekpo is Associate Professor of Biblical Studies
(OT), previously at Sacred Heart Seminary and School of Theology in
Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA (2011–20), and has recently been
appointed to the Catholic Institute of West Africa, Port Harcourt,
and Veritas Catholic University in Abuja, Nigeria. He has taught at
St. Joseph Major Seminary in Ikot Ekpene. His several books include
Rethinking the Prophetic Critique of Worship in Amos
5 (2017) and Israel’s Prophets and the Prophetic Effect
of Pope Francis (2018).