'Religious Insults': Christian Critiques of Islam and the Government in Colonial Northern Nigeria

bibliographic database
Line

Periodical article

Title:	'Religious Insults': Christian Critiques of Islam and the Government in Colonial Northern Nigeria
Author:	Barnes, Andrew E.
Year:	2004
Periodical:	Journal of Religion in Africa
Volume:	34
Issue:	1-2
Pages:	62-81
Language:	English
Geographic terms:	Nigeria Northern Nigeria United Kingdom
Subjects:	Christianity Islam colonialism religious policy Politics and Government Religion and Witchcraft Peoples of Africa (Ethnic Groups) History and Exploration
External link:	https://www.jstor.org/stable/1581481
Abstract:	This article discusses two Christian critiques of Islam published in Nigeria during the colonial era, and the response by the colonial government to each. It concerns two short treatises by Ethel Miller, sister of Church Missionary Society missionary Walter Miller, published in 1926, and a 1949 newspaper article by Gideon Urhobo, Life President of God's Kingdom Society. The first goal is to characterize Christian criticisms of Islam during the colonial era. The second is to demonstrate how conflict over Islam could shape relations between British administrators and Christian missionaries. The third goal is to narrate the history of a religious controversy as it developed over two generations. As is shown, the war of words over government religious policy toward Islam could become quite vicious, even without any active participation by Muslims. Notes, ref., sum. [Journal abstract]