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 Periodical article |
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| Title: | Religious and secular origins of morality within the Yoruba framework: implications for man and society |
| Author: | Oyeshile, Olatunji A. |
| Year: | 2004 |
| Periodical: | Orita: Ibadan Journal of Religious Studies |
| Volume: | 36 |
| Issue: | 1-2 |
| Pages: | 136-152 |
| Language: | English |
| Geographic term: | Nigeria |
| Subjects: | norms values Yoruba |
| Abstract: | To what extent can the proposition that morality in African culture is exclusively derived from religion or from the people's conception of the deity be accepted? The answer to this question is important considering its effect on interpersonal relationships and people's attitude towards the community. Therefore, this paper considers the debate on the religious and secular origins of morality in traditional African society. Special attention is paid to the concept of character ('iwa') among the Yoruba, of Nigeria. The paper concludes that, although religion plays a prominent role in the life of Africans, morality, from which the people derive and exhibit their sense of right and wrong, is never exclusively based on religion. Rather there are many origins of morality, including religion, rationality, prudence, societal custom and habit, and the need for peaceful coexistence. What are the implications of 'iwa' in relation to the achievement of sustainable development in contemporary African society, marred by violence, corruption, selfishness, bad leadership, etc.? The answer is that the full embrace of moral values as enunciated in the traditional Yoruba belief system will help to overcome some of these problems. Notes, ref. [ASC Leiden abstract] |