The Advantages And Disadvantages Of Religion In Sustainable Development

Religion plays a major role in the lives of majority in African countries, more specifically, in developing countries and local communities. Religion is seen as a major motivational force. Christianity, Islam and African Traditional Religions are the three main religious categories in Africa. Lunn (2009: 937) over a decade, religion has been avoided in development theory, policy and practices. Although faith-based organizations have a unique “vantage point” from which they enter community development, it is one filled with advantages and disadvantages (Goldsmith et al. 2005, 3). This paper will explore whether or not religion should be included as important social variables when it comes to developing or implementing development projects in

Faith Based Organizations (FBOs) in many ways contribute to sustainable development in different developing countries. For example, In the face of the weakness of the Nigerian state and the inefficiency of its institutions to provide the human good to its citizens, the Faith Based Organizations (FBOs) supplement and complement government’s efforts towards improving the standard of living of Nigerians. FBOs promotes rural and urban development especially in areas of rural development, agriculture, water and sanitation, micro-finance and livelihoods development and training (Joseph, N.D, 10). According to Omobolaji Olarinmoye, “FBOs in Nigeria provide health and educational services through their hospitals, clinics and maternities, schools and colleges, vocational training centers, seminaries and universities”. Therefore, religion should be included as one of the most important social variables for development in most of African

2005, 10). According to Jenny Lunn (2009, 943) FBOs are key participants in civil society, active across a variety of development-related fields including conflict resolution and reconciliation, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, environmental protection and conservation, politics and social movements; and social welfare and