Christian Churches and the Boko Haram Insurgency in CamerOonl: Dilemmas and Responses
The spillover of the terrorist activities of Boko Haram, a Nigerian jihadi group, into CamerOonl's north has resulted in security challenges and humanitarian activity opportunities for Christian churches. The insurgents have attacked and destroyed churches, abducted Christians, worsened Muslim-...
Main Author: | |
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Format: | Electronic Article |
Language: | English |
Check availability: | HBZ Gateway |
Journals Online & Print: | |
Fernleihe: | Fernleihe für die Fachinformationsdienste |
Published: |
MDPI
[2017]
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In: |
Religions
Year: 2017, Volume: 8, Issue: 8, Pages: 1-12 |
Further subjects: | B
Christian Churches
B Islam B Terrorism B Peace B Religion B Boko Haram B CamerOonl |
Online Access: |
Presumably Free Access Volltext (Verlag) Volltext (doi) |
Summary: | The spillover of the terrorist activities of Boko Haram, a Nigerian jihadi group, into CamerOonl's north has resulted in security challenges and humanitarian activity opportunities for Christian churches. The insurgents have attacked and destroyed churches, abducted Christians, worsened Muslim-Christian relations, and caused a humanitarian crisis. These ensuing phenomena have adversely affected Christian churches in this region, triggering an aura of responses: coping strategies, humanitarian work among refugees, and inter-faith dialogue. These responses are predicated on Christianity's potential as a resource for peace, compassion, and love. In this study we emphasize the role of Christian churches in dealing with the Boko Haram insurgency. It opens with a presentation of the religious configuration of CamerOonl, followed by a contextualization of Boko Haram insurgency in CamerOonl's north. The paper further examines the brutality meted out on Christians and church property. The final section is an examination of the spiritual, humanitarian, and relief services provided by churches. The paper argues that although Christian churches have suffered at the hands of Boko Haram insurgents, they have engaged in various beneficial responses underpinned by the Christian values of peace and love. |
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ISSN: | 2077-1444 |
Contains: | Enthalten in: Religions
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Persistent identifiers: | DOI: 10.3390/rel8080143 |