EDUCATION FOR INTERRELIGIOUS DIALOGUE

About the Book

This publication representing substantively the doctoral dissertation of Rev. Fr. Patrick Chinedu Mbarah examines the implication of education for interreligious dialogue. He believes that education has a paramount role to play in advancing interreligious dialogue. Focusing on Archdiocese of Owerri Nigeria, he evaluates the situation at hand in the light of the relationship existing among the different religions; Islam, Christianity, African Traditional Religion and some of the New Religious Movements. He insists that education will help in the promotion and progress of dialogue among the different religion frontiers. The book argues that education for interreligious dialogue is not optional; instead, it is a necessity and an obligation in the Nigerian context. The book highlights the importance of catholic education and how the various channels existing in the archdiocese of Owerri could be used as veritable means of formation of the people to understand the teaching of the Church on interreligious relations with people of other faith traditions. Furthermore, the book presents a concrete proposal of an Interreligious Dialogue Directory for the application of principles and norms for the education of people for a mutual coexistence with followers of other religious traditions in Owerri Archdiocese, Nigeria. It is meant for the education of people at different levels, pastoral agents, catechists, priests, religious and lay faithful. It also addresses schools, especially Secondary and Tertiary institutions.

About the Author

REV. FR. DR. PATRICK CHINEDU MBARAH is a priest of the Catholic Archdiocese of Owerri, Nigeria. He holds a B. Phil in Philosophy and a B.D in Theology from Seat of Wisdom Major Seminary Owerri, an affiliate of Pontifical Urban University Rome and Imo State University Owerri. He studied Arabic Language from the Dar Comboni Institute of Arabic and Islamic Studies Cairo, Egypt. He obtained Licentiate in Arabic and Islamic Studies from the Pontifical Institute of Arabic and Islamic Studies (PISAI), Rome. He holds a Doctorate in Interreligious and Ecumenical Theology from the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas (Angelicum) Rome, Italy. He has special interest in dialogue of world religions. He has done pastoral work in Nigeria, Italy, and England. He is currently the Chaplain of St Joseph Catholic Chaplaincy Imo State University Owerri, Nigeria.