Salvation in Igbo religious experience : its influence on Igbo Christianity
This thesis is a systematic study of ideas of salvation in Igbo Primal Religious experience and their influence on the conversion and present religious outlook of Igbo Christians. Chapter one is a critique of representative works on Igbo religious experience by Igbo scholars; including historians, social anthropologists and Christian theologians - clergy and lay. In Chapter two, we discover through the study of various types of Igbo primal prayers that the people seek to experience salvation in terms of Ezi-Ndu, viable life. Chapter three shows that to live according to Ofo-na-Ogu, moral rectitude, as codified in the traditional decorum, Omenala, is the sine qua non for the enjoyment of Ezi-Ndu. But those who fall foul of these demands may recover the situation through the cultic rites of ~cleansing and warding off~, which may sometimes include the dedication of an osu (Chapter four); though there appears to be no permanent answer for man's guilt. In Chapter five, Ahamefula, the eschatological dimension of Ezi-Ndu is seen to consist of four aspects which imply continuity. Chapter six discusses the various ways through which the Igbo seek to harness the powers inherent in religious forms for the enhancement
OkoroÌŁcha, Cyril Chukwunonyerem
Salvation  ; Christianity ; Igbo (African people)
Salvation in Igbo religious experience : its influence on Igbo Christianity. This thesis is a systematic study of ideas of salvation in Igbo Primal Religious experience and their influence on the conversion and present religious outlook of Igbo Christians. Chapter one is a critique of representative works on Igbo religious experience by Igbo scholars; including historians, social anthropologists and Christian theologians - clergy and lay. In Chapter two, we discover through the study of various types of Igbo primal prayers that the people seek to experience salvation in terms of Ezi-Ndu, viable life. Chapter three shows that to live according to Ofo-na-Ogu, moral rectitude, as codified in the traditional decorum, Omenala, is the sine qua non for the enjoyment of Ezi-Ndu. But those who fall foul of these demands may recover the situation through the cultic rites of ~cleansing and warding off~, which may sometimes include the dedication of an osu (Chapter four); though there appears to be no permanent answer for man's guilt. In Chapter five, Ahamefula, the eschatological dimension of Ezi-Ndu is seen to consist of four aspects which imply continuity. Chapter six discusses the various ways through which the Igbo seek to harness the powers inherent in religious forms for the enhancement
salvation religious_experience influence christianity systematic_study idea salvation primal religious_experience influence conversion present religious outlook christians critique representative work religious_experience scholar include historian social anthropologist christian theologian clergy lay discover study various_type primal prayer people seek experience salvation term viable life show live accord moral codify traditional decorum qua non enjoyment fall demand may recover situation cultic rite ward off may sometimes include dedication though appear permanent answer man guilt eschatological dimension see consist_four aspect imply continuity discuss_various way seek harness power inherent religious form enhancement