Introduction
The Church, Education and Rape affected by the driving force of modernization in Nigeria Society. The growth of scientific technology and social culture exposed social dilemma into both young and adult in Nigeria community. The library research and content analysis in a qualitative analytical manner adopted, the paper examines the concepts of the triple variables of the church, education and rape. Moreover, the paper identifies the problems, effects and possibilities of the church and education in curbing rape. Finally, the paper offers some recommendations. These include; the need for the church and education to re-orientate family, religious personnel, educational personnel, economic and work values of Nigeria towards positive change in all ramifications. Again, parents should not shy away from their responsibilities of their children. Government should establish policies that encourage report of rape victims without any embarrassment. Church should encourage discipline on indecent dressing among the youth and adults. Conclusion also made.
KEYWORDS; CHURCH EDUCATION AND RAPE
Rape occurs when a man or boy forcefully engages in sexual intercourse with a girl or women without her consent. Ogunlusi (2011) affirmed that behavioural scientist agreed that some rapist known or related with victims. In some societies, rape is a serious crime and portioned with stiff penalties. Recently, rape classified as mere sexual harassment or sexual abuse.
Historically, the story of rape was rare in the late forties to sentries but marriage by abduction was common and regarded as force marriage. The current rate of raping trends in contemporary society call for divine intervention through proper theological and moral teaching of the word of God in order to curb social menace and its consequences for good life living. Inspire of religious sermon in the church the social illness of the country increase from day to day and this attribute to lack or non-implementation of sound education in religion. People loosed to all immoralities, which became socialization. Nigeria community civilized in all kinds of evil or atrocities. The causes of this social menace could be directed or indirectly traced to the religious leaders, stakeholder, parents, government and individual for their unconsciousness of life living. The effect of social madness call rape cannot underrate in the family, schools, church and the entire society. This encourages nation backwardness as well as life destruction.
Based on this problem therefore, this write up is necessary in order to create awareness of Nigerian on the link possibilities of church and education for curbing social illness RAPE in Nigeria society.
CONCEPTUAL CLARIFICATION; CHURCH, EDUCATION AND RAPE
CHURCH;
Elwell (1984; 231) Church is the people of God or followers of Christ or Christian religion. From biblical conception, church designate of both local and universal. He explains, the local church designate a given geographical representation of the universal church. Local church contains professing Christians who are not yet had actual conversion experience and regeneration. It is in local church, the ministry of universal church carries out The local church provide contexts for believers to be nurture and edified, and to become part of living organism of the universal church.
In order word, Universal church refers to all genuine members of the body of Christ in all places and all ages. This is the church Jesus referred to in his prophetical message, in matt 16; 18. ‘’on this rock I will build my church’’. The universal church is the body of Christ. Eph. 4; 15, establishes that ‘’From Him the whole body joined and held together by every supporting ligaments grows, and builds itself up in love as both part does it work’’ The above analysis summaries that nature of church is an organism, It is refers to people but not the building or organized structure
Hornsby (1980) stated that the word church is derived from Greek and Latin words. Greek word is ‘’ecclesia’’ while Latin word is ‘’gahal (assembly) and ‘edah’ (congregation). The Hebrew and Latin word for church mean ‘’ called-out or assembly’’ The aims of the church characterize of worship, fellowship and evangelism (1 John1;3). Therefore, the church expected to create good attitude of heart and mind, which comprehends what God is and rejoice in its realization. (John4; 21-24).
Education
Education is a concept applied to man in the society, and a process of what needs and values to transmit from one generation to another. It is also a way of burning necessary behaviour in citizen to make harmonious co-existence. Scoffed (1972) affirmed that, education has to do with early inculcation of appropriate habits in children, which grow up with preparing useful and acceptable adult life.
National policy on Education (1998) summarised that, education is that which fits a man to perform justly, skilfully and magnanimously in all the offices, both public and private. The aims of education is to develop individual in order to exploit potential in human attitudes and skills in person. Thus, education is in cultural matrix, social, economic, political context and in personal function. Peter (1972) opined that, education involves essentially process which intentionally transmit what is valuable intelligible and voluntarily manner create in the learner to achieve. National commission for colleges of education (NNCE)(2004) asserted that the task of education is to guide the total growth and development of young people for competency, well adjusted and sociable citizens for the nation. In support of NNCE assertions, Peter (2) summarises the criteria for education indispensable into three. These include;
- Transmission of worthwhile commitment,
- Education involves knowledge and understanding of cognitive perspective that is not inert
-Education rule out procedures of transmissions lack willingness and voluntariness on learner.
Based on the aims of education deposited, therefore there is a link possible for church and education to curb the rape in Nigeria society.
RAPE;
Rape derives from Latin word ‘’rapi’’ meaning ‘’to seize’’. It is an instrument employed for violence and intimidation for sexual gratification. Rape is act of sexual penetration against the will of the victims. Ogunlusi(2011) affirmed that, behavioural scientists agreed that some rapist well known or related to their victims. He mentioned two types of rape these are ‘’date- rape and gang rape’’ He explained that date rape is when a boyfriend forcefully has sex with his girlfriend. While ‘’ gang rape’’ is when a group have sex with one girl or woman. Rape occurs when a man or boy forcefully has sex with a girl or woman.
The definition of rape narrowly directed to women. It is not only women raped. There is homosexual rape. For instance, men raped men as well as women. There are also cases women are aggressor and man is victim. Rape is possible between the husband and wife.
Grilbert (2002) opined that rape is sexual intercourse with a person who is mentally deficient or disorder under the influence of drugs. He furthers, rapists, are abnormal being. Alita (2011) in United State of America study some years ago stated that, majority of men assaulted women in-group considered abnormal and not mentally stable men. In Nigeria society, the case of rape has become the term of the days. Series rape report established in Nigeria. For instances; A rape reported by Daily Sun of September 27, 2012 by two suspect brothers in Ogun State. The alleged followed by gang raping of nineteen years old girl hawking palm oil along the sectarian Road in Imeko. Another rape case reported by Daily Sun of a middle age man acquiesced of having sex with donkey in Enugu State. Nigeria Tribune, Thursday, June19, 2008 reported of thirty years old man raped six years old. Another man of twenty-one years remanded for rape. Tribune, Jan. 5, 2008, a man of seventy years old raped three years old.
Abba (2008) reported an upsurge in incident of child rape and said; young girls are now unsafe in the city of Kano. He stressed that that police recorded fifty-four (54) cases. Yishau (2011) affirmed that, the police statics on Webster called ‘’police report watch’’ recorded 952 rape cases in 2009. Amnesty international report shows that the figure is disbelieved to be ‘’sporadic’’ in a nation population of 150 million.
PROBLEM AND CONSEQUENCY OF RAPE
The problem of rape is link to human abuse in the society. Meaningful Nigerians worry and concern of how this menace could ratify. Because the result damage and destroy life. Yishau (2) accused police officers and other security forces of being guilty of raping ladies and women in Amnesty report titled ‘’ Rape the silent weapon’’. Again, a lot of factor responsible for rape menace. For instance, indecent dressing, night party, poverty, breaking homes, divorce, ignorant and immoral films production, thus, rape issue is diplomatic and must solve technically. The consequence of rape affects individual, family, as well as the society. For instances, abortion and premature death among the youths who are the glory of nation. Incurable diseases HIV/AID becomes the story of the day in Nigeria society, Prostitution increase. Fear of God departed in the mind and heart of people. Olamiriki (2011) stressed that, consequence of rape include; virginal bleeding, infections, fibroids, genital irritation, unwanted pregnancy, stigmatization, society instability, depression and shame. Rape, breeds’ human detraction through debasement of man’s mentality. Oguntoye (2011) also opined that rape victims suffer immediate sudden dehumanization and destabilized emotionally but they over come shocks and shame with right counselling if they open up and seek assistance.
Based on the problem and consequence of rape is this paper examines the link possibilities of the church and education for curbing the problem. Since it is clearly affects physical, emotion and social life of individual and the society.
POSSIBILITIES LINK OF THE CHURCH AND EDUCATION IN CURBING RAPE IN NIGERIA SOCIETY
Church and Education is a veritable tool for curbing, modifying, adjusting and transforming human actions, activities and behaviours. Christian religion of which church is pillar can be used to calls’ man awareness to his responsibilities of safe keeping the world not for his own sake but for the sake of other species. Church and education install in man the sense of good stewardship of the society and its inhabitants. For instance, religion and moral education can be used to campaign for love and human right in order to preserve the society.
Church and education can raise or revitalize the spiritual lives of Nigerians by concentrating on sound teaching of core doctrines of the gospel. For instance, teaching cardinal religious ethical principles. These include respect. Love, patience, honesty, good character, justice, tolerance and hospitality. Education is inseparable from the congregation of the Assembly of God. This is why the teaching of religious studies is included in the school curriculum.
The desire of church and education is to established sound knowledge of truth and righteousness in mind and hearts of people in order to flourish in peace and harmonious living. The greatest achievement of moral characters of any society depends on sound teaching of religious content with the application of education.
The link in church and education is very prominent in the curbing social problem of the society mostly cause by lack of sound knowledge about sense of living. Education governing sound relationship in Nigeria tends to impact dramatically on good behaviour and characters, legally position on individual and society. Meanwhile, the attainment of church and education to curb social illness (rape) depends on intensive public and government support for effective solution rather than building new churches and schools or universities or in engaging unproductive immoral activities.
Recommendation
In view of the foregoing discussion, the paper therefore recommends that;
Church should provide functional basic education to the youths and adults to adequate lee prepare them for the challenges of ignorance.
Independent research should undertake to the extent of vacation against rape.
The Nigeria law enforcement agency especially the police need re-oration on the social issues in order to remove the stigma place on them
Parents and the church should serve as model of discipline to their children and the society.
Religious education sectors (Christianity) should prepare youths for moral living and appropriate acceptable character by organising seminar or conference on eradication of social problem in the society.
Government should discourage or stop films producer from producing films that exposes and encourages immoral habit in children as well as youth.
Government and church should enforce discipline on indecent dressing in the society.
There should free legal service and justice for the rape victims.
People should security conscious in environment against rapists by reporting to the security agency.
Conclusion
Educational programmes related to religion (church are not limited to spiritual growth alone but most necessarily embrace social values. Church education therefore is an instrument to change and convince people in every area of the reversibility of destiny that, provide solution to societal problems.