Determinants of Religious Tolerance in Ede Community, Osun State, Nigeria

Abstract

The study sought to establish determinants of religious tolerance in Ede Community, Osun State, Nigeria using the descriptive survey design. The study population was 159, 866 people of Ede community based on the available latest census (Osun State, 2022) whereas a sample size of 420 was used for this study based on the Fisher’s formula. Data was collected through a questionnaire. Simple percentage analysis was used for analysis and chi-Square test was used for the bivariate analysis of the study. Each respondent was informed about the study before his or her written consent was obtained. Furthermore, respondents were told that they could decline their participation at any point in time in the course of data collection. However; they were encouraged to respond to all the items as they would only be used for research purposes. The study established a relatively high level of religious tolerance in Ede in spite of the religious diversity of its population. Ede people were generally open to learning about other religions apart from their own. They appreciated the socioeconomic values added by various religions in the community which made it possible to tolerate religious otherness. The study recommends periodic inter-religious dialogues and programs in Ede. Government and non-governmental agencies should be intentional about promotion of religious tolerance through formal educational institutions and media. Information about different religions and what they stand for should be disseminated to public so that people will be more informed about other religions in order that they may not engage in acts of religious intolerance out of misinformation about other religions.