Religious and Cultural Conflicts: A Critical Appraisal of the Scottish Mission Activities Among the Efik People of Old Calabar

Abstract

Culture and religion are two important parts of human life that are highly emotional. People do everything to protect, defend, and keep their cultural and religious heritage no matter how primitive others may think it is. Failure to recognize the religious and cultural worldview of a people in the evangelization of such society often leads to a conflict of allegiance. This study is a critical appraisal of the Scottish missionary activities among the Efik people of Old Calabar, Nigeria. The effect of neglecting these cultural elements that would have acted as a bridge to the full acceptance of Christianity among the people was neglected. This rigid attitude was challenged by the emergence of some Independent African Churches that came as a substitute for the mission churches. The need for a new perspective on the interaction of culture and religion is therefore required if the world is to survive the current global religious conflicts.