Religion and Media: Value transformers in Nigeria

Abstract: 

Values are essential ingredients in determining the actions and activities in any human society. The level of morality in a society is directly related to the cherished values in such society. Therefore, an amoral society is where values are broken down and the common good is not cultivated by both the leaders and followers. Religion and media have been presented as important instruments in building and promoting values. Before the arrival of foreign religion and western education the people of Nigeria believed in the gods that would not allow amoral behaviours. Information went to the people from the community leaders (kings and chiefs). It was the belief in the gods or deities and the trust in the information from the leaders that shaped the values of the people. In the civilized era, traditional belief system had been replaced with foreign religions—majorly Christianity and Islam—and the local transmission of information has been substituted with media. In the case of the present Nigeria, evidences show that there is a breakdown of values and the common good is no longer preached nor lived by people. The values and morality that were practiced before have been influenced by the processes of modernity that are passing through the nation. This breakdown of values could not be without religion and media roles as the vanguard of helping people to build positive orientation which leads to good character. Every religion and media encourage values and moral society but in situation where religion and media are compromised, values are broken in the society. The study used documentary design of qualitative research approach consulting plethora of sources, including journal articles and books to explore the function of religion and media in transforming values in Nigeria. The study indicated that for the ideal values to be cherished in Nigeria, religious groups and media need to stop promoting amoral behaviours but promote values that can change the country from her negative to positive image.

Keywords: value transformation, religion and media, amoral society, building and promoting, positive orientation