The Principle of Neighbourliness as a Religious Issue for Societal Development

Religion has been viewed ambivalently by various people, both adherents and non-adherents. This is against the backdrop of resurgence in religion-based violence across the world. Against this premise, the paper sought to characterize the major crises, particularly in Nigeria, as basis for the affirmation of the assumed premise, which is that development is hinged on societal integration which is realistic only on the principle of good neighbourliness, in the postulations of the Islamic faith. The paper also clearly unravels bigotry and not the faith itself as the major causal factor of religious crises hence the recommendation of early childhood religious education, with emphasis on the sociology and culturally integrative aspects of the teachings of the various religions, among others, for societal development. DOI: 10.5901/mjss.2013.v4n8p9