Niger Delta View on Morality and the Biblical Concept of Holiness: Implication for Societal Development

Abstract

The concepts of morality and holiness from the perspectives of African and biblical thoughts have been explored by scholars, especially those in humanities. However, studying the concept of morality and holiness from the perspectives of Niger Delta cultural and Christian/biblical understandings have not received much academic attention (discourse). Therefore, this paper examines Niger Delta traditional view on morality and the biblical concept of holiness. Using new critical method in African Biblical Criticism (the evaluative paradigm), it argues for the translation of good cultural and Christian (biblical) values into societal development. It shows how the traditionalist and Christian understandings of morality and holiness relate and translate into societal development in Niger Delta. By so doing, this paper contributes to the debate on religion, morality and society.