This book highlights the complex identity crises among many Christians as they negotiate their new identities, religious ideas and convictions as both Christians and members of Nigerian-African societies. Demonstrating how complex religious identities and practices of Nigerian-African Christians can balance mission-influenced Christianity with indigenous religious traditions and identities, this book recognises the importance of appropriating the powers of indigenous cultures, ingenuity and creativity in the construction and preservation of community identities.

Elijah Obinna currently lives in Scotland where he serves as a minister of the Church of Scotland. He was formerly a senior lecturer and Director of Research and Postgraduate Studies at Hugh Goldie Lay/Theological Training Institution, Arochukwu (in affiliation with Abia State University, Uturu), Abia State, Nigeria and a visiting assistant professor at the University of Missouri, Columbia, USA (2011-2012). Obinna obtained his PhD from the University of Edinburgh, UK. He is the co-editor of Christianity in the Modern World: Changes and Controversies (2014); and author of Scottish Missionaries in Nigeria: Foundation, Transformation and Development, 1927-1944 (2013) and many articles and book chapters in learned publications.

Introduction

1 Historical and Socio-Political Background

2 Ritual Processes and the Ogo Society

3 Implications of Initiation into the Ogo Society

4 Locating the United Presbyterian Church (UPC) Within Local and Global Landscapes

5 Religious Conversion: Transition and Transmission

6 Negotiating Culture and Identity

7 Towards Dialogue: Christianity and the Ogo Society

8 Theoretical Reflections on the Ogo Society