THE SOCIOLOGICAL IMPLICATIONS OF CHURCH PROLIFERATION IN OKUNLAND OF KOGI STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

This paper examined the Sociological Implications of Church Proliferation in Okunland of Kogi State, Nigeria. The historical development of Christianity and the rise in Church proliferation in Okunland was examined. The research employs descriptive and sociological methods as well as the use of oral interview. The research showed some of the factors responsible for church proliferation in the land.  The study also revealed some of the sociological implications of Church proliferation in the studied areas.  However, the findings of the paper, among others, were that, despite the problems posed on the society by Church proliferation, it can still be of a great blessing to the studied area if properly managed and guided. It was equally discovered that despite the fact that the issue of Church proliferation is still at alarming rate in the community, it has not helped to break the stronghold of traditional religion in the Land. Based on the findings it was recommended that, government should enforce the law banning the indiscriminate Church building and  the use of public address system by churches mostly at night in the land  Also, it was discovered in the cause of this work that Church proliferation is mostly caused by unemployment,  as a result of this, the work recommends that the evils associated with church proliferation in the Land will be reduced if Government would evolve more policies and programmes that would enable the youth to get reasonably engaged. The work also showed that founders of  some  of the newly established independent churches lack adequate knowledge to lead  congregations, and  so, as a matter of urgency the CAN and the PFN should make Bible and Theology Schools compulsory for church founders in the Land  before given approval for establishment..Conclusively, this work concludes that despite the blessings that church proliferation has brought to the land it has also posed on  the land some negative implications which if not properly addressed can lead to so many other vices in the land.