IMPACT OF CHRISTIANIZATION AND WESTERNIZATION ON THE NIGER DELTA ENVIRONMENT

Abstract

This paper dwelt on impact of Christianization and Westernization on the Niger Delta environment. The environment is described as the total sum of water, air and land, and the inter-relationship that exists among them and with the human beings, other living organisms and materials. Christianization and Westernization are relative terms that describe the influence of Europeans on Nigeria as a nation. Christianization is a process of making a person or group of people Christian; a process of converting a person or a group of people to Christianity. Westernization is a process by which a group of people adopts ideas and behaviour that are typical of Europe and North America, rather than preserving the ideas and behaviour traditional in their culture.  Before the introduction of Christianity and its westernized influences, the geographical environment known as Niger Delta in Nigeria had unique cultures and indigenous religious traditions that were enshrined in their laws and taboos. The Environmental degradation of Niger Delta was heavily orchestrated by Christian ideas and Western culture in spite the positive impact of Christianity. The paper employed historical, sociological, and phenomenological methods to analyze the impact of Christianization and Westernization on the target environment. Furthermore, the paper used social influence theory to expatiate on how the Niger Delta people were induced to neglect their environment. Research findings revealed that the change in Niger Delta religious cultures and the adoption of Christian/Western cultures have affected the Niger Delta environment negatively over the years. Therefore, the paper recommended that Niger Delta people should uphold their traditional religious cultures, laws and taboos that respect and preserve her environmental values.