Crossing Religious Boundaries
Islam, Christianity, and ‘Yoruba Religion' in Lagos, Nigeria

A rich ethnography of lived religious experiences in Lagos, offering a unique look at religious pluralism in Nigeria's biggest city.

Marloes Janson (Author)

9781108838917, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 10 June 2021

304 pages
23.5 x 15.6 x 1.8 cm, 0.5 kg

'Rarely is an ethnography of religion as fascinating and immersive as this one … After reading this book, you will think carefully about approaching any other work that focuses on a lone faith in isolation. The interplay is all.' Philip Jenkins, The Christian Century

Religious pluralism, as encountered in multi-faith settings such as Nigeria's biggest city Lagos, challenges much of what we have long taken for granted about religion, including the ready-made binaries of Christianity versus Islam, religion versus secularism, religious monism versus polytheism, and tradition versus modernity. In this book, Marloes Janson offers a rich ethnography of religions, religious pluralism and practice in Lagos, analysing how so-called 'religious shoppers' cross religious boundaries, and the coexistence of different religious traditions where practitioners engage with these simultaneously. Prompted to develop a broader conception of religion that shifts from a narrow analysis of religious traditions as mutually exclusive, Janson instead offers a perspective that focuses on the complex dynamics of their actual entanglements. Including real-life examples to illustrate religion in Lagos through religious practice and lived experiences, this study takes account of the ambivalence, inconsistency and unpredictability of lived religion, proposing assemblage as an analytical frame for exploring the conceptual and methodological possibilities that may open as a result.

1. Introduction: Reforming the Study of Religious Reform
2. The Religious Setting: Muslim-Christian Encounters in Nigeria
3. Moses is Jesus and Jesus is Muhammad: The Chrislam Movement
4. Pentecostalizing Islam?: Nasrul-Lahi-il Fathi Society of Nigeria (NASFAT)
5. Reviving 'Yoruba Religion': The Indigenous Faith of Africa (IFA), Ijo Orunmila Ato
6. Beyond Religion: The Grail Movement and Eckankar
7. Conclusion: Towards a New Framework for the Study of Religious Pluralism.

Subject Areas: Central government policies [JPQB], Politics & government [JP], Islam [HRH], Christianity [HRC], Religion: general [HRA], Religion & beliefs [HR], History [HB], Humanities [H]