Preaching as a Language of Reconciliation in a Context of Divisions, Conflict and Violence in the Middle Belt Region of Nigeria
In the Middle Belt region of Nigeria, people used religion, ethnicity and tribe to segregate, exclude, marginalize and demean one another whereby conflict and violence have become a language. Therefore, this article argues that preaching as a language of reconciliation is a great technique for helping people move from thinking and talking division, conflict and violence to thinking, talking and the practice of social cohesion, harmonious life and sustaining life in the Middle Belt region of Nigeria. Therefore, the article proposes that, preaching as a language of reconciliation should focus on change from proposed evil to thoughts of sustaining life, preaching as a language of reconciliation should focus on change from egocentrism to promoting human well-being, preaching as a language of reconciliation should focus on change from fixation on the past to ultimate forgiveness and Preaching as a language of reconciliation should focus on building a common future.
