Journal of Christian Religious Studies

This study investigates the practical application of honesty (Satya) among adherents of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) in the Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State, Nigeria, where minority religious groups frequently navigate complex moral identities within volatile, socio-economically competitive environments. Grounded in Lawrence Kohlberg’s Moral Development Theory, the research framework analyzes how practitioners cognitively transition from pre-conventional, fear-based avoidance of negative karma toward post-conventional, universal adherence to ethical principles. Utilizing a mixed-methods empirical approach, the study incorporates both literature review and semi-structured qualitative interviews with 15 active ISKCON members from the Sabon Tasha, Maraban Rido, and Kujama districts. The research establishes that the daily, rigorous chanting of 16 rounds of the Hare Krishna mantra serves as vital cognitive scaffolding, stabilizing mental clarity and mitigating moral compromises induced by localized economic pressures. However, the findings also identify persistent systemic frictions where strict doctrinal truthfulness directly conflicts with the aggressive demands of commercial survival in urban Kaduna. Consequently, the study recommends that religious organizations promote structured behavioral routines as psychological anchors, establish micro-financial safety nets for members, and foster cross-cultural business forums to reduce market-based pressures. The study concludes that absolute theological praxis in new religious movements requires constant, exhausting negotiation against economic realities, and suggests that future longitudinal research be conducted to track the evolution of this psychological conflict across broader demographic segments.

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