JOSUGA: JOS JOURNAL OF HUMANITIES

Nigeria is a culturally diverse nation with a complex religious landscape dominated by Christianity, Islam, and African Traditional Religions (ATR). Interreligious tensions have often plagued national cohesion, yet within this diversity lie deeply rooted cultural values that emphasise respect, hospitality, and communal living. Sustainable interreligious dialogue cannot be achieved until shared values are recognised and harnessed. This descriptive research relies heavily on secondary sources, such as books, articles, magazines, newspapers (both print and online), and commentaries written on the subject matter. The paper identifies the vital role of recognising cultural values as a foundation for interreligious dialogue. The study begins with a conceptual clarification of cultural values and interreligious dialogue, highlighting how these concepts intersect within a framework of mutual respect and unity in diversity. It identifies key cultural values, such as the sense of the sacred, respect for elders, community spirit, common moral grounds, hospitality, justice, and solidarity, and critically demonstrates how these values align with core religious tenets. For instance, the sacred is central to all three traditions—God in Christianity and Islam, and the divine in ATR—while respect for elders and hospitality are highly esteemed in both Islamic and Christian teachings, as well as in traditional African ethics. Justice and solidarity reflect the prophetic traditions in Christianity and Islam, and the communal ethos of ATR. These parallels affirm that cultural values are not only integral to societal cohesion but also echo the foundational principles of diverse religious beliefs. Despite the challenges that may be encountered, the paper contends that recognising such values enables inclusive dialogue, combats religious and cultural marginalisation, facilitates more profound understanding and cooperation, and is indispensable to achieving a gateway to a more inclusive, respectful, and harmonious national religious landscape. 

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