Scholarly Works
Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://repository.ui.edu.ng/handle/123456789/363
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Item Orı́ and neuroscience: a ontextualization of the Yoruba idea of causality in the age of modern science(2018-11) Gbadamosi, O. A.This paper examines the submission of neuroscience on freewill within the religious and cultural contexts of the Yoruba in South-western Nigeria. The findings of neuroscience are juxtaposed with the concept of Orı́, with a view to finding how these scientific and religio-cultural lines of determinism can be compatible with the concept of freedom today. The study adopts the hylomorphic theory of Bolaji Idowu, which posits that woman is ara (body) plus ẹ̀mı́ (spirit).Item An analysis of the interplay between marital relationships and mental health(Department of Guidance and Counselling, University of Ibadan, 2019-06) Gbadamosi, O. A.Marriage is an institution that has played prominent roles in the history of humanity. It has aided the growth of the human race and also filled the vacuum of solitariness by creating companionship. This study discusses this important human institution from the perspective of mental health. Mental health, as applied in this study, is not referring to the presence of mental diseases, but the absence of it. This study examines marriage, by exploring the bilateral nexus between marriage and mental health via empiricism, which attributes experience as the origin and the source of validity of all possible knowledge. This is done with a view to analysing the place of marriage in emotional wellbeing and the psychological issues that can affect marriage.Item The big bang theory as a premise in a cosmological argument for God’s existence(2018-08) Gbadamosi, O. A.Proving that God exists remains a vital subject for both theologians and philosophers over the centuries. For this problem to still continue to generate intense discourses in contemporary circles shows the seriousness of the issue. However, the treatise on God’s existence has taken a new turn in recent decades as contemporary scholars are finding bases of a relationship between religion and science. This paper focuses on this new turn of events by discussing how the Big Bang Theory, which is a scientific discovery, has a positive implication for theology. This is done by discussing the meaning of cosmological argument and how it has featured in the history of natural theology. This paper focuses also on what the Big Bang Theory entails and how it has been used to prove that God exists. This paper discusses also the problems associated with adopting a scientific model for a metaphysical position. These are some of the issues this paper seeks to address, while employing John Polkinghorne’s critical realism which holds that science and theology complement each other.Item Contextualising Darwin’s theory of evolution in the Yorùbá human concept(Global Journal Inc., 2019) Olaleye, S. K.; Gbadamosi, O. A.This paper discusses African cosmology as seen in the indigenous religion of the Yoruba. The focus of this paper is creating a framework of how the theory of evolution can enhance further understanding of some Yoruba beliefs, chiefly, its concept of human. This is done by tracing the history of the theory of Evolution. This is necessary because Charles Darwin must have been influenced by the works of some scientists before him. Several arguments that humans descended from the Apes were also discussed in this paper. These are premised on the implication of such notion on world religions which suggest creationism notably that of a perfect human being which is at odds with the conclusion of evolution. This paper discusses also the Yoruba concept of human, a notion that is clearly different from the western one. The relationship between human being and nature in Yoruba understanding and its link to the theory of evolution forms a major fulcrum in this research. This paper concludes that Olódùmarè the creator endows humans with enormous power that can be used at will transforming to suit the prevailing situation, thereby making room for the theory of evolution.Item A philosophical analysis of the role of indigenous religion in the growth and expansion of Christianity in Africa(Department of Religious Studies, Faculty of Arts, University of Ibadan, Nigeria, 2019) Olaleye, S. K.; Gbadamosi, O. A.Religion plays a dominant role in the life of the average African. Long before the advent of Christianity, Africans have been actively practising their indigenous religion. Several scholars have focused on various aspects of the history of Christianity in Africa with little attention paid to the contributions of the Indigenous religion to Christianity, especially in the area of its growth and expansion. This paper seeks to address this lacuna with the view to providing answers to questions on the influences of the indigenous religion of the people on Christianity in Africa. The interaction of Christianity with the indigenous religion often leads to the attitude of skepticism, especially in Christian circles. Contrary to the erroneous belief that African indigenous religion is anti-Christianity, it has actually contributed to its growth and expansion in Africa. This study adopts Descartes ’s methodological skepticism which has its roots in epistemology, in its analysis of the contributions of the Indigenous religion to Christianity.Item A philosophical analysis of sacrifice as a means to an end in contemporary Nigerian Christianity and Yoruba traditional religion(2018) Gbadamosi, O. A.History reveals Io us the significant position occupied by sacrifice in most world religions. Today, in spite of the enormous pressure of Western civilization or what we call modernity, people still offer sacrifices in different religions. Sacrifice in the context of this paper involves a cost, depriving oneself of what is valuable and sometimes precious. There are several factors necessitating the offering of sacrifice, one of which is sacrifice serving as a “means” to an “end.” What is this “means” and what is this “end?" Why do people offer sacrifices? Is it because of the love for the deity or is their sacrifice premised on their own needs? What is the actual goal of a sacrifice? What is the real reason why people give sacrificially? Is a sacrifice attached to a need or what the one offering the sacrifice Stands to benefit? This paper attempts to answer these vital questions attached to sacrifice in the contexts of Christianity and Yoruba Traditional Religion. It is a philosophical analysis of a fundamental purpose of sacrifice- a “means" to an “end" in the two selected religions. The paper adopts E. B. Taylor ’s theory which sees Sacrifice as a means of “bribing" the gods or of paying homage to them. The methods of data Collection includes consultation of relevant books and journals on the subject of discussion.Item Divine foreknowledge, human freedom, and the burden of prophecty to contingent future events: implications for contemporary Nigeria(Zenith BookHouse Ltd., Ibadan, 2018) Gbadamosi, O. A.Questions on human freedom have been a subject of debate in the history of philosophy. Divine foreknowledge of events poses a great challenge to human freedom. Prophecy, usually, is a means of expressing God's mind on a particular person, group of people or a particular event. This paper discusses the subject of divine foreknowledge and human freedom, with a focus on the burden which prophecy creates for contingent future events. It is easy to accept that once a prophecy is made, it is final and nothing can be done again on the issue. This is in line with fatalism. This paper seeks to analyse the position that suggests that prophecy indicates inevitability of issues. This is with a view to correcting this notion because regardless of what has been revealed, humans are still responsible for their actions. This means that prophecies are somewhat open, regardless of the fact that they are divinely inspired. The study adopts the Open Theory of William Hasker on prophecy and contingent future events.Item Christianity and politics in Africa: a critical evaluation(BookWright Publishers (Nigeria), 2013) Gbadamosi, O. A.A lot of discussions have been put forth so far by the academics and religious experts regarding the relationship between Christianity and politics. The result of these discussions represents a wide spectrum of ideas ranging from absolute lack of relationship to the inseparability of the two. However, what is far from clear is the nature of this relationship. Is the re a relationship between the Christianity and politics in Africa? The major issues that will be discussed in this paper also include the following: what position if any, does Christianity occupy in politics? Or put differently, how does the Christianity affect politics. Another issue that will be discussed is what role should Christianity play in politics? Hence, an attempt is made in this paper to answer the three questions raised above with the view to making a critical evaluation of the subject of discourse.Item The use of herbs as an alternative method of healing in contemporary Nigerian society(Yoruba Studies Association of Nigeria, 2015-06) Gbadamosi, O. A.Africa has been highly affected by Western influence but in spite of the massive pressure of Western civilisation, Africans still practice traditional healing. This paper is set out to analyse the reasons why traditional healing is relevant to Contemporary Nigeria. However, emphasis is placed on Yoruba herbal medicine as a means of healing. It discusses the nature of Yoruba herbal medicine and reasons why it is unique as a means of healing. The paper employs relevant literature on the subject of Yoruba herbal medicine, places special attention on the Contemporary relevance of the use of herbs and examines the reasons why people prefer traditional herbs to orthodox medicine or use herbs simultaneously with orthodox medicine. The challenges hindering the use of Yoruba herbal medicine are highlighted, and relevant recommendations are made to enhance the use of Yoruba herbal medicine. The theoretical framework for this paper is the Pragmatic theory of Truth of Hilary Putnam. Pragmatism is a practical approach to issues that is optimistic, in which a concept is justified in its ability to work and in this case, herbal medicine and its practical relevance today.Item A re-visit to the concept of freewill and ideas of causality in Yoruba religion(Ibadan University Press Publishing House, University of Ibadan Ibadan, Nigeria, 2016) Gbadamosi, O. A.The issue of human will has been a subject of much debate in the history of philosophy and within religious circles over the Centuries. This paper examines the subject of freewill and ideas of causality in the indigenous religion of the Yoruba. Ideas of causality feature prominently in the belief Systems of Yoruba religion expressed in the concepts of Ori, Irawo, Ipin, Ogo, Kadara, Akunlegba, Akunleyan and Ayanmo and other similar ideas revolving around determinism. These ideas of causality lead to a hasty conclusion in most cases that freewill does not exist among the Yoruba. Insisting that there is no freewill has serious implications within a practical milieu especially because of individual responsibility for actions. This paper is a departure from the notion that there is no freewill among the Yoruba. This is done by discussing the meaning of freewill with a view to finding a definition suitable in the Yoruba religious contexts which is clearly different from the Western idea of freewill. This paper also discusses how the concept of freewill and issues related to determinism feature in Yoruba beliefs. This paper employs the Compatibilism theory, the current name for William James’ “soft" determinism, which is the logically contradictory notion that free will is compatible with determinism. This is done with a view to drawing the conclusion that freewill exists among the Yoruba in spite of the established ideas of causality.