ABSTRACT
The aim of the study was to comparatively examine the positions of Benin culture and the Nigerian Baptist Church on divorce. The objectives of the study were to examine the concept of divorce in Benin culture, understand the concept of divorce in the tradition of the Nigerian Baptist Church, explain the sources and arguments for and against divorce in Benin culture and the Nigerian Baptist Church and assess the implication of these positions for the practices of divorce in Benin culture and the Nigerian Baptist Church.
The study relied on the King James version of the Holy Bible and documents pertaining to the beliefs and practices of the Nigerian Baptist Church products of the Nigerian Baptist Convention. The contents of these documents was analyzed and employed to construct the narrative. Unstructured oral interviews were also conducted with persons knowledgeable in Benin culture and clerical members of the Nigerian Baptist Church. The interviews were recorded and transcribed into text for analysis.
The findings of the study are that divorce in Benin culture is often associated with inability to give birth to a male child. The concept of divorce in the tradition of the Nigerian Baptist Church was mainly the acts of adultery; the sources and arguments for and against divorce in Benin culture and the Nigerian Baptist Church borders on, economic problems, barrenness, character, incompatibility, infidelity and lack of trust. The implications of these positions for the practices of divorce in Benin culture and the Nigerian Baptist Church are shame, discipline and disrespect.
These obvious challenges faced by couples led to the following recommendations in the study: couples should remain attentive and submit themselves to the supreme Lord, and be exemplar. Following, the bride and groom should honor parents’ in-laws irrespective of religious background. Government should provide job opportunity, Married men and women need to be hard working and never depend fully on parents and white collar jobs. Keywords: Positions, Divorce, Benin Culture, Baptist Church, Comparative Study.
