<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">
<p>This study examines how the prosperity gospel has led to an increase in suicide cases in Nigeria. Existing literature has established links between the prosperity gospel and exploitation of the poor, but finding literature that establishes links between the prosperity gospel and suicide is difficult to find. The prosperity gospel preys upon the poor and leads people into suicidal desires for lack of wealth. In Nigeria, the church has consistently continued to base its preaching on prosperity. When congregants see that the promise of provision that the church has been laying emphasis upon is not materializing, they resolve to find any means of ending the controversy. Findings reveal that some of the aphorisms of the Nigerian clergymen include “By next week, month, or year, you shall receive a miracle”, “poverty is a curse”, “I can never be poor”, and “givers never lack.” These aphorisms have made the church members expectant of God’s blessing, and when their poor condition continues, they decide to take their life. In Nigeria, the majority of those who commit suicide have experienced a number of stressful life events in the three months prior to their suicide. This study adopted content and documentary analysis as its research methodology.</p>
</abstract>

This study examines how the prosperity gospel has led to an increase in suicide cases in Nigeria. Existing literature has established links between the prosperity gospel and exploitation of the poor, but finding literature that establishes links between the prosperity gospel and suicide is difficult to find. The prosperity gospel preys upon the poor and leads people into suicidal desires for lack of wealth. In Nigeria, the church has consistently continued to base its preaching on prosperity. When congregants see that the promise of provision that the church has been laying emphasis upon is not materializing, they resolve to find any means of ending the controversy. Findings reveal that some of the aphorisms of the Nigerian clergymen include “By next week, month, or year, you shall receive a miracle”, “poverty is a curse”, “I can never be poor”, and “givers never lack.” These aphorisms have made the church members expectant of God’s blessing, and when their poor condition continues, they decide to take their life. In Nigeria, the majority of those who commit suicide have experienced a number of stressful life events in the three months prior to their suicide. This study adopted content and documentary analysis as its research methodology.

‘Peace, Peace When there is No Peace’: The Impact of Prosperity Gospel on Suicide Rate among Nigerian Youth

Perichoresis

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

This study examines how the prosperity gospel has led to an increase in suicide cases in Nigeria. Existing literature has established links between the...

‘Peace, Peace When there is No Peace’: The Impact of Prosperity Gospel on Suicide Rate among Nigerian Youth

Published Online: Sep 05, 2023

Page range: 119 - 131

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/perc-2023-0025

Keywords
Religious commitment, Suicide, the Church, Prosperity Gospel, Nigeria

© 2023 Favour Chukwuemeka Uroko, published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

‘Peace, Peace When there is No Peace’: The Impact of Prosperity Gospel on Suicide Rate among Nigerian Youth

Published Online: Sep 05, 2023

Page range: 119 - 131

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/perc-2023-0025

KeywordsReligious commitment, Suicide, the Church, Prosperity Gospel, Nigeria

© 2023 Favour Chukwuemeka Uroko, published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Keywords
Religious commitment, Suicide, the Church, Prosperity Gospel, Nigeria