Although the phenomenology of religion emerges as both a major field of study and an extremely influential approach to religion, formulating an essay on this subject poses serious difficulties. This leaves an open door for religious accommodation, tolerance, assimilation and adaptation within the traditional religious thought. In discussing african culture and values, we are not presupposing that all african. The notion that such a study is the objective and comparative study of religion. Culture, tradition, custom, law and gender equality mj maluleke culture is like an umbrella under which some people like to hide from rain, and also to shade themselves from the sun. Christian faith and african tradition the southern cross. The applicability of phenomenology in the study of religion kasomo daniel. These teachers sacrificed their time in teaching african traditional religion in their classes. Methods and approaches to studying african traditional religion. This means that religious education is understood to comprise two distinct yet. African christian scholars and the study of african. O box 3420, thika kenya abstract this essay is an analysis of the rituals in african cosmology.
African traditional religion in a globalizing world. Study of religion study of religion basic aims and methods. This is the complete text of what is african traditional religion. A major characteristic of primal religions is the fact that they originated and developed in. As a religion that emerged with the culture of particular peoples in africa.
The african ejournals project has digitized full text of. Shona traditional religion and medical practices 279 worked towards a consensus approach in the medical profession, a step necessary for the achievement and total realisation of health in the traditional shona world. The traditional african understanding and the interpretation of christianity have deep roots in these fundamental beliefs of the african traditional religions. This thesis will also focus on the array of academic definitions and. We will cover the contexts and development of each tradition orientation, examining narratives about founding communities and persons as well as grounding mythologies and customs. The teaching of african traditional religion in primary schools in zimbabwe. Using kenya as a case study, this paper, drawing from africa s. Second, there is no culture which is superior to another, meaning that teaching the christian faith to african people through the medium of western culture, as many missionaries did on the grounds that traditional african culture was primitive, was a wrong approach. Reflections on some themes on the structure and characteristics of african traditional religion with emphasis on their relevance for society.
Srel 305 african indigenous religion critical study of existing sources. Anthropological approaches to the study of religion. Most importantly, the leadership systems are based on the specific sociocultural contexts of these nations. Religious education approaches since 1997 religious education in the schools of the archdiocese of brisbane has been focused on a reconceptualist approach to the classroom teaching and learning of religion. It has further given rise to the problem of nomenclature. Initiation rites and rituals in african cosmology prof. If african traditional religion has its roots in tribes and clans, should it then be called african traditional.
This study adopts a qualitative approach which allows for the use of selected cases to explore a social phenomenon of interest based. Paul kyalo school of humanities and social sciences mount kenya university p. This paper examines the concept and philosophy of african traditional religion from the viewpoint of africans. Major issues in the study of african traditional religion, in jacob olupona ed. The traditional african religions or traditional beliefs and practices of african people are a set of highly diverse beliefs that includes various ethnic religions.
A case study of nkusukumekumfienyan area of the central region. In this article it is argued that while phenomenological ideals are appealing, there is need to exercise caution. The study of african traditional religion atr is very exciting, fascinating, but sadly uncared for and very much unregarded even by the africans, who very often, out of sheer ignorance, misinformation or naivity have not bothered to. Three approaches to the study of religion the immanent frame.
The theology of inculturation and the african church. The recommendation of teaching of african traditional religion was an attempt to reverse a purely christocentric approach to the teaching of at o level an rs. This question is in reality that of the methodology to be used to arrive to the understanding of witchcraft in relation to atr. A critical and appreciative perspective 3 these questions, we will first seek to develop a better grasp of religion as a major constituent of the worldview of african people. His theory may thus be seen as the extreme opposite to richard dawkinss biological interpretation of religion dawkins 206. How to understand the place and role, if there is any, of witchcraft in vodun, or in african traditional religion atr in general. Anthropological approaches to the study of religion is the third volume in the highly regarded series of monographs put out by the association of social anthropologists of the commonwealth. One important development has been the market or economic. An empirical methodology of the study of witchcraft and. Although i cannot make the full case here, i sketch a preliminary defense of the third approach, in the context of recent debates in political theory. The impact of african traditional religious beliefs and. In this post, i briefly set out three distinct approaches to the study of religion.
It contains five essays, of which two are very broad in scope basically attempts at a definition of religion and consequent methodological suggestions for anthropologists, while the others consider more. Against the above introductory remarks, the various approaches to religious education. African traditional religion s perspective article pdf available in religious studies and theology 311. The main objective of this paper is to examine african culture and values. For rue, religion is of utmost importance for the survival and wellbeing of the human species. The impact of african traditional religious beliefs and cultural values on christian muslim relations in ghana from 1920 through the present. Submitted by francis acquah to the university of exeter as a thesis for the degree of doctor of philosophy in theology in december 2011. African traditional religion african studies oxford. Bryan s turner, 2011, religion and contemporary sociological theories, sociopedia.
A research guide for those taking the introductory course in religious studies at nyu, or for those seeking to incorporate the academic study of religion into their research. Religious and moral education is therefore an essential part of every child or young persons educational experience. This article surveys the context that influenced african christian scholars and illustrates why cultural nationalism features in. Pdf anthropological approaches to the study of religion. Religious studies and indigenous knowledge in secondary.
I will approach the foregoing questions by briefly describing how the academic study of african traditional religions has suffered from prejudice and theological reductionism. It is described as the product of thinking and experience of african forefathers and mothers of former generations. Thus in principle it is the study of all religions from a viewpoint not isolated within any one of them. Using kenya as a case study, this paper, drawing from africa. African traditional religion is a thriving scholarly business, but a serious disconnect exists between contributions that celebrate a generalized african traditional religion and those that describe particular religions and aspects of religion on the basis of ethnographic and archival research.
The practicality of teaching african traditional religion in schools would not have been proved if it were not the efforts and willingness of mr robert stonier, mrs z johnson, mr d adonis and mr z ndamandama. The structure of west african traditional religion a god in west african belief b the ancestors c the divinities d charms and amulets. In other words it is a fair and full study of all religions whaling, 2006, theory and methods in religious studies. I will then turn to methodological pronouncements in favour of adopting phenomenological principles, as well as attempted. Religious studies and indigenous knowledge in secondary schools in zimbabwe. Oral sources and the study of african traditional religion george i. There is the danger that students might absolutise the method. Pdf the teaching of african traditional religion in. It presents the worldview, philosophical nature and foundation of african traditional religion. This paper primarily addresses the controversy among scholars on whether oral traditions such as myths, songs, wise sayings, incantations, invocations, legends, etc. The growth of various disciplines in the 19th century, notably psychology and sociology, stimulated a more analytic approach to religions, while at the same time theology became more sophisticated and, in a sense, scientific as it began to be affected by and thus to make use of historical and other methods.
Approaches to the study of west african traditional religion a thematic approach b comparative approach c historical approach d enumerative approach 5. Study of religion basic aims and methods britannica. The theology of inculturation and the african church sussy gumo kurgat department of religion, theology and philosophy, maseno university, p. An overview 11 summary report from the working group on african religion preamble the study of african religion so far recognition, discussion and mention of the encounter between african religion and christianity some areas of theological discourse in african religion recommendations. Western scholars, such as sir james frazier, had had a fascination with african religions, either from the scientific point of view, as a phenomenon to be studied, or from a missionary point of view. The writings of african scholars who are committed to christianity have been assessed negatively, particularly as regards the study of african traditional religions atrs. The choice of zimbabwe as a case study is premised on the fact that. African traditional religion has grown out of the african soil. It will deal with a comprehensive interpretation of ritual and their meaning or meanings.
The study of african spirituality in its own right is a recent phenomenon. The applicability of phenomenology in the study of religion. Gelfand thus has considerable confidence in the value of the nanga. This course will introduce african religions and buddhism using approaches within the academic study of religion. Its guiding vision was a thinking, competent future citizen of zimbabwe schoeman 2001. It also shows that the worship of god in african traditional religion is through sacrifices, offerings, singing, dancing and prayers. African traditional religion is part of the category designated as primal religion momen 2009. The study of african traditional religion atr is very exciting, fascinating, but sadly uncared for and very much unregarded even by the africans, who very often, out of sheer ignorance, misinformation or naivity have not bothered to know its worth or importance. Generally, these traditions are oral rather than scriptural, include belief in an amount of higher and lower gods, sometimes including a supreme creator, belief in spirits, veneration of the dead, use of magic and traditional. Crises of life in african religion and christianity.