Approaches to the study of african traditional religion pdf

The traditional african understanding and the interpretation of christianity have deep roots in these fundamental beliefs of the african traditional religions. Religious studies and indigenous knowledge in secondary schools in zimbabwe. This means that religious education is understood to comprise two distinct yet. The notion that such a study is the objective and comparative study of religion. African traditional religion s perspective article pdf available in religious studies and theology 311. The study of african spirituality in its own right is a recent phenomenon. It has further given rise to the problem of nomenclature. 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. Using kenya as a case study, this paper, drawing from africa. Crises of life in african religion and christianity. Three approaches to the study of religion the immanent frame.

This is the complete text of what is african traditional religion. 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. An empirical methodology of the study of witchcraft and. Study of religion study of religion basic aims and methods. 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. African traditional religion african studies oxford. The traditional african religions or traditional beliefs and practices of african people are a set of highly diverse beliefs that includes various ethnic religions. Initiation rites and rituals in african cosmology prof. The theology of inculturation and the african church. In this post, i briefly set out three distinct approaches to the study of religion. 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 also shows that the worship of god in african traditional religion is through sacrifices, offerings, singing, dancing and prayers. His theory may thus be seen as the extreme opposite to richard dawkinss biological interpretation of religion dawkins 206.

In discussing african culture and values, we are not presupposing that all african. 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. Bryan s turner, 2011, religion and contemporary sociological theories, sociopedia. This leaves an open door for religious accommodation, tolerance, assimilation and adaptation within the traditional religious thought. This article surveys the context that influenced african christian scholars and illustrates why cultural nationalism features in. One important development has been the market or economic. 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. The teaching of african traditional religion in primary schools in zimbabwe.

This question is in reality that of the methodology to be used to arrive to the understanding of witchcraft in relation to atr. Religious studies and indigenous knowledge in secondary. It will deal with a comprehensive interpretation of ritual and their meaning or meanings. 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. Most importantly, the leadership systems are based on the specific sociocultural contexts of these nations.

Thus in principle it is the study of all religions from a viewpoint not isolated within any one of them. 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. Reflections on some themes on the structure and characteristics of african traditional religion with emphasis on their relevance for society. A major characteristic of primal religions is the fact that they originated and developed in. In other words it is a fair and full study of all religions whaling, 2006, theory and methods in religious studies. 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 writings of african scholars who are committed to christianity have been assessed negatively, particularly as regards the study of african traditional religions atrs. Pdf anthropological approaches to the study of religion. 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. As a religion that emerged with the culture of particular peoples in africa. 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. Anthropological approaches to the study of religion. This paper examines the concept and philosophy of african traditional religion from the viewpoint of africans. 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. Pdf the teaching of african traditional religion in. Christian faith and african tradition the southern cross. Religious and moral education is therefore an essential part of every child or young persons educational experience. Submitted by francis acquah to the university of exeter as a thesis for the degree of doctor of philosophy in theology in december 2011. Major issues in the study of african traditional religion, in jacob olupona ed. This course will introduce african religions and buddhism using approaches within the academic study of religion. 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. Using kenya as a case study, this paper, drawing from africa s.

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 presents the worldview, philosophical nature and foundation of african traditional religion. In this article it is argued that while phenomenological ideals are appealing, there is need to exercise caution. The theology of inculturation and the african church sussy gumo kurgat department of religion, theology and philosophy, maseno university, p.

The applicability of phenomenology in the study of religion. The main objective of this paper is to examine african culture and values. These teachers sacrificed their time in teaching african traditional religion in their classes. Gelfand thus has considerable confidence in the value of the nanga. Paul kyalo school of humanities and social sciences mount kenya university p. 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. There is the danger that students might absolutise the method. If african traditional religion has its roots in tribes and clans, should it then be called african traditional. The impact of african traditional religious beliefs and. 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. Against the above introductory remarks, the various approaches to religious education. African traditional religion is part of the category designated as primal religion momen 2009.

Methods and approaches to studying african traditional religion. The african ejournals project has digitized full text of. I will approach the foregoing questions by briefly describing how the academic study of african traditional religions has suffered from prejudice and theological reductionism. Its guiding vision was a thinking, competent future citizen of zimbabwe schoeman 2001.

The structure of west african traditional religion a god in west african belief b the ancestors c the divinities d charms and amulets. Srel 305 african indigenous religion critical study of existing sources. Study of religion basic aims and methods britannica. 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. This thesis will also focus on the array of academic definitions and. I will then turn to methodological pronouncements in favour of adopting phenomenological principles, as well as attempted. The applicability of phenomenology in the study of religion kasomo daniel. For rue, religion is of utmost importance for the survival and wellbeing of the human species. A case study of nkusukumekumfienyan area of the central region. 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. It is described as the product of thinking and experience of african forefathers and mothers of former generations. 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. African traditional religion in a globalizing world.

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. This study adopts a qualitative approach which allows for the use of selected cases to explore a social phenomenon of interest based. 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. Oral sources and the study of african traditional religion george i. This paper primarily addresses the controversy among scholars on whether oral traditions such as myths, songs, wise sayings, incantations, invocations, legends, etc.