Reading Article
ST. AUGUSTINE UNIVERSITY OF TANZANIA.
FACULTY OF SOCIAL SCIENCES AND COMMUNICATIONS.
DEPARTMENT OF PHILOSOPHY AND ETHICS.
ACCADEMIC YEAR 2011/2012- 2 SEMESTER.
ND
COURSE TITLE: COMPARATIVE RELIGION (BAPRM2& BScT 1)
COURSE CODE: PH 221
CREDIT HOURS: 3 HRS PER WEEK
Course lecturer: Ms GRACE RICHARD KAMBONA
1
1. GENERAL INTRODUCTION TO RELIGION 1.1. What is religion? The word Religion is derived from a Latin word “religio” which means “fear or awe” in the presence of a supernatural reality or being. Religion can be simply described as belief in spiritual beings. The Concise Oxford Dictionary defines religion as belief in and worship of a superhuman controlling power, especially a personal God or gods. Religion is an aspect of human experience that may intersect, incorporate, or transcend other aspects of life and society. Religion in this understanding includes a complex of activities that cannot be reduced to any single aspect of human experience. It is a part of individual life but also of group dynamics. Religion includes patterns of behavior but also patterns of language and thought. 1.2. The meaning of comparative religion Comparative religion is a field of religious studies that analyzes the similarities and differences of themes, myths, rituals and concepts among the world’s religions. It designates our task to compare and examine themes that cut across the various religions i.e. common themes. Comparative study of religion demonstrates that every religion possesses some measure of truth. 1.3. Reasons for studying Comparative religion To acquire knowledge of the historical development of the major strands of the religions to be discussed. To familiarize with the beliefs and practices that characterize the lifestyle of adherents to these religions. To identify some of the challenges that confront contemporary adherents to these religions. Religion being an integral part of human life, it is, therefore, an appropriate subject for
FACULTY OF SOCIAL SCIENCES AND COMMUNICATIONS.
DEPARTMENT OF PHILOSOPHY AND ETHICS.
ACCADEMIC YEAR 2011/2012- 2 SEMESTER.
ND
COURSE TITLE: COMPARATIVE RELIGION (BAPRM2& BScT 1)
COURSE CODE: PH 221
CREDIT HOURS: 3 HRS PER WEEK
Course lecturer: Ms GRACE RICHARD KAMBONA
1
1. GENERAL INTRODUCTION TO RELIGION 1.1. What is religion? The word Religion is derived from a Latin word “religio” which means “fear or awe” in the presence of a supernatural reality or being. Religion can be simply described as belief in spiritual beings. The Concise Oxford Dictionary defines religion as belief in and worship of a superhuman controlling power, especially a personal God or gods. Religion is an aspect of human experience that may intersect, incorporate, or transcend other aspects of life and society. Religion in this understanding includes a complex of activities that cannot be reduced to any single aspect of human experience. It is a part of individual life but also of group dynamics. Religion includes patterns of behavior but also patterns of language and thought. 1.2. The meaning of comparative religion Comparative religion is a field of religious studies that analyzes the similarities and differences of themes, myths, rituals and concepts among the world’s religions. It designates our task to compare and examine themes that cut across the various religions i.e. common themes. Comparative study of religion demonstrates that every religion possesses some measure of truth. 1.3. Reasons for studying Comparative religion To acquire knowledge of the historical development of the major strands of the religions to be discussed. To familiarize with the beliefs and practices that characterize the lifestyle of adherents to these religions. To identify some of the challenges that confront contemporary adherents to these religions. Religion being an integral part of human life, it is, therefore, an appropriate subject for