Re-imagining Religion Towards a Thematic Approach to Religious Studies at UKZN to Religious Studies at UKZN
Main Article Content
Keywords
Religious studies, world religions paradigm, thematic approach, religious literacy, critical thinking
Abstract
Examining the Introduction to Religion (RELG 101) module below, offered at the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) reveals a rigid adherence to the World Religions Paradigm (WRP) in structure and content. This article assesses the alignment of the RELG 101 module with Clingerman and O'Brien's (2015) content, context and intellectual growth objectives. It also highlights the limitations of the current framework in meeting the specified objectives, providing insights into the challenges the students face and proposes a shift from the current adapted World Religions Paradigm to a thematic approach.
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References
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Bell, C. 1997. Ritual Theory, Ritual Practice. New York: Oxford University Press.
Chidester, D. 2018. World Religions in the World. Journal for the Study of Religion 31,1: 41–53. Available at: http://dx.doi.org/10.17159/2413-3027/2018/v31n1a2 (Accessed on 29 November 2023.)
Clasquin, M. 2005. Religious Studies in South(ern) Africa - An Overview. Journal for the Study of Religion 18,2: 5–22.
Clingerman, F. & K. O'Brien 2015. Teaching Introductory Upper-Level Religion and Theology Classes. Teaching Theology & Religion 18,4: 326 ̶ 342.
Corrywright, D. 2016. Complex learning and the World Religions Paradigm: Teaching religion in a shifting landscape. In Cotter, C.R. & D.G. Robertson (eds): After World Religions: Reconstructing Religious Studies. London & New York: Routledge.
Cusack, C.M. 2016. Archaeology and the World Religions Paradigm The European Neolithic, religion and cultural imperialism. In Cotter, C.R. & D.G. Robertson (eds): After World Religions: Reconstructing Religious Studies. London & New York: Routledge.
Damons, M. 2023. NSFAS budget cuts could leave more than 87,000 students without funding in 2024. Available at: https://groundup.org.za/article/nsfas-budget-cuts-could-leave-more-than-87000-students-without-funding-in-2024/ (Accessed 10 December 2023.)
Davidsen, M.A. 2016. Fiction and religion: how narratives about the supernatural inspire religious belief – introducing the thematic issue. Religion, 46,4: 489–499. Available at: DOI: 10.1080/0048721X.2016.1226756 (Accessed on 7 November 2023.)
Department of Education. 2003. National Policy on Religion and Education. Available at: https://www.gov.za/sites/default/files/gcis_document/201409/religion0.pdf (Accessed 23 November 2022.)
Desjardins, M. 2016. The Desjardins diet for World Religions Paradigm loss. In Cotter, C.R. & D.G. Robertson (eds): After World Religions: Reconstructing Religious Studies. London & New York: Routledge.
Dinham, A. 2015. Religious Literacy: Contesting an Idea and Practice. In Dinham A. & M. Francis (eds): Policy and Practice. Bristol: Policy Press.
Du Preez, P. 2009. Thinking about Knowledge amidst Religious Diversity: Epistemic Relativity and its Impact on Religion in Education. Alternation Special Edition 3: 91– 111.
Frahm-Arp, M. 2021. Rethinking the Course Content and Pedagogies used in Learning about 'Asian Religions'. Journal for the Study of Religion 34,1: 1–23. Available at: https://www.jstor.org/stable/27117880 (Accessed on 5 June 2023.)
Gallagher, E.V, D.L. Moore, C. Hughes, A. Hussain, E. Louw, M. Lowe & M. Reineke (eds). AAR guidelines: What US college graduates should understand about religion. Available at: https://aarweb.org/AARMBR/AARMBR/Publications-and-News-/Guides-and-Best-Practices-/Teaching-and-Learning-/AAR-Religious-Literacy-Guidelines.aspx (Accessed on 25 November 2023.)
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Kumar, P.P. 2006. Religious Pluralism and Religion Education in South Africa. Method and Theory in the Study of Religion 18,3: 273–293.
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https://worldhistoryconnected.press.uillinois.edu/4.1/moore.html (Accessed on 18 December 2023.)
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Prothero, S. 2007. Religious Literacy: What every American needs to know about religion and doesn't. New York: HarperCollins.
Prothero, S. & E.V. Gallagher, T. Pearson, J. Robinson, M.E. Stortz. 2016. Conversation with Stephen Prothero. Teaching Theology & Religion, 19: 389–407. Available at: Doi: 10.1111/teth.12354 (Accessed on 1 November 2023.)
Smit, J.A & B. Vencatsamy. 2011. Religion in the Humanities. Alternation Special Edition 10: 270– 318.
Smith, J.Z. 1988. Narratives into Problems: The College Introductory Course and the Study of Religion. Journal of the American Academy of Religion 56: 727–739. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1093/jaarel/LVI.4.727 (Accessed on 15 February 2021.)
Sobuwa, S. & Mckenna S. 2019. The obstinate notion that higher education is meritocracy. Critical Studies in Teaching and Learning 7,2: 1–15. Available at: https://doi.org/10.14426/cristal.v7i2.184 (Accessed 31 October 2022.)
South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA). 2012. Level Descriptors for the South African National Qualifications Framework. Government Gazette No. 34749 – 11 November 2011. Pretoria: Government Printer.
Stats SA. 2022. Census 2022. Available at: https://www.statssa.gov.za/?p=16716#:~:text=Census%202022%20data%20collection%20started,be%20postponed%20to%20February%202022. (Accessed on 12 October 2023.)
University of KwaZulu-Natal. 2020. Teaching and Learning Annual Report 2019/2020. Available at: https://ukzn-utlo-report-2020.netlify.app/ (Accessed 6 September 2022.)
University of KwaZulu-Natal. 2021. Teaching and Learning Annual Report 2020/2021. Available at: https://ukzn-utlo-report-2021.netlify.app/ (Accessed 15 September 2022.)
Vorster, J. 2020. SoTL: A mechanism for understanding and finding solutions to teaching and learning challenges. SoTL in the South 4,2: 6–21. Available at: https://journals.uj.ac.za/SOTL/index.php/sotls/issue/view/7 (Accessed on 8 February 2021.)
Walvoord, B. 2008. Teaching and Learning in College Introductory Religion Courses. Oxford: Blackwell Publishing.
Wangenge-Ouma, G. & T. Kupe. 2020. Uncertain Times: Re-imagining universities for new, sustainable futures. Available at: https://www.usaf.ac.za/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Uncertain-Times-Paper.pdf (Accessed 19 October 2023.)
Wright, A. 1993. Religious Education in the Secondary School: Prospects for Religious Literacy. Abingdon: David Fulton Publishers.
Bell, C. 1997. Ritual Theory, Ritual Practice. New York: Oxford University Press.
Chidester, D. 2018. World Religions in the World. Journal for the Study of Religion 31,1: 41–53. Available at: http://dx.doi.org/10.17159/2413-3027/2018/v31n1a2 (Accessed on 29 November 2023.)
Clasquin, M. 2005. Religious Studies in South(ern) Africa - An Overview. Journal for the Study of Religion 18,2: 5–22.
Clingerman, F. & K. O'Brien 2015. Teaching Introductory Upper-Level Religion and Theology Classes. Teaching Theology & Religion 18,4: 326 ̶ 342.
Corrywright, D. 2016. Complex learning and the World Religions Paradigm: Teaching religion in a shifting landscape. In Cotter, C.R. & D.G. Robertson (eds): After World Religions: Reconstructing Religious Studies. London & New York: Routledge.
Cusack, C.M. 2016. Archaeology and the World Religions Paradigm The European Neolithic, religion and cultural imperialism. In Cotter, C.R. & D.G. Robertson (eds): After World Religions: Reconstructing Religious Studies. London & New York: Routledge.
Damons, M. 2023. NSFAS budget cuts could leave more than 87,000 students without funding in 2024. Available at: https://groundup.org.za/article/nsfas-budget-cuts-could-leave-more-than-87000-students-without-funding-in-2024/ (Accessed 10 December 2023.)
Davidsen, M.A. 2016. Fiction and religion: how narratives about the supernatural inspire religious belief – introducing the thematic issue. Religion, 46,4: 489–499. Available at: DOI: 10.1080/0048721X.2016.1226756 (Accessed on 7 November 2023.)
Department of Education. 2003. National Policy on Religion and Education. Available at: https://www.gov.za/sites/default/files/gcis_document/201409/religion0.pdf (Accessed 23 November 2022.)
Desjardins, M. 2016. The Desjardins diet for World Religions Paradigm loss. In Cotter, C.R. & D.G. Robertson (eds): After World Religions: Reconstructing Religious Studies. London & New York: Routledge.
Dinham, A. 2015. Religious Literacy: Contesting an Idea and Practice. In Dinham A. & M. Francis (eds): Policy and Practice. Bristol: Policy Press.
Du Preez, P. 2009. Thinking about Knowledge amidst Religious Diversity: Epistemic Relativity and its Impact on Religion in Education. Alternation Special Edition 3: 91– 111.
Frahm-Arp, M. 2021. Rethinking the Course Content and Pedagogies used in Learning about 'Asian Religions'. Journal for the Study of Religion 34,1: 1–23. Available at: https://www.jstor.org/stable/27117880 (Accessed on 5 June 2023.)
Gallagher, E.V, D.L. Moore, C. Hughes, A. Hussain, E. Louw, M. Lowe & M. Reineke (eds). AAR guidelines: What US college graduates should understand about religion. Available at: https://aarweb.org/AARMBR/AARMBR/Publications-and-News-/Guides-and-Best-Practices-/Teaching-and-Learning-/AAR-Religious-Literacy-Guidelines.aspx (Accessed on 25 November 2023.)
Gallagher, E.V. & J. Maguire. 2018. The religious studies skills book. New York: Bloomsbury.
Gallagher, E.V. 2009. Teaching for religious literacy. Teaching Theology & Religion 12,3: 208– 221.
Gray-Hildenbrand, J. & R. King 2019. Teaching in contexts: Designing a competency-based religious studies program. Teaching Theology & Religion 22:191 ̶ 204.
Kumar, P.P. 2006. Religious Pluralism and Religion Education in South Africa. Method and Theory in the Study of Religion 18,3: 273–293.
Moore, D.L. 2010. American Academy of Religion: Guidelines for Teaching about Religion in K ̶ 12 Public Schools in the United States. Atlanta: AAR
Moore, D. 2015 Diminishing Religious Literacy: Methodological Assumptions and Analytical Frameworks for Promoting the Public Understanding of Religion. In Dinham, A. & M. Francis (eds) Religious Literacy in Policy and Practice. London: Policy Press.
Moore, D.L. 2015. Overcoming religious illiteracy: A cultural studies approach. World History Connected, 4,1. Available at:
https://worldhistoryconnected.press.uillinois.edu/4.1/moore.html (Accessed on 18 December 2023.)
Motala, S. & K. Menon. 2020. In search of the 'new normal': Reflections on teaching and learning during Covid-19 in a South African University. Southern African Review of Education 26,1: 80–99.
Nthontho, M.A. & R. Addai-Mununkum. 2021. Towards religious literacy in South African schools: is the Life Orientation curriculum potent enough? Journal of Beliefs & Values 42,4: 436–449. Available at https://doi.org/10.1080/13617672.2020.1859790 (Accessed on 6 September 2023.)
Parker, S. 2020. Religious literacy: spaces of teachings and learning about religion and belief. Journal of Beliefs & Values 41,2: 121–131. Available at: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/13617672.2020.1750243 (Accessed on 8 December 2023.)
Prothero, S. 2007. Religious Literacy: What every American needs to know about religion and doesn't. New York: HarperCollins.
Prothero, S. & E.V. Gallagher, T. Pearson, J. Robinson, M.E. Stortz. 2016. Conversation with Stephen Prothero. Teaching Theology & Religion, 19: 389–407. Available at: Doi: 10.1111/teth.12354 (Accessed on 1 November 2023.)
Smit, J.A & B. Vencatsamy. 2011. Religion in the Humanities. Alternation Special Edition 10: 270– 318.
Smith, J.Z. 1988. Narratives into Problems: The College Introductory Course and the Study of Religion. Journal of the American Academy of Religion 56: 727–739. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1093/jaarel/LVI.4.727 (Accessed on 15 February 2021.)
Sobuwa, S. & Mckenna S. 2019. The obstinate notion that higher education is meritocracy. Critical Studies in Teaching and Learning 7,2: 1–15. Available at: https://doi.org/10.14426/cristal.v7i2.184 (Accessed 31 October 2022.)
South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA). 2012. Level Descriptors for the South African National Qualifications Framework. Government Gazette No. 34749 – 11 November 2011. Pretoria: Government Printer.
Stats SA. 2022. Census 2022. Available at: https://www.statssa.gov.za/?p=16716#:~:text=Census%202022%20data%20collection%20started,be%20postponed%20to%20February%202022. (Accessed on 12 October 2023.)
University of KwaZulu-Natal. 2020. Teaching and Learning Annual Report 2019/2020. Available at: https://ukzn-utlo-report-2020.netlify.app/ (Accessed 6 September 2022.)
University of KwaZulu-Natal. 2021. Teaching and Learning Annual Report 2020/2021. Available at: https://ukzn-utlo-report-2021.netlify.app/ (Accessed 15 September 2022.)
Vorster, J. 2020. SoTL: A mechanism for understanding and finding solutions to teaching and learning challenges. SoTL in the South 4,2: 6–21. Available at: https://journals.uj.ac.za/SOTL/index.php/sotls/issue/view/7 (Accessed on 8 February 2021.)
Walvoord, B. 2008. Teaching and Learning in College Introductory Religion Courses. Oxford: Blackwell Publishing.
Wangenge-Ouma, G. & T. Kupe. 2020. Uncertain Times: Re-imagining universities for new, sustainable futures. Available at: https://www.usaf.ac.za/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Uncertain-Times-Paper.pdf (Accessed 19 October 2023.)
Wright, A. 1993. Religious Education in the Secondary School: Prospects for Religious Literacy. Abingdon: David Fulton Publishers.
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Published
Jul 2, 2024
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Re-imagining Religion: Towards a Thematic Approach to Religious Studies at UKZN to Religious Studies at UKZN. (2024). Journal for the Study of Religion , 37(1). https://doi.org/10.17159/2413-3027/2024/v37n1a4
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Author Biography
Beverly Vencatsamy, University of KwaZulu-Natal
School of Religion, Philosophy & Classics
Lecturer: Comparative Religion
How to Cite
Re-imagining Religion: Towards a Thematic Approach to Religious Studies at UKZN to Religious Studies at UKZN. (2024). Journal for the Study of Religion , 37(1). https://doi.org/10.17159/2413-3027/2024/v37n1a4