COURSE DESCRIPTIONS - RELIGIOUS STUDIES

RS 510 Research Methodology

This course treats the skills of writing academic papers. It looks at the logical methods of citing quotation, as well as recording footnotes and bibliography. Proposal writing - aims/objectives, justification, theoretical framework, literature review, methodology, practical significance and thematic development. The course also covers data gathering techniques, analyzing data and evaluating information; procedure in public opinion polling; experimental method; content analysis; field methods, recording of information, report rriting; survey design; sampling techniques; questionnaire design, interviewing; review methods; secondary data analysis, etc.

RS 520 Christianity in Contemporary African Society

The course will analyse the socio–political situation of Africa today. It will examine the kinds of Christianity developing on the continent, their theologies, their structures, their networks and attempt to establish their social, political and economic role in Africa today.

RS 530 Philosophy of Religion

An inquiry into the basic problems in the Philosophy of Religion such as the nature and grounds of religious belief, faith and reason, the existence of God, the problem of evil, concepts of the soul, life and death. It will explore the theological themes, questions and issues of the Western philosophical reflections which have affected the development of Christian theology.

RS 540 Biblical Hermeneutics and Criticism

The course looks at the craft of Protestant biblical interpretation by examining the basic exegetical and hermeneutical principles in interpreting the biblical text with reference to the various genres of the Bible. It will also look at the contemporary issues in biblical criticism in relation to the interpretation of the Bible. Topics treated will cover both lower and higher criticism. Items include form criticism, historical criticism, and redaction criticism. The New Testament use of the Old Testament, will also be discussed.