Overview
PURPOSE OF THE PROGRAMME
The Programme seeks to develop sound conceptual, analytical and critical skills in students that are required for success in the field of African Indigenous Religions; Religion and Ethics; Religion and Sustainable Development; Religion and Gender; Phenomenology of Religion; Christian History and Thought; Theology; Old Testament Studies; and New Testament Studies. It also seeks to engage students intellectually and professionally in the critical theological, philosophical, ethical and religious issues pertinent to the needs of the 21st Century.
Entry Requirements
To be eligible for admission, an applicant must have a good Honours degree in Religious Studies or a dual Honours degree that includes Religious Studies or an equivalent qualification. For Biblical studies, biblical languages are a prerequisite. Those who intend to pursue Masters Studies in the Old Testament must have done biblical Hebrew at the undergraduate level and those who intend to pursue studies in the New Testament must have done New Testament Greek
Additional Info
CAREER OPPORTUNITIES AND FURTHER EDUCATION
4.1 EMPLOYABILITY:
Religious Studies graduates can find employment; in high schools offering lessons on all issues covered under the new curriculum: Family and Religious Studies (Form 1-4 & 5-6); work in religious institutions as counsellors, lecturers, administrators or pastors; in NGOs as gender activists, counsellors; those who are pastors already can be employed as Chaplains for the uniformed forces like the Prisons, Police, Army; in welfare institutions as gender activists, HIV/AIDS counsellors and advisors; in colleges and universities as lecturers and any other religious oriented fields.
4.1 FURTHER STUDIES
PhD Studies
Programme Structure
AFRICAN INDIGENOUS/TRADITIONAL RELIGION
Level 1 Semester 1
Module name Credits
*MARS 501 Approaches to the Study of African Indigenous Religion/ History and Methods of the Study of African Indigenous Religions 20
*MARS 502 Comparative Study of Some Zimbabwean and non- Zimbabwean Traditional Religions 20
MARS 503 African Indigenous Religions and Environment 20
*MARS 504 African Traditional Religion and Modernity/African Indigenous Religion, Human Rights and Development 20
Level 1 Semester 2
*MARS 505 Major Themes in the Study of African Indigenous Religions/Contemporary issues in African Indigenous Religions 20
MARS 506 Religion and Indigenous Knowledge Systems 20
* MARS 507 Inter-Religious Dialogue: African Indigenous Religion and Islam/Christianity, etc 20
MARS 509 Sociology of Religion 20
* MARS 500 Advanced Research Methods and Theories 20
Level 2 Semester 1
*MARS 508 Dissertation 90
PHENOMENOLOGY OF RELIGION
Level 1 Semester 1
*MARS 510 Phenomenological Approaches to the Study of Religion/History and Methods of the Study of Religion 20
*MARS 511 Major Themes in the Study of Religions 20
MARS 512 Religion, Food and Security 20
*MARS 568 Religion and Ecology 20
Level 1 Semester 2
*MARS 514 Religion and Human Rights 20
*MARS 515 Selected Religious Traditions from Asia and Africa/ Inter-Religious Dialogue 20
MARS 506 Religion and Indigenous Knowledge Systems 20
MARS 509 Sociology of Religion 20
*MARS 500 Advanced Research Methods and Theories 20
Level 2 Semester 1
*MARS 508 Dissertation 90
CHRISTIAN HISTORY AND THOUGHT
Level 1 Semester 1
*MARS 516 History and Methods of the Study of Christian History and Thought/Perspectives on the Study of Christian History 20
MARS 517 Christian History: Early Church to the Reformation 20
*MARS 518 Survey of Christianity in Africa 20
MARS 519 Christianity and Islam in Contact 20
Level 1 Semester 2
*MARS 507 Inter-Religious Dialogue: Christianity and African Culture 20
*MARS 520 New Religious Movements 20
*MARS 521 Special Study of an Epoch/Christian History and Thought up the middle
Ages/From the Reformation to the Present 20
MARS 509 Sociology of Religion 20
*MARS 500 Advanced Research Methods and Theories 20
Level 2 Semester 1
*MARS 508 Dissertation 90
ISLAMIC STUDIES
Level 1 Semester 1
*MARS 522 History and Methods of the Study of Islam 20
*MARS 523 Early History and Development of Islam 20
*MARS 524 Islam in Southern Africa 20
*MARS 525 Islam and Gender/Women in Islam 20
Level 1 Semester 2
*MARS 526 Contemporary Islam in North and West Africa 20
*MARS 500 Advanced Research Methods and Theories 20
MARS 527 Christianity and Islam in Contact 20
MARS 509 Sociology of Religion 20
MARS 507 Inter-Religious Dialogue 20
Level 2 Semester 1
*MARS 508 Dissertation 90
STUDIES IN AFRICAN AND ASIAN RELIGIONS
Level 1 Semester 1
*MARS 528 History and Methods in the Study of African and Asian Religions 20
*MARS 529 Study of Selected African and Asian Religious Texts 20
*MARS 530 Major Themes in the Study of African and Asian Religions 20
*MARS 507 Interreligious Dialogue in African and Asian Religions 20
Level 1 Semester 2
*MARS 531 Human Rights and Development in African and Asian Religions 20
*MARS 500 Advanced Research Methods and Theories 20
MARS 533 Religion, Gender & Health 20
MARS 509 Sociology of Religion 20
MARS 506 Religion and Indigenous Knowledge Systems 20
Level 2 Semester 1
*MARS 508 Dissertation 90
NEW TESTAMENT STUDIES
Level 1 Semester 1
*MARS 534 Methods in the Study of the New Testament/Approaches to the Study of the New Testament 20
*MARS 535 History and Trends in the Study of the New Testament 20
*MARS 536 Greek Translation and Analysis of Texts 20
MARS 537 Trends in the Quest for the Historical Jesus 20
Level 1 Semester 2
*MARS 538 Hellenistic Greek: Reading and Exegesis of Selected Texts 20
*MARS 539 Major Themes in the Study of the New Testament 20
MARS 540 Contemporary Scholarship in the New Testament 20
MARS 509 Sociology of Religion 20
*MARS 500 Advanced Research Methods and Theories 20
Level 2 Semester 1
*MARS 508 Dissertation 90
OLD TESTAMENT STUDIES
Level 1 Semester 1
*MARS 541 History and Trends in the Study of the Old Testament 20
*MARS 542 Methods in the Study of the Old Testament/Approaches to the Study of the Old Testament 20
*MARS 543 Egyptology/Ancient Egypt and its Influence on the Old Testament 20
*MARS 544 Advanced Classical Hebrew/ Further Studies in Biblical Hebrew 20
Level 1 Semester 2
*MARS 545 Classical Hebrew: Reading and Exegesis of Selected Texts 20
MARS 546 Major Themes in the Old Testament 20
MARS 547 Assyriology 20
MARS 509 Sociology of Religion 20
*MARS 500 Advanced Research Methods and Theories 20
Level 2 Semester 1
*MARS 508 Dissertation 90
THEOLOGY STUDIES
Level 1 Semester 1
*MARS 548 Major Themes in the Development of Theology 20
*MARS 549 Major Western Theologians/ Contemporary Western Theologies or Major Theologians 20
*MARS 550 Liberation Theology 20
*MARS 551 African Theology 20
Level 1 Semester 2
*MARS 552 Black Theology 20
MARS 553 Theologies of African Independent Churches 20
MARS 533 Religions, Gender and Health 20
*MARS 500 Advanced Research Methods and Theories 20
MARS 509 Sociology of Religion 20
Level 2 Semester 1
*MARS 508 Dissertation 90
RELIGION AND ETHICS
Level 1 Semester 1
*MARS 555 Religion and Environmental Ethics 20
MARS 556 African Ethics 20
MARS 557 Religion, Food and Security 20
MARS 558 Bioethics and Religious Heritage 20
Level 1 Semester 2
*MARS 559 Religion and Business Ethics 20
MARS 560 Religion and Indigenous Knowledge Systems 20
MARS 507 Inter-Religious Dialogue 20
MARS 509 Sociology of Religion 20
*MARS 500 Advanced Research Methods and Theories 20
LEVEL 2 SEMESTER 1
*MARS 508 Dissertation 90
RELIGION AND GENDER
Level 1 SEMESTER 1
*MARS 562 Approaches to the Study of Religion and Gender/ History and Methods of the Study of Religion and Gender 20
*MARS 563 Femininities and Masculinities 20
*MARS 564 Religion and Gender in African Indigenous (Traditional) Religions 20
MARS 565 Religion, Gender and Contemporary Themes 20
Level 1 Semester 2
*MARS 566 Religion and Gender in Selected Traditions (eg Islam/New Religious Movements) 20
MARS 533 Religion, Gender and Health 20
MARS 567 Women and the Bible in Africa: Becoming a Transformed Woman 20
MARS 509 Sociology of Religion 20
*MARS 500 Advanced Research Methods and Theories 20
Level 2 Semester 1
*MARS 508 Dissertation 90
RELIGION AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
Level 1 Semester 1
*MARS 568 Religion and Ecology 20
MARS 569 Religion and Development Strategies in Africa 20
MARS 570 Theories on the Origin and Development of Religion 20
MARS 571 Religion and Sustainable Communities 20
Level 1 Semester 2
*MARS 500 Advanced Research Methods 20
MARS 572 Religion and Globalisation 20
MARS 573 Religion, Gender and Sustainable Development 20
MARS 509 Sociology of Religion 20
MARS 574 Indigenous Knowledge and Sustainability 20
Level 2 Semester 1
*MARS 508 Dissertation 90
NB *MBK MODULES
Electives
MARS 575 Critical Issues in Philosophy of Religion 20
MARS 576 Ethics and Social Transformation in Africa 20
MARS 577 Classical Hebrew 20
MARS 578 Elementary Biblical Greek 20
MARS 579 Religion and Water Sustainability 20
MARS 580 Religion and Bio-diversity 20
MARS 581 The Old Testament Pseudepigrapha 20
MARS 582 Religion and World Hunger 20
MARS 583 Religious Fundamentalism 20
MARS 584 African Spirituality 20
MARS 585 Advanced Clinical Pastoral Education 20
MARS 586 Pentecostal Theology 20
MARS 587 Healing Initiatives in Africa 20
MODULE SYNOPSES (For all the 80% Modules Threshold)
Option
(a): AFRICAN INDIGENOUS RELIGION
MARS 501 Approaches to the Study of African Indigenous Religion /History and Methods in the Study of African Indigenous Religions
The module seeks to acquaint students with the history and methods in the academic study of African Indigenous Religions (AIRs). It makes a survey of the major trends and historiography of AIRs. The module tackles methods such as anthropology, the history of religion, and the phenomenology of religion. The module examines the ideas of key proponents to interrogate methodological issues that reveal some harmonious and discordant voices.
MARS 502 Comparative Study of Some Zimbabwean and non-Zimbabwean Indigenous Religions
The module explores African Indigenous Religions from a comparative perspective. It focuses on Zimbabwean and non-Zimbabwean Indigenous Religions. It covers the religious beliefs and practices of the African communities like the Shona/Ndebele, Yoruba, Akan and Chewa, among others. The module tackles the traditional cosmology, the spirit world of ancestral spirits, alien spirits, and nature spirits. In addition, myths and rituals, symbolic objects, symbolic beliefs like omens, prohibitions and dreams are examined. Issues of health and well-being, traditional medicine, witchcraft and sorcery as well as death and the hereafter are also explored.
MARS 503 African Indigenous Religions and Environment
The module shall examine the contribution of African Indigenous Religions to the preservation and reclamation of the environment. The module examines some of the beliefs and practices underlying African Indigenous religion’s attitudes to nature. The module makes use of examples from various African Indigenous Religions found in Africa.
MARS 505 Major Themes in the Study of African Indigenous Religions/ Contemporary Issues in African Indigenous Religions
The module shall explore topical issues in African Indigenous Religions that include salvation, health, marriage and sexuality, death, and politics. The module explores trends in these concepts with a desire to see how African Indigenous Religions interface with social changes.
MARS 506 Religion and Indigenous Knowledge Systems
The module shall explore how communities in diverse world regions preserve traditionally valued knowledge and create new knowledge. It examines how such communities navigate and respond to global forces such as natural disasters, environmental changes, political restructuring, health concerns, economic volatility, livelihood uncertainties, education crises, ethnic conflicts and develops problem-solving approaches. The connectedness between indigenous knowledge systems and indigenous religious traditions is the cornerstone of this module.
MARS 504 African Traditional Religion and Modernity/ African Indigenous Religion, Human Rights and Development
The module covers the interface between African Indigenous Religion and modernity, which entails human rights and development. It considers the various ways in which AIR influences and is influenced by the human rights discourse and development.
MARS 507 Inter-Religious Dialogue: African Indigenous Religion and Islam/ Christianity, etc
The module shall examine the role of inter-religious dialogue as a factor of mutual understanding, social cohesion and peace- building in world societies (international level) and within our society (national level). The module considers how African Indigenous Religion intersects with other religions found in the African context, especially Islam and Christianity.
MARS 500 Advanced Research Methods and Theories
The module shall provide students with the tools needed to study religions at an advanced level and to enable them to become initiated into the scholarly standards in their respective fields. An exploration is undertaken of the professional and ethical standards for undertaking research. Practical and empirical research methods are explored. Issues for research such as emic/etic perspectives, the significance of insider information, gendered discourses, questions of power and indigenous categories are explored.
MARS 509 Sociology of Religion
The module shall examine the social theories that have been propounded by social theorists and critics such as Emile Durkheim, Karl Marx, Milton Yinger, and Calvin Smith, among others. It also interrogates the social values of religion within social institutions such as politics, economy, culture and social interactions.
MARS 508 Dissertation
This is a research study of at least 25 000 to 30 000 words that is based on a research area in Religious Studies. The work must show originality and contribute to the body of knowledge in the area of investigation. The work must reflect a critical analysis of the issues at stake.
(b): PHENOMENOLOGY OF RELIGION
MARS 510 Phenomenological Approaches to the Study of Religion /History and Methods of the Study of Religion
This module examines the contributions of classical and modern phenomenologists in the study of religion. It explores the various phenomenological strands that have been employed in the study of religion. Above all, it discusses the strengths and weaknesses of these approaches in contemporary religious discourses.
MARS 511 Major Themes in the Study of Religions
The module shall provide students with an in-depth study of some of the major themes shaping the discipline of religious studies. Themes such as the concept of religion; insider/outsider perspectives; post modernism/postmodern religion; religion and culture; texts power/religious authority; gender; belief; myth and ritual; religion, migration, diaspora and transnationalism; religious pluralism and religion and science shall be looked at.
MARS 512 Religion, Food and Security
The module shall enable students to familiarise themselves with the main lines of the current debates about food and farming, as well as to give a thorough grounding in the theological background. The module has three parts. The first examines the basic issues surrounding religion and land use, religion and water sources and the likely impacts of climate change. The second considers some of the key issues in religion and contemporary farming; the third, likewise, in religious teachings on food security
MARS 515 Selected Religious Traditions from Asia and Africa/ Inter-Religious Dialogue
The module focuses on selected religious traditions from Asia and Africa with a view to promoting inter-religious dialogue. A thematic approach shall be adopted on concepts such as salvation, life after death, and gender relations, among others
MARS 568 Religion and Ecology
The discourse on ecology has often sidelined religion. The module shall explore the contribution of different religious traditions to the ecology discourse. The module explores also the emergence, history, theories, and practices of eco-feminism and the environmental justice movements as subfields of radical ecology, environmentalism, feminist activism, and Women’s and Gender Studies.
MARS 514 Religion and Human Rights
The module shall focus on how dominant religions in Africa influence the African worldview with a particular focus on human rights and development issues. Among the topics given detailed attention are: women’s rights, responses of African traditional communities to development initiatives such as the construction of a dam or a town that affects their sacred shrines, the African Charter, non-governmental organisations & human rights.
(c): CHRISTIAN HISTORY
MARS 516 History and Methods of the Study of Christian History and Thought/ Perspectives on the Study of Christian History
The module examines Christian historiography from four perspectives. The focus is on the imperialist, sectarian, Marxist and liberal approaches to the study of Christian history and thought. The thrust is to configure how and why the Christian message, from the beginning, was grafted on human history. The module examines how, the majority of church historians, have divided the trajectory of Christian history into four (4) broad areas, namely; the Early Church Era up to the end of the New Testament writings, the Imperial Church Era of the Patristic Fathers, the Medieval Church Era which closes with the Great Reformation of the 16th century and the foundations of the Modern Era to the present day.
MARS 517 Christian History: Early Church to the Reformation
The module shall explore some themes in Christian history and thought from the early Church to the beginning of the Reformation and assess its impact on the development of Christianity.
MARS 521 Christian History and Thought from the Reformation to the Present
The module covers Christian history within a specific context, pre-Reformation or Reformation to present. The aim is to show some milestones in Christian history. How an epoch is linked to a particular way of doing theology shall also be covered.
MARS 518 Survey of Christianity in Africa
The module examines the history of Christianity in Africa. The African mission cycles are studied to trace properly the implantation of Christianity in specific African regions like the Kongo, Ethiopia, Sudan and Munhumutapa. In addition, the module evaluates the notions of the ‘balance sheet’ for Christianity and the emergence of ‘African Christianity’ in light of decolonisation and globalisation.
MARS 519 Christianity and Islam in Contact
The module shall examine the relationship between these two major religions in their quest for world domination. The module explores the many points of contact between Christianity and Islam. It also highlights how this relationship has impacted on Africa.
MARS 507 Inter-Religious Dialogue: Christianity and African Culture
The module shall examine the role of inter-religious dialogue as a factor of mutual understanding, social cohesion and peace-building in world societies (international level) and within our society (national level). The module considers how Christianity intersects with African culture.
MARS 520 New Religious Movements
The module explores the rise, development, nature, practices, belief and doctrinal systems of New Religious Movements (NRMs) in Africa, in general and Zimbabwe, in particular. Students are expected to evaluate why the NRMs continue to be almost more popular than the mainline historical churches in the Zimbabwean context today.
(d): ISLAMIC STUDIES
MARS 522 History and Methods of the Study of Islam
This module seeks to expose students to the methods used in the study of Islam. The historical, social-scientific, anthropological, theological, phenomenological and feminist methods will be employed. The methods will be used in light of the religious intellectual and cultural orientation. Both the historical and the contemporary aspects of Islam will be explored through an analysis of Quranic and Hadith literature.
MARS 523 Early History and Development of Islam
The module traces the origins of Islam and its early development and expansion in Arabia. It covers the period just before the advent of Islam, Muhammad’s prophethood and the growth of Islam as a religio-political organisation in Medina. It covers the period of the orthodox caliphate up to the division of Islam into two major groupings.
MARS 524 Islam Southern Africa
The module surveys Islam in Africa, with reference to Southern Africa. The mutual interaction of Islam and African cultures is a central theme. The module also considers inter-religious dialogue between Islam and Christianity in Southern Africa.
MARS 525 Islam and Gender/ Women in Islam
The module covers Islam and notions of masculinity and femininity. It explores how Islam constructs, reconstructs and deconstructs gender. It considers how Islamic teachings affect gender relations in various aspects of life-social, political, economic, and so on.
MARS 526 Contemporary Islam in North and West Africa
The module focuses on contextualised Islam in the contemporary period. It covers the influence of Islam on societies in North and West Africa. It also considers the interplay between Islam and contemporary problems and issues such as health, gender-based violence, and human rights, among others.
MARS 527 Christianity and Islam in contact
The module shall examine the relationship between these two major religions in their quest for world domination. The module explores the many points of contact between Christianity and Islam. It also highlights how this relationship has impacted on Africa.
(e): STUDIES IN AFRICAN AND ASIAN RELIGIONS
MARS 528 History and Methods in the Study of African and Asian Religions
The module seeks to acquaint students with the history and methods in the academic study of African and Asian religions. The perennial problem of defining religion and a thorough examination of selected methods from the sub-disciplines like Humanistic studies of religion; Social-Scientific studies of religion and the Phenomenology of religion are pursued. The key proponents and their ideas are interrogated to unveil some harmonious and discordant voices in the study of these religions.
MARS 529 Study of Selected African and Asian Religious Texts
The module explores selected religious texts from selected religions in the African and Asian contexts. Students are expected to make an in-depth study of selected texts from religions like African Indigenous Religions, Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Taoism, Confucianism, Sikhism, Baha’i Faith and Rastafari. The origins, nature, status and teachings contained in selected religious texts are also explored. Students are expected to juxtapose the written scriptures with the oral texts from African Indigenous Religions as a way of evaluating ‘holy writ’.
MARS 530 Major Themes in the Study of African and Asian Religions
The module examines the major themes in the study of African and Asian religions such as Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Taoism, Confucianism, Sikhism, Baha’i Faith, Rastafari and African Indigenous Religions. Students are expected to do a detailed study of selected themes like salvation; scripture; sacred places; symbolism; myths and rituals; music; status of women; human rights; the environment; food and dietary issues; HIV and AIDS; migration, diaspora and transnationalism.
MARS 507 Interreligious Dialogue in African and Asian Religions
The module focuses on the intersection of African and Asian religions with a view to promoting mutual understanding. Emphasis shall be on similarities rather than differences.
MARS 531 Human Rights and Development in African and Asian Religions
The module focuses on the interface between African and Asian religions and development as well as human rights. It seeks to show the ways in which the said religions influence and are influenced by development and human rights discourses. The ambivalence of the religions when it comes to human rights and development shall be explored.
MARS 533 Religion, Gender & Health
The module shall critically examine the portrayal of men and women in religion and explore related issues of health and well-being. It aims to provide an understanding of the breadth and diversity of the role of men and women in religion, and open up discussion on the critical role religion plays in shaping health policies and practices. Students will undertake case studies on topics which may include sexual and reproductive health and rights, sex education, mental health from a gender perspective, the medicalisation of childbirth, environmental health, HIV and AIDS, substance use and abuse, and sex work.
(f): NEW TESTAMENT STUDIES
MARS 534 Methods in the Study of the New Testament/Approaches to the Study of the New Testament
The module shall examine various approaches which have been proffered in an effort to appreciate and understand the New Testament. Approaches such as reader-response criticism, redaction criticism, the New Hermeneutic and others have been coined by both Jewish and Christian scholars as well as those whose interests have been primarily historical or literary and new inroads continue to be made such as reading in front of the text, post-colonial feminist interpretation and others.
MARS 535 History and Trends in the Study of the New Testament
The module will focus on the history of methods of interpretation, both traditional and modern. The following methods will be dealt with in detail: methods in the Hebrew Scriptures and Judaism, the use of the Hebrew Scriptures by Jesus, Paul and the Early Church, Methods in the Patristic period, Medieval and the Reformation.
MARS 536 Greek Translation and Analysis of Texts
The module focuses on an in-depth knowledge of Greek textual criticism. It discusses, analyses, and synthesises the grammatical principles (syntax), semantics and lexicography of the Greek language. The module will also enable the translation of more complex selected Greek passages to provide insight into the linguistic detail and coherence of each sentence and or periscope. Passages for translation will be taken from the New Testament and the LXX.
MARS 537 Trends in the Quest for the Historical Jesus
The module shall look at past and current trends that have characterised the search for the historical Jesus. Beginning with a variety of sources and criteria used within the ‘Quests for the Historical Jesus,’ the module shall go on to look at the divergent theological interpretations of the life and teachings of this mysterious Galilean.
MARS 538 Hellenistic Greek: Reading and Exegesis of Selected Texts
This module examines the analysis of the Greek text. Reading and exegesis will be based on one gospel and one epistle. This module will also explore various morphologies in the Greek language.
MARS 539 Major Themes in the Study of the New Testament
The module shall seek to utilise various approaches that have been proffered to understand the voice of the New Testament. A critical look at the major themes of the New Testament from various angles will enable students to appreciate its many different voices expressing the breadth and beauty of the human experience of God over the ages.
MARS 540 Contemporary Scholarship in the New Testament
The module shall provide a critical examination of the work of some selected current leading New Testament Scholars. The focus will be on the critical evaluation of their writings, assessing how this has influenced current discourse in New Testament scholarship. At least one of such scholars to be examined must be African.
(g): OLD TESTAMENT STUDIES
MARS 541 History and Trends in the Study of the Old Testament
The module explores the selected methods in the study of the Old Testament from the rise of biblical interpretation up to the 16th century. The scope of this module covers the following areas: the rise of biblical criticism, challenges, Jewish exegesis, and biblical interpretation in the Apostolic, Patristic, Medieval, and Reformation up to the modern era.
MARS 542 Methods in the Study of the Old Testament/Approaches to the Study of the Old Testament
The module shall examine the approaches which have been proffered in an effort to appreciate and understand the message of the Old Testament. To understand the Bible various approaches have been utilised by both Jewish and Christian scholars as well as those whose interests have been primarily historical or literary and new inroads continue to be made.
MARS 543 Egyptology/Ancient Egypt and its Influence on the Old Testament
The module shall explore the histories, languages, cultures and sciences of ancient Egypt, Mesopotamia and their neighbours. These regions, sometimes known collectively as the Ancient Near East, have a long history stretching back to the formation of the first complex societies and have a strong influence on the formation of the Old Testament.
MARS 544 Advanced Classical Hebrew/ Further Studies in Biblical Hebrew
The module examines Biblical Hebrew at an advanced level building up from the introductory level. The scope of the module covers the following areas: review of Introduction to Biblical Hebrew, absolute and construct nouns, pronouns, pronominal suffixes, adjectives, participles, nominal sentences, relative clauses, various forms of the perfect aspect: qal, piel, niphal and hiphil, translation of words, phrases and sentences.
MARS 545 Classical Hebrew: Reading and Exegesis of Selected Texts
The module shall provide students the opportunity to read the Hebrew Bible in its original language. Selected passages from the Hebrew Bible will be used for exegesis.
MARS 546 Major Themes in the Old Testament
The module shall apply various approaches to the study of the Bible in understanding of major themes of the Hebrew Bible. A critical look at the major themes of the Old Testament from various angles will enable one to appreciate its many different voices expressing the breadth and beauty of the human experience of God over the ages
MARS 547 Assyriology
The module shall introduce students with little or no previous knowledge to the study of Ancient Mesopotamia in the historical period. It provides an appreciation of the principal languages of Ancient Mesopotamia, Akkadian and Sumerian, and allows the study of aspects of Mesopotamian culture, from 5000 BC through the earliest literate and urban societies of the Near East to the Assyrian and Babylonian empires.
(h): THEOLOGY STUDIES
MARS 548 Major Themes in the Development of Theology
The module is an analytical survey of major theological trends in the development of Christian theology. This includes in-depth study of the Patristic, Medieval, Enlightenment, Modern and Contemporary periods.
MARS 549 Major Western Theologians
The module focuses on post-Reformation theologians in the West. It outlines how the Reformation ushered in the spirit of thinking outside the box of the dogmatic theology of the proceeding eras. Some of the theologians to be studied include Karl Barth, Schleiermacher, Paul Tillich, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Rudolf Bultmann, Karl Rahner and others.
MARS 550 Liberation Theology
The module uncovers the development of theology in the Third World context of South America (also known as Latin America). It looks at how Marxian ideologies were applied by South American theologians to address the socio-economic forms of oppression perpetrated by the West.
MARS 551 African Theology
The module covers God-talk in an African context. It considers the sources of African theology and discusses the different theologies that fall under the brand of African Theology. It also examines how African Theology is similar and different from other theologies. The contribution of African theology to development shall also be explored.
MARS 552 Black Theology
This module covers a brand of theology that originated in America among African-American people. It examines how theology can liberate non-white people from various forms of oppression. It also demonstrates how theology mixes with civil rights.
MARS 553 Theologies of African Independent Churches
The module shall explore the theologies of the AICs in society today. It looks at the AICs’ engagement with social changes in contemporary society. African Independent/Initiated/Instituted Churches (AICs) place emphasis on the biblical warrant to include African cultural norms into their modes of worship, theology, and practice, though to varying degrees.
(i): RELIGION AND ETHICS
MARS 555 Religion and Environmental Ethics
The module shall introduce environmental ethics through an engagement with issues of population growth and resource use, sustainability, non-human animal welfare, biodiversity loss, environmental justice, and global climate change. The module seeks to engage students’ ethical reasoning and reflection on environmental issues in particular. The module also reiterates the inherent influence of various world religious traditions in shaping and implementing environmental ethics and decision-making.
MARS 556 African Ethics
The module shall examine African ethical values, focusing on Ubuntu/Unhu and its relevance in the African context. It also explores key issues such as African bioethics, business ethics, traditional attitudes to the environment and the possible development of a new form of democracy based on indigenous African political systems.
MARS 557 Religion, Food and Security
The module shall enable students to familiarise with the main lines of the current debates about food and farming, as well as to give a thorough grounding in the theological background. The module has three parts. The first examines the basic issues surrounding religion and land use, religion and water sources and the likely impacts of climate change. The second considers some of the key issues in religion and contemporary farming; the third, likewise, in religious teachings on food security.
MARS 558 Bioethics and Religious Heritage
The module shall look at religious and moral issues involved in bioethics. Tapping on religious heritage, the module seeks to develop moral wisdom and build a stronger commitment to act morally on issues such as doctor-patient relationships, life-sustaining treatments (including CPR, and medical nutrition and hydration), reproductive Iissues (including contraception, artificial reproductive technologies, abortion) & controversial issues like euthanasia, physician-assisted suicide, and the stem cell controversy).
MARS 559 Religion and Business Ethics
The module shall trace the development of business ethics from the larger field of General Ethics as a discipline which addresses morally correct conduct in human affairs. Its genesis in the field of philosophical studies is traced. The module underscores how issues of faith and religion have a major bearing on business engagements and more importantly on making business decisions.
MARS 560 Religion and Indigenous Knowledge Systems
The module shall explore how communities in diverse world regions preserve traditionally valued knowledge and create new knowledge. It examines how such communities navigate and respond to global forces such as natural disasters, environmental changes, political restructuring, health concerns, economic volatility, livelihood uncertainties, education crises, ethnic conflicts and develops problem-solving approaches. The connectedness between indigenous knowledge systems and indigenous religious traditions is the cornerstone of this module.
(j): RELIGION AND GENDER
MARS 562 Approaches to the Study of Religion and Gender/ History and Methods of the Study of Religion and Gender
The module shall present some major developments in the academic discipline of religion and gender. Key factors and forces which led to the emergence of this academic discipline are explored in this module. The module also presents some of the key theories that have emerged over time in the history of the study of religion and gender.
MARS 563 Femininities and Masculinities
The module focuses on major issues such as femininities and masculinities. The module shall examine how femininities and masculinities are constructed and represented in religious and secular spaces. The module shall challenge negative and harmful ideas of what a “real man” and “real woman” is and advocate for transformative ways to empower and liberate males and females from oppressive notions of what it means to be a man or woman.’
MARS 564 Religion and Gender in African Indigenous (Traditional) Religions
Drawing insights from African Indigenous Religions, the module shall illustrate how the diverse African religious traditions shape the concept of gender in a particular African setting. The module acknowledges the importance of paying specific attention to the different experiences of African men and women which influence and inform their understanding of gender roles in their particular lived realities
MARS 565 Religion, Gender and Contemporary Themes
The module explores how religion intersects with gender and contemporary themes such as health, human rights and gender-based violence.
MARS 566 Religion and Gender in Selected Traditions (eg Islam/New Religious Movements)
The module shall illustrate the connectedness between religion, culture and gender roles from different religious contexts. It foregrounds the continuities and discontinuities of gender roles in the selected contexts. The overall aim of the module is to illustrate that each context has its particular strengths and weaknesses and to show that these specific experiences can be used as the vantage point to inculcate transformed and renewed communities.
MARS 567 Women and the Bible in Africa: Becoming a Transformed Woman
Using stories of Biblical women who endured and overcame many challenges, this module shall respond to some of the key issues confronting many African women daily and motivate them to become renewed and transformed. Some of the key themes covered in this module include infertility, single parenting, poverty, the raising and teaching of children, life with an unbelieving or unfaithful husband, and maintaining faith in desperate times.
MARS 567 Women and the Bible in Africa: Becoming a Transformed Woman
Using stories of Biblical women who endured and overcame many challenges, this module shall respond to some of the key issues confronting many African women daily and motivate them to become renewed and transformed. Some of the key themes covered in this module include infertility, single parenting, poverty, the raising and teaching of children, life with an unbelieving or unfaithful husband, and maintaining faith in desperate times.
(k): RELIGION AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
MARS 568 Religion and Ecology
The discourse on ecology has often sidelined religion. The module shall explore the contribution of different religious traditions to the ecology discourse. The module explores also the emergence, history, theories, and practices of eco-feminism and the environmental justice movements as subfields of radical ecology, environmentalism, feminist activism, and Women’s and Gender Studies.
MARS 569 Religion and Development Strategies in Africa
The module shall explore various aspects of how societies since immemorial have been using religion to advance as well as address some of the challenges that inhibit human development on the African continent. Tapping from the indigenous knowledge systems, the module appreciates the religious-based development strategies and solutions with the hope of reviving the fruitfulness of Africa, thus curbing hunger that is ever stalking the African continent
MARS 570 Theories on the Origin and Development of Religion
This module critically examines various theories that have been proposed by various scholars on the origin and development of religion. Special attention will be made to the following categories of scholars: evolutionary/anthropologists, sociologists, psychologists and phenomenologists. Their theories are to be used as a basis of analysis for the origin and development of religions in Africa today.
MARS 571 Religion and Sustainable Communities
The module shall examine how contemporary world citizens are turning to religion in light of the disintegration of society’s moral fabric. The module also explores how religion plays a fundamental role amidst various actions taken by global citizens, local communities and governments to create towns and communities that are more sustainable. This focus on solutions helps establish several principles for sustainable community building that can be integrated into educational programmes.
MARS 571 Religion and Sustainable Communities
The module shall examine how contemporary world citizens are turning to religion in light of the disintegration of society’s moral fabric. The module also explores how religion plays a fundamental role amidst various actions taken by global citizens, local communities and governments to create towns and communities that are more sustainable. This focus on solutions helps establish several principles for sustainable community building that can be integrated into educational programmes.
MARS 572 Religion and Globalisation
The module shall examine the relationship between religious cultures and the forces of globalisation. It explores how religious cultural systems have been involved with globalisation. It proposes a cultural approach that is more sensitive to how the discourses of religion and globalisation are connected in a binary relationship to one another.
MARS 573 Religion, Gender and Sustainable Development
The module shall explore in particular women’s experiences of development in different parts of the world. It also explores ways in which women from a number of countries are working to promote sustainable development in their communities.
MARS 574 Indigenous Knowledge and Sustainability
The module shall explore the importance of indigenous values and spirituality in providing guidance for sustainable living. Such principles and values encourage a spirit of harmony between people, their natural environments and their spiritual identities.
ELECTIVES
MARS 575 – Critical Issues in Philosophy of Religion
The module shall examine some core issues in the philosophy of Religion. It discusses issues such as the problem of evil, the existence of God, moral responsibility, problem of religious language and seeks solutions to these issues within modern scholarship in this area of study.
MARS 576 – Ethics and Social Transformation in Africa
The module shall examine how ethical precepts of religious groups and institutions in Africa have informed social transformations and developments in Africa. It examines the sources of religious studies and social ethics within the philosophical analysis of some ethical theories and analyses how the main religions on the continent – Islam, Christianity and African Traditional Religion (ATR) have used their ethical precepts to interrogate social changes in Africa.
MARS 577 Classical Hebrew
The module shall introduce students to Classical Hebrew and it shall focus on an understanding of the Hebrew alphabet, basic vocabulary, and sentence construction. Hebrew is a Semitic language of the Afro-Asiatic language family. Culturally, it is considered the Jewish language. In its modern form, it is spoken by most of the seven million people in Israel while Classical Hebrew has been used for prayer or study in Jewish communities around the world for over two thousand years.
MARS 578 Elementary Biblical Greek
The module shall provide an introduction to the language known as Koine Greek, in which the New Testament was written. It will cover some of the basic grammar and vocabulary of the language. By the end of the module, students shall be able to read some select passages from John’s gospel.
MARS 579 Religion and Water Sustainability
The module shall introduce students to the place of religion in water sustainability in developing countries. It analyses and contrasts the traditional and Western methods of harnessing and managing water bodies. The module aims to foster an analytical and critical perspective on water and development through critical dimensions such as livelihoods and poverty, gender, beliefs, community participation, governance, political economy and collaborative stakeholder management.
MARS 580 Religion and Bio-diversity
The module shall examine biodiversity at a local, national and global level including the measurement and assessment of biodiversity and its implications. Of particular interest is an exploration of how the status of domestic pets continues to gain momentum in the modern world. The module also discusses how the apparent expression of disdain for game hunting and slaughtering of animals for human consumption and other uses is developing into a new religious movement among some advocates of animal rights
MARS 581 The Old Testament Pseudepigrapha
The module shall cover apocalyptic literature, testaments, legends, wisdom and philosophical literature, prayers, psalms and odes, and fragments of lost Judeo-Hellenistic works. The writers of the Bible depended on other sources for much of their work. Some of these sources may have been lost forever, but many have recently come to light. Known as the Pseudepigrapha, this collection of writings is for the most part, Jewish or Christian and is often attributed to ideal figures in Israel’s past.
MARS 582 Religion and World Hunger
The module shall look at how religion has either fostered or helped curb world hunger given that hunger is the world’s top health concern, killing more people than AIDS, malaria, and tuberculosis combined. The place of religion in ‘food security’ issues is thus of concern in this module.
MARS 583 Religious Fundamentalism
The module shall explore particular manifestations of religious fundamentalism in relation to socio-political developments in different parts of the world. The 21st C has seen the rise of global religious fundamentalism and this has challenged theories of secularisation and progress.
MARS 584 African Spirituality
The module shall examine the historical development of African religious symbols and themes that have shaped its spirituality and mysticism. The module shall highlight the works and writings of African mystics and writers who affirm that African religiosity and spirituality are inevitable expressions of the African being.