Re-imagining Religion: Towards a Thematic Approach to Religious Studies at UKZN

Abstract

Examining the Introduction to Religion module, RELG 101, offered at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, 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 the content, context, and intellectual growth objectives of Clingerman and O'Brien (2015). It also highlights the limitations of the current framework in meeting the specified objectives, providing insights into the challenges which the students face, and proposes a shift from the current adapted WRP approach to a thematic approach.

Keywords

• Religious studies
• world religions paradigm
• thematic approach
• religious literacy
• critical thinking