Gift Masaiti

Nature and Role of Religious Studies at the University of Zambia: the Account of 1985 to 2005 Gift Masaiti

Simply put, Religious studies is an academic multidisciplinary field of study, secular study of religious beliefs which might also include institutions. Most often than not, religious scholars describes, compares, interprets, and explains religion, emphasizing systematic, historically based, and cross-cultural perspectives. This particular book examines and evaluates strides that have been made in Religious Studies at the University of Zambia from inception in 1985 to 2005. In doing so, the nature and role has been given prominence and highlighted. A number of issues have been examined ranging from history,later developments, methodology, content,impact and current manifestation. The principles of phenomenological and interpretive approaches were key considerations in the methodological perspectives, in that every effort was made to get ?insiders? views. Permission was sought to disclose names of key respondents. In conclusion, it clearly appears Religious Studies at the University of Zambia has remained an academic discipline and its orientation is historical, sociological, phenomenological, philosophical and educational though faces some challenges.