The Trajectories of Theological and Religious Studies in Western Academies: Basis for Customized Programmes at NUL and in some other African Higher Theological Institutions in Contemporary Times

This paper is a descriptive account of the courses theological and Religious Studies education have undertaken in institutions of Higher Education (HE) since the Aufklarung, namely since the period of the Enlightenment in Europe. The trajectories are briefly traced from German scholarship and some other European great minds that migrated to the USA during WW II. Mention is made of the famous scholars whose findings had, until recently, inspired and influenced African scholars praxes in the African academies. Based on the increasing scientific acceptance that contexts determine the theologizing one does, our paper delineates the efforts that have been undertaken in some African academies to customize the borrowed approaches in the bid to address socio-political and health-care issues in Africa. Examples of some African HE curricula on TRS are sampled, their philosophies, visions and objectives displayed and commented upon. The inherent values derived from adaptations of Western approaches by African scholars are discussed. But preference is shown towards the use of African critical resources to give reins to the aims and objectives so that African specific issues such as HIV/AIDS that are endemic in the African contexts are mainstreamed. The paper concludes, inter alia, on a stern note that some basic infrastructural facilities are pertinent to prosper the development of skills for teaching and learning by committed Theological and Religious Studies staff in African institutions of Higher Education today.