CRS881 African Traditional Religiuos Mythology and Cosmology

About this course

Difficulty: Intermediate
Study hours: 156 hours
Maths: None
Content: Theoretical, case study
Practical work: No

How it is assessed

Assignments
Tutor Marked Assessments
Final Examination

What you'll read

The real module and unit structure of CRS881, taken from the course material NOUN publishes.

Module 1

Module 2

Module 3

One paragraph, so you can see how it reads

CRS881 · UNIT 1 INTRODUCTION TO RELIGION

Remember that your tutor’s job is to help you. When you need help, do not hesitate to call and ask your tutor to provide it.

Start reading Get the original PDF, if you want it

What you should be able to do

Explain the concept of African Traditional Religion.
Discuss the structure of African Traditional Religion.
Examine the nature of African Traditional Religious mythology.
Discuss the mystical powers and spirit forces in African Traditional Religion.
Examine the concept of cosmology and cosmogony in African Traditional Religion.
Explain worship and sacrifice in African traditional religion.
Examine the rites of Passage in African traditional religion.
Discuss the concept of death and after life in African traditional religion.

What it prepares you for

Careers

Religious Studies Scholar
Theologian
Cultural Anthropologist
Missionary
Religious Educator

Where it is applied

Education
Religious Organizations
Cultural Research
Community Development

Where it gets hard

The units students slow down on, and what makes each one heavy.

Module 1: Introduction to Religion
Unit 6: Theories for the Study of African Traditional Religion
Theories for the study of African Traditional Religion requires critical analysis and comparison of diverse perspectives, demanding strong analytical skills.
Module 2: African Religious Mythology
Unit 6: Mystical Powers in African Traditional Religion
Understanding the mystical powers requires deep insight into the spiritual and unseen forces that influence African life, which can be challenging to grasp.

A suggested way through it

Suggested

13 weeks, about 28 hours in total. Yours will differ.

Week 1Module 1: Introduction to Religion
- Unit 1: Introduction to Religion · 2 hours
  Read the unit introduction and objectives.. Study the definitions of religion from theological, moral, philosophical, psychological, and sociological perspectives.. Identify and explain the different types of religion.. Discuss the significance and functions of religion in society.. Complete the tutor-marked assignment..
Week 2Module 1: Introduction to Religion
- Unit 2: Definition of African Traditional Religion · 2 hours
  Read the unit introduction and objectives.. Examine the challenges in defining African Traditional Religion.. Discuss errors in terminology and obstacles in studying African Traditional Religion.. Identify stages in the study of African Traditional Religion.. State basic rules for studying African Traditional Religion.. Complete the tutor-marked assignment..
Week 3Module 1: Introduction to Religion
- Unit 3: Structure of African Traditional Religion · 2 hours
  Read the unit introduction and objectives.. Explain the structure of African Traditional Religion.. Discuss the main elements: belief in God, divinities, spirits, ancestors, magic, and medicine.. Analyze why African Traditional Religion is not polytheism.. Complete the tutor-marked assignment..
Week 4Module 1: Introduction to Religion
- Unit 4: Trends in the Study of African Traditional Religion · 2 hours
  Read the unit introduction and objectives.. Discuss the trends in the study of African Traditional Religion.. List scholars involved in the study.. Evaluate the current trend in studying African Traditional Religion.. Complete the tutor-marked assignment..
Week 5Module 1: Introduction to Religion
- Unit 5: Methodology for the Study of African Traditional Religion · 2 hours
  Read the unit introduction and objectives.. List methodological approaches used in studying African Traditional Religion.. Evaluate the appropriateness of these approaches.. State the applicability of various methodological approaches.. Complete the tutor-marked assignment..
Week 6Module 1: Introduction to Religion
- Unit 6: Theories for the Study of African Traditional Religion · 2 hours
  Read the unit introduction and objectives.. State the different theories of the origin of religion.. Describe the Naturalistic, Theological, Speculative, Mythological, Psychological, Fetishism, Monotheistic, Psychoanalytic, Dreams, Magico-Religious, Anthropological, and Sociological Theories.. Complete the tutor-marked assignment..
Week 7Module 1: Introduction to Religion
- Unit 7: Taboos and Totems in African Traditional Religion · 2 hours
  Read the unit introduction and objectives.. Define totem and taboo.. Explain the relationship between totems and taboos in African Traditional Religion.. Discuss the typology of taboos.. Explain the role and significance of taboos in African religion and culture.. Complete the tutor-marked assignment..
Week 8Module 2: African Religious Mythology
- Unit 1: Definition of African Religious Mythology · 2 hours
  Read the unit introduction and objectives.. Define the term African Religious Mythology.. Give the characteristics of African Religious Mythology.. State the distinction between mythology, legend, and traditional stories.. Complete the tutor-marked assignment..
Week 9Module 2: African Religious Mythology
- Unit 2: Nature and Origin of African Religious Mythology · 2 hours
  Read the unit introduction and objectives.. Discuss the history of African religious mythology.. Examine theories of the origin of African religious mythology.. Give the taxonomy of African religious mythology.. Discuss the myths of the origin of death in human society.. Complete the tutor-marked assignment..
Week 10Module 2: African Religious Mythology
- Unit 3: Religious Concepts in African Mythology · 2 hours
  Read the unit introduction and objectives.. Discuss the concept of salvation.. Discuss the African concept of divine.. State the concept of human beings and animals.. Explain the African concepts of death and after-life.. Discuss the concept of human destiny.. Discuss the concept of evil in African worldview.. Complete the tutor-marked assignment..
Week 11Module 2: African Religious Mythology
- Unit 4: African Theism and Concept of God · 2 hours
  Read the unit introduction and objectives.. Explain the concept of God in African Traditional Religion.. Discuss the nature and anthropomorphic attributes of God.. State the typology of the name of God.. Explain the worship of God.. Discuss God and mankind.. Complete the tutor-marked assignment..
Week 12Module 2: African Religious Mythology
- Unit 5: Nature and Concept of Humanity in African Traditional Religion · 2 hours
  Read the unit introduction and objectives.. Discuss the concept of humanity.. Give the origin of the human beings.. State the nature of humanity.. Narrate the features of humanity.. Explain the philosophical perception of the human beings.. State the anthropological conception of human beings.. Discuss the African religious perception of humanity.. Evaluate the relationship between humanity and the community.. Complete the tutor-marked assignment..
Week 13Module 2: African Religious Mythology
- Unit 6: Mystical Powers in African Traditional Religion · 2 hours
  Read the unit introduction and objectives.. Explain the role of priests/priestesses in African traditional religion.. Discuss what the Africans believe concerning medicine practitioners.. Identify the African belief about diviners.. Complete the tutor-marked assignment..
- Unit 7: Spirits Forces in African Traditional Religion · 2 hours
  Read the unit introduction and objectives.. Explain the cult of divinities in African traditional religion.. List and explain the divinities in some African societies.. Give the functions of divinities in African traditional religion.. State the roles of ancestors in African traditional religion.. Discuss the typology of magic in African traditional religion.. Differentiate between witchcraft and sorcery.. Complete the tutor-marked assignment..

Preparing for the exam

What to do

Review all tutor-marked assignments (TMAs) and your tutor's comments to identify areas of weakness.
Create concept maps linking key terms and concepts from each module to reinforce understanding.
Focus on understanding the core beliefs and practices of African Traditional Religion as outlined in Modules 1 and 2.
Practice answering essay questions related to the topics covered in the course guide, such as the definition of religion and the structure of African Traditional Religion.
Allocate sufficient time to revise the entire course content after studying the last unit, ensuring you have achieved the unit objectives.
Pay close attention to the functions of mythologies in African Traditional Religion and the African understanding of God from Module 2.
Prepare summaries of each unit, focusing on key definitions, concepts, and examples, to aid recall during the examination.
Review the various theories of the origin of African Traditional Religion and be prepared to compare and contrast them.
Familiarize yourself with the different types of African religious mythologies and their significance.
Study the rites of passage in African Traditional Religion and their implications for individuals and communities.
Understand the African concepts of death and the afterlife, and how they influence funeral practices and beliefs.
Create flashcards with key terms and definitions to aid memorization and quick recall during the exam.
Practice time management by allocating specific time slots for each question during the exam to ensure all questions are attempted.

Questions students ask about this course

What is CRS881 about?

This course introduces students to African Traditional Religious Mythology and Cosmology. It explores the definition, structure, and trends in the study of African Traditional Religion. The course also examines African religious mythology, concepts of God, humanity, mystical powers, and spirit forces. Additionally, it covers African cosmology, cosmogony, creation myths, worship, sacrifice, rituals, rites of passage, and beliefs about death and the afterlife.

How many units does CRS881 have?

CRS881, African Traditional Religiuos Mythology and Cosmology, has 21 units across 3 modules, over 353 pages of course material. You can read it one unit at a time.

How many credit units is CRS881?

CRS881 carries 2 credit units, at 800 level in Arts.

Is CRS881 hard?

CRS881 is rated intermediate level, with no mathematical content. It is mostly theoretical and case study work.

How long does CRS881 take to study?

About 156 hours of study, spread across its 21 units.

How is CRS881 assessed?

CRS881 is assessed by Assignments, Tutor Marked Assessments and Final Examination.

What can I do with CRS881?

Religious Studies Scholar, Theologian, Cultural Anthropologist, Missionary and Religious Educator.