Readings in African Religion

It is quite instructive to see how the concerned --- explaining religious debates on principal methodological concepts from there. Basically, this is a approaches and theoretical axioms correct approach and a methodological developed - approaches and basic prerequisite if you want to work concepts that seem to serve as a point objectively, neither being an
of departure in the study of Traditional ethnocentrist or be prejudged by any African Religion. To me, it seems to confessional faith that you privately be the old Western type of 'academic may hold. Both such subconscious disease' of putting everything into a factors conflict with the academic and well defined but strict set of categories scientific aim of being neutral and according to certain preconceived objective. Furthermore, it may have criteria and them make it work. In the first been the Early Marxists such as end, scholars and researches will find Marx himself and his close collaborator Engels who in the midst of the 19 th themselves caught up in their own trap century made the first attempts to they built. depart from the then prevalent dominating pattern of idealistic The instance of assessing the study of approach in science and advocating a Traditional African Religion from at more objective, neutral pattern of least two superficially conflicting points approach. It is what they called of view must give such an impression 'materialist approach' opposing any to anyone following the recent prejudgment and preconception. To academic debates in the relevant them, prejudgment and preconception literature. Thus, it could only be a was to be found in the 'transcendence' European, David Westerlund who in of Christian Religious Faith prevalent in his 'INSIDERS AND OUTSIDERS IN the societies of those days. They were THE STUDY OF AFRICAN
simply seeking for another alternative RELIGIONS. Notes on some Problems approach bringing about more of Theory and Method' (in: OLUPONA, objective and neutral standpoints not J.K. (ed.), 'African Traditional Religions only in the study of society and the in Contemporary Society', St. Paul, socio-economic factors underlying it 1991:15-24) raised the point. In but in any other sphere of academic addition to presenting a brief overview debate as well.