A Comparative Study of Religions

321 Pages·1990·5.122 MB·English

by  J N Kanyua Mugambi

A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF RELIGIONS
Edited by J.N.K. Mugambi
Nairobi University Press
First published in 1990 by
Nairobi University Press
P.O. Box 30197 Nairobi, Kenya.
Printed by: Interface Printers Ltd.
P.O. Box 68014 Factory Street,
Nairobi, Kenya
©1990 Jesse Ndwiga Kanywa Mugambi
The copyright of each individual chaptcr remain with the
author or authors concerned except where stated otherwise.
Cataloguing in Publication Data
A comparative study of religions
ed. J.N.K. Mugambi - Nairobi:
Nairobi University Press, 1990.
299p.
Inlcudes bibliography and index
1. Religions 2. Religion, Comparative.
I. Mugambi, Jesse N.K.
BL 80.2.C6
ISBN 9966 846 03 8
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CONTENTS
Acknowledgements xi
SECTION I GENERAL INTRODUCTION AND THEORIES
OF THE ORIGIN OF RELIGION
1 The Scope of Comparative Religion
E.M. Kasiera 3
2 Theories of the Origin of Religion
E.M. Kasiera 11
SECTION II RELIGIONS OF PRE-LITERATE PEOPLES
OUTSIDE AFRICA
3 Religion of the Eskimos
4 E.M. Kasiera 19
4 Religion of the Indigenous Australians
E.M. Kasiera 23
5 Religion of the Indigenous Americans
E.M. Kasiera 27
SECTION III AFRICAN RELIGION
6 Earlier Studies of African Religion
S.G. Kibicho 35
7 Nature and Structure of African Religion
S.G. Kibicho 39
8 Conception of God in African Religion
S.G. Kibicho 43
9 The Conceptions of Divinities and Spirits
S.G. Kibicho 47
vi
SECTION IV RELIGIONS OF INDIA
HINDUISM
10 Pre-Vedic Elements in Hinduism
E.M. Kasiera 55
11 Vedic Hinduism
E.M. Kasiera 61
12 Classical Hinduism
E.M. Kasiera 67
JAINISM
13 Origins and Teachings of Jainism
S.G. Kibicho 77
14 The Lay Aspect of Jainism
S.G. Kibicho 85
BUDDHISM
15 The Origins of Buddhism
S.G. Kibicho 91
16 The Enlightenment of the Buddha
S.G. Kibicho 95
17 The Philosophical Foundation of Buddhist
Teaching
S.G. Kibicho 101
18 The Spread of Buddhism and Its Scriptures
S.G. Kibicho 107
SIKHISM
19 The Origin of Sikhism
S.G. Kibicho 113
20 Sikhism After Nanak
S.G. Kibicho 119
SECTION V RELIGIONS OF THE FAR EAST
21 Confucianism
D.W. Waruta 127
22 Taoism
D.W. Waruta 133
23 Shintoism
D.W. Waruta 137
24 Mahayana Buddhism
S.G. Kibicho 141
25 The Spread of Mahayana Buddhism to
Northern Lands
S.G. Kibicho 147
26 Some of the Main Sects of Buddhism in
Japan
S.G. Kibicho 151
27 Buddhism in Tibet
S.G. Kibicho 155
SECTION VI RELIGIONS OF THE NEAR EAST
ZOROASTRIANISM
28 The Rise of Zoroastrianism
D.W. Waruta 161
viii
29 The Teachings of Zarathustra
D.W. Waruta 165
JUDAISM
30 The Evolution of Judaism
BJ. Ekeya 171
31 Basic Teachings and Practice of Judaism
BJ. Ekeya 179
CHRISTIANITY
32 The Religious and Cultural Backgrounds of
Early Christianity
G.E.M. Ogutu 189
33 Christ and the Church He Founded
G.E.M. Ogutu 195
34 Growth and Spread of Christianity
G.E.M. Ogutu 201
ISLAM
35 The Religious Heritage of Arabia Before
and During Muhammad's Time
, J.N.K. Mugambi 207
36 Muhammad as the Founder of Islam
J.N.K. Mugambi 213
37 Islam : A Living World Religion
D.W. Waruta 219
SECTION VII COMPARATIVE STUDY OF SOME MAJOR
THEMES
38 Creative Act of God
J.J. Ongong'a 227
ix
39 Forms of Theism
J.J. Ongong'a 235
40 Models of Relationship
J.J. Ongong'a 241
41 The Nature and Destiny of Man
J.J. Ongong'a 249
42 Good and Evil
J.J. Ongong’a 257
43 Salvation
J.J. Ongong'a 265
44 Death
v J.J. Ongong’a 271
45 Immortality of the Soul
J.J. Ongong’a 277
SECTION VIII THE PRESENT STATE OF RELIGION AND
FUTURE PROSPECTS
46 The Present State of Religion in the
Contemporary World
J.N.K. Mugambi 285
47 The Future of Religion
J.N.K. Mugambi 291
Contributors 297
Bibliography 299
Index 303

xi
Acknowledgments
I place on record my deep gratitude and appreciation for all the colleagues
who responded to the urgent and pressing call to join the team and accomplish this
project within very tight deadlines in addition to their regular teaching duties. As
Chairman of the Department of Religious Studies, I was encouraged by their
readiness and conscientiousness. Though some of them joined other universities
before publication of the book, their contributions in this volume will remain a
permanent edifice to their dedication. One member of the team, Dr. Jude Ongong'a
was on the teaching staff at Kenyatta University, but his contribution is an
indispensable part of this work.
As Editor, I found it difficult to harmonize and synchronize the styles of six
distinguished scholars without interfering with their academic and professional
individuality. The challenge has been momentous, but I am convinced that the
resulting volume is worth the effort. Hopefully, the reader will find it lucid and
coherent. The scholars, of course, bear responsibility for their respective chapters,
but the arrangement of the entire volume has been the Editor's task.
The project was facilitated by another team of colleagues at the College of
Education and External Studies under the co-ordination of Mr. J.O. Odumbe. To
him we all owe a great deal for his patience and persistence.
Finally, I thank the Nairobi University Press for its commitments to see the
book through the long publication process within the shortest possible time. It is
our hope that the book will meet the needs of undergraduates, postgraduates,
researchers and teachers of comparative studies in Religions at both theological and
secular institutions.
Prof. J.N.K. Mugambi
Nairobi, 30th July, 1990