The Faith of Unity Religion: The Applicability of Al-Faruqi’s Methodology in Studying African Religions

This study is an attempt to contribute to the existing efforts in finding appropriate methodological approaches for studying African religions. It utilizes al-Faruqi's methodology of studying religion to study the Faith of Unity religion. It begins by offering an in-depth analysis of al-Faruqi's methodology followed by a discussion on the emergence and development of Faith of Unity as a new religious movement in Uganda. Al-Faruqi's methodology is then applied to study the Faith of Unity in order: (a) to determine how viable and useful it is in studying African religions in general and Faith of Unity in particular, and (b) to understand the nature and essence of Faith of Unity religion. Applying al-Faruqi's methodology led to the conclusion that Faith of Unity is a self-sufficient religious system that offers its followers answers to their concerns about the purpose of life and existence and their fate and destiny. From a theological viewpoint, it offers them answers relating to the divine and their relationship with him (or them), and from a moral ethical viewpoint, it offers a religious moral order through which followers can live a commendable religious and moral life. The study argued that although al-Faruqi's methodology was not without limitations and shortcomings and needed to be expanded and fully articulated, it provided an invaluable starting point for studying African religions in a more objective, scientific and academic way better than those approaches that presented African religions as inferior belief systems.