| dc.description.abstract | Post modernism is defined as a philosophy of the “late 20th century movement
characterized by broad skepticism, subjectivism, or relativism; a general suspicion of
reason and an acute sensitivity to the role of ideology in asserting and maintaining
political, religious and economic power. It is one such factor that is influencing and
changing certain core values of religious education. The purpose of this study was to
determine influence of emerging trends in postmodern religious education on the
morality of third year university students with reference to the University of Nairobi.
The following objectives were formulated to guide the study: to determine the
influence of skepticism on the morality of religious students at the university of
Nairobi, to determine the influence of subjectivism on the morality of religious
education students at the University of Nairobi, to determine the influence of
relativism on the morality of religious studies students at the University of Nairobi
and to determine the influence of pluralism on the morality of religious education
students at the University of Nairobi. The study was anchored on Durkheim’s theory
on religion. A mixed method research design was employed in this study. The study
targeted a head of department, lecturers and students in the department of religion and
philosophy at the University of Nairobi. The study sampled 1 head of department, 10
lecturers and 167 3rd year students through purposive sampling from a target
population of 1 head of department, 300 lecturers and 320 students. Data was
collected through structured and semi-structured questionnaires administered to the
students, and interview schedules. Pilot testing involved one departmental head, 5
lecturers and 20 students from Kenya Highlands Evangelical University in Kericho
County. The content and construct validity, of the data collection instruments was
ascertained by presenting the instruments for scrutiny to the researchers two
University supervisors. Reliability of the students and lecturer questionnaires was
estimated through the test-retest technique. To analyze data, Statistical package for
Social Sciences (SPSS) was applied. Standard deviation as well as means and
percentages were used for descriptive data analysis. Inferential statistics such as
correlation and chi-square were also used to represent the findings in accordance with
the study objectives. The findings show that skepticism indeed affected the morality
of religious education students in the university (r=0.750, p<0.05). This can be
evidenced by that some students ignored the shackles of organized religion and
rejected the shackles of organized religion. Findings show that subjectivism had
significant relationship with religious education morality at the University of Nairobi
(r=0.560, p<0.05). Some students shunned outward expression of religion. Some
tolerated individualism while others had allergy to facts. There was a statistically
significant relationship between pluralism and the morality of religious education
students at the University of Nairobi (r=0.840, p<0.05). This was evidenced by sense
of tolerance for various beliefs and ways of life. However, there was no statistically
significant relationship between relativism and the morality of religious education
students at the University of Nairobi (r=0.151, p>0.05). In this regard, there was low
level of indifference to religious and moral absolutes. The study recommends the need
for the religious education departments to put in place strategies to counter the
negative effects of postmodernism on students’ molarity. The study could be of
importance to universities in addressing the approach on teaching religious education,
and maintaining the original value and impact of religious education. | en_US |
