This study delves into the dynamics between theology and psychology, exploring the historical attitudes held by practitioners in each field. Historically, psychology has often overlooked the role of religion in shaping human behaviour and cognition, leading to a fragmented understanding of the human experience. The neglect of spirituality has limited the effectiveness of psychological research in addressing the complex interplay between mind, body, and soul. This study adopts a literature review methodology drawing from psychology, theology, and neuroscience. Data analysis revealed a significant correlation between religious beliefs/practices and human adaptation, highlighting the importance of integrating religious factors into psychological research paradigms. Moreover, recent developments suggest increasing recognition of the interface between religion and psychology, indicating promising collaboration and further exploration opportunities. The study recommends fostering greater collaboration and dialogue between psychology and theology. By synthesising insights from psychology and theology, practitioners, policymakers, and researchers can develop more holistic interventions that promote human flourishing and facilitate individuals' spiritual growth. Therefore, future research should explore and deepen the synergies between psychology and theology, aiming to cultivate a more profound understanding of human nature and harness the transformative power of spirituality in enhancing the overall quality of life.

The study sought to discuss the concept of God as רפא in the Pentateuch. The research will use a Diachronic/Historical Critical approach, taking Form Criticism as the specific approach. A branch of the historical-critical method pioneered by Hermann Gunkel (1862-1932) and developed by Martin Noth and Gerhard von Rad, among other scholars, is applied. The design is appropriate since the research aims to trace the concept of God as the healer and its relevance in the contemporary world's pandemics and sicknesses. An outline of the Exegesis to the main text has been given using the named approaches. The text of this study is found in the Pentateuch, the Hebrew Bible's first five books. Moreover, it is found in Exodus, the second book in the Old Testament canon. The overall theme of this passage is to show God as the healer. The text is situated between two passages; the text before this text is Exodus (15:1-19), which talks about the song of the Israelites led by Miriam and Moses.

The aim of this study was to determine the causes of disunity among Churches in the Tigania east sub-county, Meru County, Kenya. The Churches have struggled to come together and establish a shared stance on certain outdated traditional beliefs and practices that no longer contribute positively to people's lives. Disagreements on these issues raise questions about whether they are truly serving the same Christ, the founder of the church. It is widely recognised that when the church is united, it can accomplish more in terms of fulfilling its mission. Compounding the issue of disunity is the rapid proliferation of splinter Churches, further dividing an already fragmented religious landscape. Some Churches have undergone multiple schisms, leading to the emergence of numerous new denominations. The study employed systematic random sampling to select the churches included in the study. A proportional sampling technique was adopted to determine the sample for Church members. Purposive sampling was used to select the Bishops/Reverends/Pastors, Pastors' Fellowship Chairpersons and the Secretaries, and Church Chairpersons as key informants due to their direct knowledge of Church matters. The research used questionnaires, interview schedules and focus group discussions to collect the required data. Data collected was presented using tables and pie charts. The study found that Churches in Tigania East need to invest towards the unity of the church. The following recommendations were suggested: Theological schools should aim to produce people who understand society's dynamics.

This paper reviews the literature on the history of science and the field of social development, showing the nexus between Thomas Samuel Kuhn’s seminal work, The Structure of Scientific Revolutions and the three paradigms of social development, namely the Dominant (Modernisation), Dependency, and Participatory (Another Development). In the history of science, Kuhn 1970 argues in his landmark work that science passes through four phases. In the first phase, scientists operate without a paradigm, and during this period, they experience all sorts of problems. The second phase sees the birth of a paradigm, and scientists begin to operate within it. In the third stage, weaknesses or flaws of the new paradigm begin to emerge. They may be explained away if they are not serious; however, if they prove otherwise, the paradigm is overturned, ushering in the fourth phase (scientific revolution). The successor follows the route followed by the predecessor; thus, the paradigm shift becomes a life cycle. The paper argues that the field of social development commenced with the Dominant Paradigm that, over the years, began to face overwhelming problems that finally overthrew it. It was replaced by the Dependency Paradigm, which suffered the same fate and was ousted by Participatory Development. This Article, a synthesis of recent literature, demonstrates that Kuhn's paradigmatic stages apply to the field of social development. The work proves intriguing and useful to the broad and interdisciplinary field of social science.

The aim of this study was to distinguish biblical Christian doctrines from fabricated interpretations. A doctrine may be considered cultic if an institution, group or individual develops a theological or doctrinal interpretation that touches minimally on the proper biblical emphasis and lives for the most part outside of that circle. This study is offered, not as an analysis of Christian cultic doctrines but as a pointer to how some Christian movements, groups or individuals develop cultic doctrines or heresies. The spiritual danger arising from the teachings of false prophets calls for believers to strive for the right doctrines so that one can differentiate between truth and falsehood. The study concludes that Some Christians unknowingly embrace Christian cult doctrines because the spiritual leaders who have been entrusted with the responsibility of teaching and preaching sound doctrines have failed to carefully and seriously provide supportive fellowship, true exposition of the word, and raise awareness on cults and cultic teachings.

The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of mixed marriages on Christian-Muslim Relations in Bulo Sub-County, Uganda. The study aims at establishing an understanding of marriage and mixed marriages among Christians and Muslims in Bulo Sub-County. It assesses the impact of challenges in mixed marriages on Christian-Muslim Relations and finally identifies solutions to mixed marriage challenges in Bulo Sub-County. The study used a descriptive survey design that combined quantitative and qualitative approaches to collect data. The sampling technique employed was the non-probability sampling technique, while the instruments for data collection were interviews and questionnaires using simple random sampling and purposive sampling techniques. The data was analysed using thematic methods. Marriage in Christianity is a lifelong monogamous covenant between a man and a woman, whereas Islamic marriage is a contract between a woman and a man called nikah. The mixed marriage challenges like differences in religious beliefs and practices such as dress code, dowry (mahr) payment and remittance, maintenance, threats of violence, discrimination and religious sanctions will lead to poor Christian-Muslim relations unless massive capacity building on freedom of religion and beliefs is done or establishment of interfaith dialogue centres in Bulo Sub–County to address marriage and family issues before the problem ruptures to the community.

This article presents the understanding of apostasy among the Fulani Muslims Mayo-Belwa Adamawa State and the entire Northern Muslims of Nigeria. It demonstrates the effects of apostasy in the region as witnessed over the years. Mayo-Belwa is a multi-ethnicity and religious community that often engages in religious activities such as preaching, naming ceremonies, burials, and weddings, encouraging individuals to disassociate from violence and disturbances. Sadly, the negative effects of apostasy have led to conflicts and violence among religions in communities. The ripple effects of apostasy are of global concern due to its threat to life. This article adopted the library and the historical approach as the primary and secondary sources for the collection of data. The qualitative research design was used to have better research. The qualitative data analysis was done through thematic analysis. This article used sample techniques and purposive sampling of 22 men and women, respectively, as respondents. Apostasy is seen as leaving Islam, rejecting the way of Allah, and abandoning Islamic religion after believing it for a long or short time, apostasy is grouped with other acts of treason that demand corporal punishment, such as reviling, rebellion, adultery, highway robbery, drinking wine, and theft. The article recommends that an interfaith dialogue centre be established to deal with religious issues and to promote peace and tolerance.

This study sought to find out the diversification of financial sources for the sustainability of the Seventh Day Adventist (SDA) Church in South East Kenya Field. The church relies entirely on traditional financial sources (tithes, offertory, thanksgiving, pledges) that are insufficient to finance the church’s activities. The voluntary giving of the faithful to support the church is inconsistent and, therefore, unsustainable for the church. However, this requires that financial sources, both internal and external, be adequate, consistent, sustainable, and ultimately well-managed for the church to be able to run its activities. The study employed resource mobilisation theory by John McCarthy and Mayer Zald in 1977, providing insights into diversifying resources inside and outside the church to achieve its financial objectives. The study used a descriptive research design, and data was collected using interview schedules from a sample size of 355 participants and a questionnaire. The study found that the SDA Church, despite having all the financial systems and structures in place, the SDA Church in South East Kenya Field is financially self-sustaining. It recommended that the SDA Church in South East Ken consider diversifying its financial sources by investing in financial institutions like SACCOs, trust funds, agriculture, buying shares, etc. Moreover, reduce over-reliance on unreliable traditional finance sources that depend on voluntary giving of the church membership.

The study sought to examine the participants’ perspectives on various aspects of levirate marriage theology in Seventh-day Adventist ecclesiology. The study employed the structural-functional theory of Emile Durkheim. The study’s target population was 774 respondents from the 8 districts that form the SDA church in Itumbe Station, and the sample size was 250 participants. Widowhood is a nerve-wracking life situation that not only affects the widowed person, but also the Christian community, the orphaned children that are under her care, who in most cases have to manage the loss of one of their parents. The study did not advocate for the abolishment of the SDA church teachings on marriage and Abagusii traditional levirate custom, rather it argued on the embracement of positive aspects of the custom while denouncing those that do not adhere to the well-being of the Christian widows; not all about levirate custom is bad. The study concluded that the SDA church in South Kenya Field, Itumbe Station, has made attempts to interpret Biblical teachings on marriage, considering it a permanent, monogamous contract solemnised by the church minister. The study recommends that SDA church should become aware not only of addressing the gospel message to individuals and showing how its teachings are contrary to the Abagusii levirate practice but also of the significant aspects found in the levirate practice itself.

This study aimed at investigating factors impeding the participation of women in SDA hierarchy in Laikipia–Samburu Station, Kenya. The study explored patriarchal theory using qualitative descriptive survey design, targeting 1,080 pastors, church elders and departmental heads, lay members of SDA church in Laikipia-Samburu Station. The study employed proportionate purposive sampling procedure with sample size of 278 respondents. Data was analysed using descriptive statistics and document analysis. The study established that gender representation in church hierarchy in practice is not balanced. The study also established that SDA has no written church policy prohibiting ordination of women but after completion of theological training women are commissioned while their male counterparts are ordained and licensed. The study recommends that the SDA General Conference Sessions should revise Church Policies and alter Church Manual to allow women ordination which is a New Light in SDA church. This is because women ordination is not against the scriptures but the SDA church practice which can be revised to increase women participation in the leadership of church hierarchy. The results of the study might have implication to SDA church in addressing challenges facing women in its hierarchy and also contribute useful insights to the religious scholars. Government and other ministries might also use the recommendations of these results to formulate policies towards uplifting women in general areas of leadership and in achieving Sustainable Development Goals.