Josiah Taru
Researcher and Educator
About
Josiah Taru
Josiah Taru trained as an anthropologist. He is an interdisciplinary scholar who explores the relationship between religion and various social institutions, such as the economy, politics, science, and health. His research primarily focuses on Pentecostal Christianity and African Indigenous Religions in Southern Africa. Additionally, he explores themes of religious pluralism, interfaith dialogue, and diversity within religious, faith, and scientific communities in the United States. Josiah has taught at universities in both Zimbabwe and the US. His teaching approach promotes critical thinking and problem-solving skills, grounded in the philosophy that education should be liberating, interactive, active, and socially relevant.
- Research interests
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- Religion and Economy
- Science and Religion
- Religion and Health
- Religion and Migration
- Fieldwork sites
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- Southern Africa
- USA
Research
Selected Research Projects
Josiah has been involved in several funded research projects. Some of the projects are:
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2021–24
“African Spirituality, Health, and Well-being in the Face of the COVID-19 Pandemic in Zimbabwe,” Engaging African Realities sub-grant from the Nagel Institute for the Study of World Christianity.
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2021
“Informal economy, Vulnerability and Marginalization in times of pandemic: Evidence from Masvingo Province, Zimbabwe,” Vulnerability, Inequality, and the Politics of Pandemic Responses sub-grant from Evidence in Governance & Politics (EGAP), Toronto Metropolitan University.
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2021
“The Grammar of the Spirit World in Pentecostalized Africa conference” DFG-Programme & Point Sud grant to organize and host a conference.
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2020–22
“Interrogating the inclusion and participation of vulnerable groups in Zimbabwe’s local democracy,” grant from Swedish International Centre for Local Democracy (ICLD).
Publications
Book Chapters
- 2025
Igboin, B. & Taru, J. “Africa.” In Adogame, A. & Harvey, G. (eds.) The Routledge Handbook of Research Methods in the Study of Indigenous Religions. Routledge. New York: Routledge Publishers. ISBN 9781032201412.
- 2024
Muyambo, T. Taru, J. and Sibanda, F. “Situating Mainline Christian Churches’ Responses to COVID-19 Vaccination in Masvingo and Bikita Districts, Zimbabwe.” In Muyambo, T,., Sibanda, F. and Chitando, E. (eds.) Religion and COVID-19 Vaccination in Zimbabwe. London. Routledge. ISBN 9781032483573
- 2022
Macheka, M. T., Taru, J; & Sibanda, F., “Emergency Remote Instruction in times of COVID-19 pandemic: Experiences of educators at Zimbabwean higher education institutions.” In Mogaji, E. (ed) Re-imagining Educational Futures in Developing Countries: Lessons from Global Health Crises. Palgrave MacMillan. London. ISBN 9783030882334.
- 2020
Taru, J. “Pentecostal-Charismatic Christianity and the Management of Precarity in post-Colonial Zimbabwe.” In Öhlmann, P.; Gräb, W. and Frost, M. (eds) African Initiated Christianity and the Decolonization of Development: Sustainable Development in Pentecostal and Independent Churches, 1st Edition. Routledge: New York and London. ISBN 9781032175799.
- 2019
Taru, J. “Mobile Applications and Religious Processes among Pentecostal-Charismatic Christians in Zimbabwe.” In Jacqueline H. Fewkes (ed), Anthropological Perspectives on the Religious Uses of Mobile Apps. Palgrave MacMillan: London. ISBN: 9783030263768.
Peer-Reviewed Journal Articles
- 2025
Taru, J. & Ecklund, H. E. “Science and Religion in the Context of a Good Death.” Review of Religious Research 0(0): 1-26.
- 2024
Taru, J. & McNeill, F. “Faith it, till you make it”: Prosperity gospel and Spiritual Hustling among Young Pentecostal Christians in Harare.” African Studies Review: 67(4): 941-966.
- 2020
Gukurume, S. & Taru, J. “‘We are soldiers in God’s army’: Spiritual warfare and adoption of the military trope in Pentecostal Charismatic Churches in Southern Africa.” Journal of Religion in Africa 50: 278-298.
- 2020
Morreira, S., Taru, J. & Truyts, C. “Place and Pedagogy: Using Space and Materiality in Teaching Social Science in Southern Africa.” Third World Thematic 5(2): 137-153.
- 2020
Taru, J. “Envisioning an Alternative: A Pentecostal-Charismatic movement and everyday life in post-colonial Zimbabwe.” Religion, State & Society 48(4) 239-255.
- 2020
Chitongo, L. & Taru, J. “Framing Subalternity, Precarity and Poverty in Selected Songs by Leonard Zhakata.” Muziki 16(2): 22-37.
- 2019
Basure, H.S; Taru, J. & Mutangi, G. T. “Livelihoods fragility and land tenure in the Post Fast Track Land Reform Era in Upper-Guruve, Zimbabwe.” Anthropology Southern Africa 42 (3): 259-270.
- 2015
Taru, J. & Settler, F. “Patterned Consumption and Materialism among Zimbabwean Christians: A Tale of two Religious denominations.” Journal for the Study of Religion 28 (2): 137–137.
- 2015
Taru, J. & Chazovachii, B. “Rural households’ livelihoods diversification through termite utilization in a depressed region of Zimbabwe.” Chinese Journal of Population Resources and Environment 13 (4): 373-378.
- 2013
Taru, J. & Basure, H.S. “Conflicts, Contestation, and Marginalization in Urban Agriculture: Experiences from Kuwadzana Extension, Harare.” Russian Journal of Agricultural and Socio-Economic Sciences. 18 (6): 15–26.
- 2013
Taru, J. & Gukurume, S. “Corporate Social Responsibility in the Tourism Industry. Lessons from Communities Surrounding Great Zimbabwe Monuments.” Journal of Tourism Challenges and Trends 6 (1): 59-74.
Published Conference Papers
- 2023
Museva, T. & Taru, J. “Green Energy, Land and Rights of ‘Indigenous Communities’ in Chisumbanje, Zimbabwe.” National Symposium on Realizing Sustainable Development and Human Rights in Zimbabwe. Raoul Wallenberg Institute of Human Rights and Humanitarian Law.
Book Reviews
- 2024
Bekithemba Dube, (ed). Religious Leaders and the Regime in the Second Republic of Zimbabwe. (London: Lexington Books, 2023) African Studies Review. 1–3.
- 2023
Devaka Premawardhana, Faith in flux: Pentecostalism and mobility in rural Mozambique. (Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press, 2018) Anthropology Southern Africa, 46:1, 64-66.
Public Scholarship
- 2025
Ecklund, H. E. and Taru, J. “New Directions for Empirical Research on Religion and Science.” Theologie und Naturwissenschaften.
- 2025
Taru, J. “Food for God, Fees for the Daughters.” The Reader. Rice University Humanities Research Center.
- 2024
Taru, J. “The rise of African prophets: the unchecked power of the leaders of Pentecostal churches.” The Conversation.
- 2023
Taru, J. “Ezekiel Guti: Revered Zimbabwean church leader who preached hard work and morals over miracles.” The Conversation.
- 2023
“Engaging African Realities: Role and Place of Religion in the Fight against COVID-19” Great Zimbabwe University Campus Radio (6:30–7:30 PM, two episodes: 22 September & 13 October).
- 2021
Chimbidzikai, T., and Taru, J. “How TB Joshua overcame the odds to establish a spiritual empire far beyond Nigeria.” The Conversation.
- 2020
Kirby, B., Taru, J. and Chimbidzikai, T. “Pentecostal and the spiritual war against coronavirus in Africa.” The Conversation.
- 2020
Taru, J. “Digital tragedy: Doing online teaching in Zimbabwe during the pandemic.” Corona Times.
- 2020
Taru, J. “‘You can work from home if the situation at home allows’: Teaching during the pandemic.” Education International.
Teaching
Teaching & Mentoring
Courses Instructed
- Science, Religion, and Health: A Sociological Approach
- Introduction to Social Anthropology
- Religion and Politics
- Anthropology of Religion
- Religion and Migration
- Religion, Spirituality, and Science
- Science, Technology, and Society
- Economic Anthropology
Contact
Get in Touch
- Affiliation
- Oklahoma State University
Center for Health Sciences
Tulsa, OK