Religious Studies
What is religious studies?
From the dawn of civilization, people have used rituals and symbols to express their deepest hopes, celebrate major milestones, and mourn their losses. Religious Studies offers an opportunity to explore religion as a human phenomenon in all its diversity, using a variety of interdisciplinary tools. The field of Religious Studies is particularly pertinent today, given the intersection between religious belief, public policy, and international politics. With a focus on careful reading, critical thinking, and engagement with perspectives quite different from our own, a degree in Religious Studies also develops skills easily transferrable to a wide variety of career options.
What are students saying about the program?
Liz Remelius, undergraduate majoring in Religious Studies and minoring in Philosophy:
I think studying Philosophy [or Religious Studies] opens you to many different kinds
of beliefs - religious or simply philosophical. In addition to solidifying my own,
I learn more about the viewpoints of others. The Religious Studies major allows me
to learn about aspects of religion I didn’t know existed. I believe that cultivating
religious literacy is important in an age where the philosophies and religious in
our own country are so diverse. Being able to appreciate someone else’s beliefs helps
me to understand more about the way they see the world.
Ryan Baith, undergraduate in Religious Studies:
I really enjoy studying Philosophy because I'm interested in learning more about the
Hindu and Buddhist religions. They fascinate me and I'm open to any other kinds of
religions that may be either new, contemporary, or have ancient roots.