Many students are surprised to find that ¶¶Òõ̽̽ has a long tradition of the study of religion free from any connections with religious institutions. People assume that the study of religion is part of religious training and is thus more like what takes place in catechism classes or Hebrew school or at a mosque or temple.
But the study of religion is a crucial part of the wider study of human cultures, global affairs, and personal identities; it is not tied to previous religious training or present religious affiliation. Rather, it is the investigation of the vast array of myths, rituals, ethical systems, and social formations that human beings have created in response to what they perceive to be powers beyond humans.
Join us in the ongoing investigation of this fascinating and vital subject!
What Does a Student of Religion Study?
Human efforts to grapple with the meaning of life and how best to live it. An informed, critical, and global point of view on religion completes a liberal arts education and adds to the life-long process of self-knowledge.
The idea that religion is a common form of human culture that can be studied, and not just a theological truth to be practiced, has evolved over the centuries. People study religion with the purpose of gaining an accurate historical understanding of religions and of analyzing and theorizing about this vast, global spectrum of expressions.
Our students receive extensive personal attention in our small classes as they gain religious literacy and develop a critical understanding of the role of religion in the world, an essential preparation for global citizenship today.
Studies at ¶¶Òõ̽̽ Include:
- Major religious traditions
- Topics like gender and religion, religion and race, and religion and social theory
- Key aspects of religion such as ritual, myth, death practices, sacred sound, and visuality
Want to Work in Advertising? Try Majoring in Religion.
What can you do with a major in religion? Matt McLaughlin '08 shares one career path: advertising. McLaughlin conceived of the series "out of thin air," brought the concept to Reddit, and sold Google Cloud on sponsoring the spots, which netted the company its highest advertising revenues ever.