Religious Studies

Director: Professor P. Bedford
Faculty: Professors K. Brison (Anthropology), H. Mueller (Classics), P. Heinegg (English), S. Berk (History), D. McMullen (Music); Associate Professor J. Lewin (English); Wold Visiting Professor K. Wegter-McNelly

Religion in its varied expression informs the lives of most of the world’s population, both currently and historically. It has been the inspiration for literature, art, and music, and the source of law, meaning and values, social solidarity, and conflict. Religion-Western, Eastern, and otherwise-is a vast cluster of cultural phenomena (including sacred texts, mythologies and theologies, moral codes, and every conceivable kind of ritual) that is best explored from the perspective of more than one discipline. The program is designed to enable students to gather insights from philosophy, psychology, sociology, anthropology, political science, history, literature and other disciplines by way of illuminating this practically universal form of human behavior. The academic study of religion examines religion from outside the framework of any particular belief system, and it does not aim to promote or undermine any particular religion or worldview. The program offers a major, interdepartmental major, and a minor.

Programs

Major

Religious Studies, B.A.

Interdepartmental Major

Religious Studies (ID), B.A.

Minor

Religious Studies Minor

Religious Studies

Programs

Courses