Department for the Study of Religion
Our Mission
- Introduce the methodologies of religious studies as an academic discipline
- Advance the profession of religious studies through a commitment to scholarly research, publication, interpretation, and discussion
- Cultivate an understanding of religious pluralism, including non-religious perspectives, in order to create global citizens in a religiously diverse world, and
- Promote informed public dialogue about religion and its influence on society and culture.
Why major in religious studies?
The academic study of religion is central to the creation of a community of world citizens. Our program is designed for students who live in a pluralistic society and who wish to investigate the role religions play in human life and society. Because religion has contributed to the human story of almost every culture, it is difficult to understand human behavior or to interpret world events without grasping how religion has helped to shape them. Read more about the major.
Announcements
We are pleased to announce Liren Gonzalez as this year’s Outstanding Graduating Senior in Religious Studies. Esra Tunc, assistant professor for the Study of Religion, is Liren's Most Influential Faculty Member.
Congratulations to you both!
On April 12, 2024, Dr. Roy Whitaker moderated a conversation with the Chair of Religious Studies at the University of Pennsylvania and historian of African American religion Dr. Anthea Butler on white Christian nationalism for a symposium on religion, culture, and diversity for the Center for the Study of Ethics at Utah Valley University.
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