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
Dr. Roy Whitaker moderated on April 12, 2024, 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.
Dr. Roy Whitaker moderated the panel and delivered a paper on March 16, 2024, in the Religion and Arts session at the American Academy of Religion Western Region. He presented on Tupac Shakur and future studies, which explored the intersectionality between death and resurrection in hip hop, Afrofuturism, and religious studies.
Important Links
