Religious Studies
Religions permeate every facet of human life, influencing cultures, politics, and societies both past and present. As part of our Religious Studies program, you'll explore the myriad ways in which the quest for meaning shapes individuals and communities. Through engaging with challenging texts, you'll learn to analyze, interpret, and communicate complex ideas鈥攕kills that are in high demand across numerous professions.
This program emphasizes the balance between maintaining an open mind and applying critical thought, preparing you for a holistic approach to professional endeavors and personal relationships. By exploring diverse religious beliefs and practices, you'll foster curiosity, enhance your understanding of societal changes, and cultivate empathy. These are the cornerstones of not only a successful career but also a fulfilling life.
Why Study Religious Studies at HL黑料门不打烊
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Faculty Mentorship
Religious studies at HL黑料门不打烊 is a small, close-knit program, so your professors will get to know you well throughout your time in the major, tailoring their feedback to your needs and goals.
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Classroom Dynamics
Another benefit of a small program is getting to know your classmates through meaningful discussion. You鈥檒l get comfortable exchanging perspectives and expressing yourself in a supportive yet challenging environment.
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Reading, Writing, and Speaking
Forget standardized tests and rote memorization. You鈥檒l stretch your mental muscles by engaging with original texts and learning to write and speak in a clear and compelling way.
Interested in Studying Religious Studies at HL黑料门不打烊?
Sign up to receive more info about what it鈥檚 like to be a religious studies major at HL黑料门不打烊 and to connect with a professor.
鈥淭he thing I took away the most was the personal relationships with faculty mentors. Things like the small class sizes and having seminars rather than lectures made a world of difference. They taught me how to care about what I鈥檓 learning rather than just go through the motions. The courses taught by Dr. French and Dr. D鈥橝mato were as good as you鈥檇 get at an Ivy League school, and I hope the education I receive in the future will be as good as HL黑料门不打烊.鈥�
HL黑料门不打烊 Religious Studies Careers
HL黑料门不打烊 religious studies grads are making tomorrow happen at some of the world鈥檚 most innovative organizations.
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Isabella Beham 鈥�16
Director of Recruitment, Elite Private Search
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Aislinn Betancourt 鈥�12
Chief Impact Officer, Equity Meets Design
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Alexander Earl 鈥�14
History and Theology Teacher, Pacifica Christian High School
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Camilo Garz贸n 鈥�15
Editor, Digital Producer, and Contributing Writer, National Geographic Society
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Prea Persaud 鈥�10
Lecturer, Religious Studies, University of North Carolina-Charlotte
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Ashton Lange 鈥�15
Associate, Healthcare Services, Spencer Stuart
Real World Experience
From internships and community service to prestigious leadership conferences, religious studies majors hone their knowledge and skills through real-world experience.
Experience HL黑料门不打烊 IRL
There鈥檚 no better way to get a feel for life at HL黑料门不打烊 than by scheduling a campus tour.
Schedule a VisitPopular Courses
Religion intersects with every conceivable topic, so you鈥檒l be able to choose from a diverse lineup of classes, following a broad foundation of coursework that provides context for the rest of the program.
REL 170 The Search for Meaning
Follow the inner journeys of religious thinkers from a variety of traditions. Along the way, you鈥檒l uncover the motives and consequences of the search for meaning.
REL 113 Asian Religions
Analyze and discuss sacred texts and other primary sources to explore the beliefs and rituals of Hinduism, Buddhism, and the religions of China and Japan.
REL 490 Senior Seminar
In the culmination of your academic work, you鈥檒l examine classic and current theories, methodologies, and categories of analysis in the academic study of religion and apply these to your final research projects.
REL 217 Jewish Life and Thought
Examine historical, literary, and theological masterpieces that explore law, ritual, Zionism, Israel, American Judaism, and the changing roles of women in contemporary Judaism.
REL 300 Religion and the Body
Unpack Eastern and Western traditions, beliefs, and notions of the body and embodiment. You鈥檒l focus on mind/body dualism, sexual norms and taboos, purity and impurity, gender, and sexual identity.
REL 237 Religion and Terrorism
Explore whether religion is inherently violent, how various religions justify violence, and how to define religious terrorism. You鈥檒l also examine the psychology behind extremism and the significance of 9/11.
Beyond the Classroom
Collaborative Research Work side by side with a professor on an original, grant-funded research project through the Student-Faculty Collaborative Scholarship Program. Along the way, you鈥檒l develop the kind of research experience that is typically reserved for graduate school and have the opportunity to publish and present your findings.
Philosophy and Religion Club This popular forum brings you together with faculty, visiting experts, and other students for dialectical conversation. A speaker introduces a theme, provides background, and then opens a lively discussion.
Study Abroad From China and Japan to India and Israel, HL黑料门不打烊 religious studies majors see their course material come to life and observe how faith shapes people and cultures around the globe through dozens of faculty-led field studies and semester-long study abroad programs.
Keep Exploring
Take a deeper dive into religious studies at HL黑料门不打烊 by meeting your future professors, seeing our grads in action, and sitting in on a class.
April 29, 2025
Garz贸n 鈥�15 Appointed Program Director at AskNature and Presents at Bioneers Conference
Camilo Garz贸n 鈥�15 was appointed the AskNature program director at the Biomimicry Institute and presented at the 36th annual Bioneers Conference.
November 12, 2024
What It鈥檚 Like 鈥� to Start Your Own Student Organization
Fueled by his love of food and intercultural exchange, Joseph Pool 鈥�26 founded Breaking Bread, a HL黑料门不打烊 student organization that builds community and bridges divides through shared meals and conversation.
July 29, 2024
Leading Change
For the past 10 years, the College鈥檚 Bonner Leaders Program has provided service-learning opportunities to students passionate about social issues and nonprofit work, creating positive change in the HL黑料门不打烊 community and beyond.
January 13, 2023
Greenberg Publishes Book on Religion and the Body
The Routledge Handbook of Religion and the Body is the first comprehensive volume of its kind to feature multi-religious perspectives on the body and embodiment.
May 05, 2022
Tars Taking Action
A trio of Tars are putting the 鈥渁ct鈥� in 鈥渁ctivist鈥� through educational outreach and the creation of the first-ever Take Action Institute.
May 04, 2022
Bengtson 鈥�22 Earns Fulbright and Critical Language Scholarships
Jacqueline Bengtson 鈥�22 will pursue passions for cross-cultural exchange, education, and foreign languages in India and Nepal.
Expert Faculty
All of our religious studies faculty hold terminal degrees in the field and boast expertise in a broad spectrum of specializations. Our expert professors are also dedicated mentors who elevate learning through personalized attention inside and outside the classroom.
Department of Philosophy & Religion
Telephone:407.646.2139
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Todd French, PhD
Associate Professor of Religion;
Department Co-ChairResearch interests: Early Christianity, Byzantine hagiography, Syriac, Islam, mysticism, gender, poverty, and extremes in religion
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Yudit Greenberg, PhD
George D. and Harriet W. Cornell Chair of Religion
Research interests: Modern and contemporary Jewish thought; cross-cultural concepts of love, eros, and the body; feminist philosophy and theology; and comparative religion
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Jingyu Liu, PhD
Assistant Professor of Religion
Research interests: Chinese religions, Buddhism, Daoism, interregional religious culture, ritual studies.
