Why Major in Religious Studies?

To Ask Profound Questions

Is there a God? What is evil? What did Plato, Pascal, Calvin, and Nietzsche teach about God and free will? How do the Buddha, Jesus, and Muhammad differ on the soul and afterlife? Why has Hindu Guru and God-dess worship increased? Was America founded as a religious or secular nation? What are the differences between Jews, Catholics, and Protestants? What role did religion play in the Crusades, Conquest of Mexico, and American Revolution? What impact have libera-tionist, feminist, cultural studies, and post-colonial movements had on religion and society? What role has religion played in the Northern Ireland, Bosnian, Israeli-Palestinian, 9/11, and Mumbai conflicts? What role did religion play in Barack Obama’s victory in the 2008 Election?

Understand World Religions

To better understand the beliefs, practices, and sacred writings of the 5 billion Christians, Muslims, Hindus, Jews, Buddhists, and other practitioners.

Understand Global Cultures

To better understand people, cultures, societies, and gender dynamics in the Middle East, Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean.

Understanding Leadership

To learn about when, where, and how key leaders founded their own religious movements and why their messages attracted the allegiance of the masses.

Understand Global Conflicts

To study religion’s role in global conflicts and peace-building in Palestine, Bosnia, Rwanda, Darfur, India, Northern Ireland, Sri Lanka.

Understand America

To better understand our nation and your own religion or lack of religion.

Gain Competitive Edge in the Job Market

Studying world religions, culture, conflicts, and foreign languages can set you apart from your competition and give you an edge with the U.S. State Department, multi-national corporations, relief agencies, marketing agen-cies, Peace Corps, Fulbright Fellowships, teaching pro-grams, and graduate schools.

Be Agents of Change

To study how the world’s most important leaders drew on religious ideas to bring about revolutionary social, cultural, and political change.