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Religion is a different
matter. And Religious Studies is a different kind
of department. It is not about finding the religion
that has the “truth,” but it does delve
into the various truths that people everywhere
believe. It does not force you to believe one thing
or act one way; yet it does try to help you to
establish guiding principles for yourself, cope
maturely with whatever life brings, and act
responsibly in the world that you will face when
you leave Elon University.
And if you are curious about these questions and
issues, the Religious Studies department is just
the place for you. This is where we study what
people believe, why they believe, and how they
express these beliefs. And it doesn’t stop
there. Studying religious traditions, scriptures
and belief systems allows our students to learn
about and better understand their environments, the
larger world and themselves.
Religious Studies is a liberal arts education in
itself since it employs approaches from the fields
of history, language, literature, sociology,
political science, psychology, anthropology,
archeology, art, gender studies, environmental
studies, geography, science and others. In fact,
many of our courses combine two or more of these
disciplines: God and Politics, Islam in America,
Christianity and Social Justice, and Unearthing the
Bible. Our faculty is known for creative teaching
strategies, engaged- and service-learning
techniques and student-centered pedagogy. In a
religious studies course, you will have the
opportunity to explore the writings of ancient
Christians, modern Sufis and some of today’s
most notable and sometimes controversial religious
thinkers. You might also visit a Buddhist temple or
a mosque, you might create an art project, you
might interview a local priest or you might serve
at a local homeless shelter. And these are just
some of the ways in which you can explore the world
of religious studies.
Religious Studies attracts students who want to
make a difference in the world. They want to do
something for others. And Religious Studies makes
you aware of your connections with others and your
responsibility to them and the environment.
Religious Studies teaches students to think about
the world and to imagine new possibilities. This
prepares our students for a variety of career paths
and choices. Our graduates have gone on to law
school, into social work, into religious service
and graduate school. And whatever path they take
they are equipped with the necessary tools and
knowledge to make a difference in the world.
Because religion is a different matter and
Religious Studies is a different department.
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