Religion is one of the most powerful forces shaping human societies. It influences politics and law, art and literature, ethics and economics, identity and community, conflict and reconciliation. At Denison, we study religion as an academic field of inquiry, asking how religious ideas, practices, institutions, and traditions both shape — and are shaped by — the cultures in which they exist.

The academic study of religion is interdisciplinary, drawing on history, anthropology, philosophy, literary studies, sociology, and cultural analysis to understand religion as a human phenomenon. Rather than asking students what to believe, we ask them to think critically, analyze evidence, interpret texts, and examine the role religion plays in everyday life and across the globe.

Our courses span religious traditions, historical periods, and geographic regions while encouraging students to explore the questions that matter most: How do people create meaning? How does religion influence power, justice, identity, and social change? Why do religious traditions endure, adapt, and evolve? By studying religion in its historical and cultural contexts, students develop a richer understanding of both the diversity of human experience and the forces that continue to shape our world.

Our goals for the department are to help students:

  1. Analyze religion as a human and cultural phenomenon
    Students will analyze the diverse ways religion shapes — and is shaped by — historical, social, political, cultural, and intellectual contexts using established methods in the academic study of religion.
  2. Interpret religious sources critically
    Students will interpret religious texts, practices, material culture, and lived traditions using appropriate historical, literary, ethnographic, and theoretical approaches, recognizing the complexity and diversity within religious communities.
  3. Compare religious traditions and worldviews
    Students will evaluate similarities and differences among religious traditions, avoiding simplistic generalizations while recognizing the dynamic and evolving nature of religious beliefs, practices, and identities.
  4. Communicate scholarly arguments effectively
    Students will formulate clear, evidence-based arguments about religion in written, oral, and digital forms, demonstrating the ability to synthesize information, engage scholarly conversations, and communicate with diverse audiences.
  5. Apply the study of religion to contemporary questions
    Students will use the academic study of religion to interpret contemporary issues, demonstrating how religious ideas and practices inform public life, ethical debates, cultural expression, and global politics.