About

An overview and description of the Religion department at Denison University.

Essential Part of Humanistic Studies

Religion is an essential part of the humanistic studies in a liberal arts education. The study of religion is one way to establish a view of reality, and more specifically a view of the meaning of human existence as individuals and as social beings in relation to ultimate reality, however that reality is understood. Historically, human beings have articulated our greatest moral ambitions and our most sublime understandings of what may be possible for us to achieve—in relation to one another and to the rest of the cosmos—within the myths, hymns, rituals, and institutions of varied religious traditions.

The goals of the department are to help students:

Understand the nature of religion
Understand both Abrahimic and Asian religious traditions
Develop critical and analytical skills for examining the various religious systems offered in a pluralistic society
Examine their own religious perceptions

Many religion majors and minors conduct year-long senior research projects, the majority of which are converted into theses for recognition.

See Tentative Three Year Schedule

Mission Statement

The academic study of religion is a multi-disciplinary exploration of how religion functions in the lives of individuals, American society, and the global community. It critically examines the role of religion as an active force that has social, ethical, and ideological consequences. Students learn to assess how religion has shaped their cultures, their family lives, their suppositions of what matters and what is ethical, and their sense of who they are. By studying religion, students gain the analytical, relational, and expressive skills essential to a liberal arts education.

One does not need to be religious to study religion. The academic study is a lens through which the persistence of religion in the social sphere becomes evident, and the personal sphere is enriched. This academic exercise confirms and contests the prevailing understanding of reality. In the process the study of religion enhances skill-sets with transfer value in the vocational sphere as well as deepened awareness of what defines us as individuals, communities, societies, and nations. Critical consciousness on moral issues, global relationships, and the existence of community is a result of this academic exercise. Therefore, the questions we pose concerning various social relations may be more important than the answers constructed. In Religion classrooms, students learn how to ask these critical questions.