Most students register for a religion course in order to earn three Humanities credits, yet studying religion can also provide a wide range of benefits and opportunities for students and professionals. Developing a knowledge of and education in religion can contribute to a better understanding of religious diversity within an increasingly global and multi-cultural society. This lesson will address religion as a discipline and introduce some benefits and opportunities from studying world religions.
Objectives for this lesson:
- define religion and religious studies as an academic discipline
- recognize the benefits of studying religion
- describe how studying religion can benefit academic and professional careers.
What is Religion?
Religion is a complex social phenomenon, and attempts to define religion have led to a broad range of various approaches. Some consider religion to be a set of beliefs concerning the cause, nature, and purpose of the universe, especially when considered as the creation of a superhuman agency or agencies, usually involving devotional and ritual observances, and often containing a moral code governing the conduct of human affairs. Others have defined religion as a social system based on a specific fundamental set of beliefs and practices generally agreed upon by a number of persons adhering to a particular set of beliefs and practices. Religion has also been defined by the practice of religious beliefs or the ritual observance of faith. as we move through the semester, we will explore a variety of various attempts to define religion. The video below provides a brief overview of the complexities of defining social phenomena.
The study of Religion, also known as religious studies, is an interdisciplinary academic field that researches and investigates religious beliefs, ideas, practices and institutions throughout history. Scholars in religion take different approaches using systematic, historically based and cross-cultural comparisons to describe, compare, interpret, explain and understand religion, religious behavior, and the role of religion in personal, social, and public life.
Religious studies is different from theology, however. Theology is the field of study and analysis that treats of God and of God’s attributes and relations to the universe; study of divine things or religious truth; divinity. It comes from the word theos which is Greek for “God,” and -ology which is from the Greek word logos meaning “word.”. Most literally then the word theology means “words about God” or “the study of God.” The video below provides a brief overview of theology.
Unlike theology, which attempts to understand religious ideas, beliefs, and practices from a religious perspective, religious studies attempts to understand religion independent of a specific religious viewpoint by drawing from a wide range of theories and methods from different academic fields such as anthropology, history, sociology, philosophy, and psychology. This does not mean that a member of a religious community cannot engage in religious studies to research their religion; it means that the theories and methods used in religious studies are shared and recognized by all in academia regardless of the scholars religious affiliation. In many ways, religious studies can build bridges between members and non-members of a religious community by providing common ground for the exploration of religious phenomena.
Benefits and Opportunities in Religion
The study of religion can provide a wide range of personal, academic and professional benefits and opportunities for students and scholars.
- Leaders and team-builders gain a better understanding of how to recruit and work with a diverse group of people from different religious background,
- Business entrepreneurs in a globally competitive market can better serve the needs of customers,
- Healthcare practitioners can assist clients in ways tat are meaningful and respectful to patient needs,
- Public service professionals can build a positive rapport with religious members of the community,
- Military personnel can connect with the hearts and minds of people living abroad,
- Humanities, Arts and Social Science majors can develop deeper understandings of how religion shapes society and culture,
- Everyone can enrich their lives by developing a better understanding of diversity and knowing ways to connect with people who are different.
Studying Religion in Higher Education
Most universities include religion departments offering majors and minors in religion. Visit the Department of Religion at the University of Florida to learn about the undergraduate major and how to integrate the minor into a different major.) This course will introduce tools and approaches used in the field of religious studies to investigate contemporary world religions. The terms and concepts presented here will build a foundation for understanding and appreciating religion in academia as well in personal interactions and engagements.
For discussion: Introduce yourself to your classmates in online discussion. Apart from earning three credits on your transcript, explain how you can benefit personally, academically and professionally) from learning about religion and world religions. Respond to at least two student posts. (approx 150 words).
When you complete the discussion, move on to the World Religion lesson.