Religious Studies
Through religious studies, you'll delve into culture, ritual, history, literature and sacred texts -- allowing for multifaceted insights into our human urge toward spirituality.
By making connections among various religions, you'll gain a deeper understanding of world history and global politics.
Because religious studies demand critical thinking and communication skills, you'll be well-prepared for both graduate studies and a variety of careers. Religion students often go into education, medicine, law, journalism, international business, diplomacy and, of course, religion. We offer both a major and a minor in religious studies.
"Going to public school my whole life, I never learned about nor was allowed to talk about religion in the classroom. I started doing my own research on different religions out of curiosity and discovered a whole new world! It was like a secret that had been hidden from me my whole life, and it was, and still is, completely fascinating. Studying religion at Roanoke College has broadened my global perspective. Religion affects how people live, talk, act, work, eat, and dress, etc. Understanding different religions helps one understand the world and everyone in it. Therefore, it also applies to any other field/study offered on this campus!" Bridget Gautieri '16
As a religious studies major, you'll have the opportunity to work with Roanoke's outstanding religion faculty, many of whom are leading scholars in their fields.
Sample Course Offerings:
- RELG 202 New Testament Christianities
- RELG 204 Islam
- RELG 207 Native American Religions
- RELG 220 Christian Ethics
- RELG 231 Religion, Philosophy, and Science
- RELG 245 Japanese Religions
At the leading edge: integrating science and ethics
Dr. James Peterson, Schumann Professor of Christian Ethics and Director of the Center for Religion and Society, was invited to the International Summit on Human Gene Editing at the National Academy of Sciences in Washington, D. C., where experts from around the world convened to discuss the ethics surrounding gene-editing research.
Peterson has published two books on human genetic intervention, Genetic Turning Points and Changing Human Nature. The International Society for Science and Religion named him a Fellow as one of the most influential scholars in the world in the fields of science and medicine.
Recent faculty books explore formidable issues
Recent works examine important aspects of the judicial system, the fate of the universe, our relationship with war and more.
News roundup: May and June 2020
A new center for studying racial history made headlines around the country, and multiple professors published insightful opinion pieces.
Sacred centers & religious rituals in India
Haley Toresdahl '14, a political science major with a minor in religious studies and a concentration in legal studies, interned at the U.S. Department of Agriculture's faith-based and neighborhood partnerships office during the fall of 2013. Her work on USDA initiatives overlapped with the work of the White House Office of Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships, and she often found herself interacting with White House staffers.
She wants to build a career focused on hunger issues, and her experience in Washington solidified her future plans. "This has definitely opened up my eyes to all the different options for public service," she said.