Religion is a pervasive, powerful, multifaceted, and enduring dimension of human
experience. Religions have shaped complex cultures and countless individual lives.
They are influential in the world today and will continue to be so in the
future. The academic study of religion is multidisciplinary, drawing upon
approaches from history, literary studies, philosophy, and the social sciences. It
is multicultural, exploring the beliefs, practices, and development of particular
religious communities in many different cultures. The Temple Religion
Department is one of the most diverse in the university, with faculty members and
students of many different religious traditions, cultures, and academic and
personal perspectives. The richness of religious and cultural life in Philadelphia
and the region provides a valuable context for the study of religion and of
religious traditions and communities.
The Bachelor of Arts in Religion is a solid liberal arts degree, providing graduates
with the knowledge base and the intellectual, communication, and interpersonal
skills essential to success in any career. More specifically, knowledge of religion
-- and the ability to think clearly and communicate effectively about it -- is
valuable in fields that involve public affairs, international and cross-cultural
relations, religious issues or groups, or interaction with diverse individuals and
populations. While it provides insights into the role of religion in personal, group,
and societal identity and conflict, studying religion does not require any particular
religious background or commitment.
The concentrations within the major differ only in emphasis. Religion and Public
Life prepares students for careers in law, public policy, human and social
services, and medicine and healthcare. Religions in a Global Context is of special
value to those looking toward careers in the international arena or involving
religious diversity. Both concentrations are also excellent preparation for
graduate work in religious studies, law, medicine, the humanities and the social
sciences.
