Religious Studies
Religious Studies involves not only the study of various religions and how they can intersect, but also of those who practice religion and how it influences and impacts their lives. It differs from Theology, which focuses on knowledge and understanding of a specific deity, by instead studying the behavior of the religious participants, using history, sociology, philosophy, psychology and other tools to help explain and understand religions and their associated practices.
Religious Studies is also sometimes referred to as the Science of Religion or the History of Religion. In a religious studies course, students learn to analyze religions and religious phenomena from an outside perspective, and may or may not be believers themselves. Major religions studied usually include:
- Christianity
- Judaism
- Buddhism
- Islam
As with many other liberal arts majors, graduates tend to be prepared for a wide number of career choices that may not directly relate to their major, as well as to pursue further education. Those interested in using their degrees more directly may go on to pursue further education and embark upon a teaching or counseling career, or may choose to pursue work in a church or religious non-profit setting.