WHAT ABOUT RELIGIOUS STUDIES?

Why not try a Religious Studies course out for size, either as an elective or to complement what you are already studying? We believe our department offers some of the most interesting courses in the university.

If you are looking for a minor ours is one of the most flexible in the university, and whether you have a major chosen or not, Religious Studies is a highly appealing choice--even as a second major. The academic study of religion can be one of the most enlightening experiences of a college education and Religious Studies graduates find their training is highly attractive in a variety of career areas such as business, law, communications, international studies, and the helping professions. Our mission is to foster critical understanding of the significance of religion in human societies and cultures. To get at this we concentrate on the following areas of inquiry:

• Examine the historical, cultural, and textual dimensions of religion using the methods and approaches of the academic study of religions.
• Recognize the integral role of religion in cultures, especially as it relates to issues of race, class, gender, ethnicity, sexuality, identity, and power.
• Engage in self-reflective, open, informed, and civil conversation about diverse religious traditions.
• Develop transferable skill sets that include reading carefully, writing cogently, speaking effectively, and thinking critically.

FALL 2012 COURSE SCHEDULE:  Undergraduate Courses   Graduate Courses

28th ANNUAL LOY H. WITHERSPOON LECTURE

On April 23th, Frans de Waal, behavioral biologist and author, presented the 28th annual Loy H. Witherspoon Lecture. His lecture, “Morality Before Religion: Empathy, Fairness and Prosocial Primates” was enthusiastically received by the large audience gathered in McKnight Hall. De Waal is the C.H. Candler Professor in the Psychology Department at Emory University and the director of the Living Links Center at the Yerkes National Primate Research Center. In 2007, Time selected him as one of the “Worlds’ 100 Most Influential People Today,” and in 2011, Discover named him 47th on its list of all-time “Great Minds of Science.”

The Loy H. Witherspoon Lecture in Religious Studies is the oldest and most prestigious endowed lecture series at UNC Charlotte. The series, established in 1984, honors the distinguished career and service of its namesake, the first chair of the Department of Religious Studies. Witherspoon is currently a professor emeritus in the department, which is part of the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences.

PRE-REGISTRATION FOR FALL 2012 BEGINS MARCH 26

IN THE NEWS

• Now for a different perspective, check out the latest views of Bruce Feiler on whether or not Americans know much about religion: Americans Know More About Religion than Most Other Subjects.
• Take the Quiz. Who knows more, atheists or those who profess religion? See the latest New York Times story: Basic Religion Test Stumps Many Americans: Atheists Outdo Some Believers. You can take the Quiz yourself here, and read more about the survey in general here.