Praying During Revival Meeting
Pentecostal church, Cambria, Illinois, 1939. Photograph by Arthur Rothstein, FSA-OWI Collection, Library of Congress, Washington

Prayer Protest
Orangeburg Freedom Movement, Orangeburg, South Carolina, 1963.

The Temptation and Fall of Adam and Eve; Expulsion from Paradise
Michelangelo Buonarroti, 1508-1512, Sistine Chapel, Vatican, Rome

Angel of Grief
Valerio Sibio, 2008, Trastevere, Rome, Italy

Dogon Masking at the Dama, Mali
Edward Parker, "Dogon," in Millenium, ed. David Maybury-Lewis (New York: Penguin, 1992), 289.

A Daoist priest enlivens an image of the Sagely Thearch of the Southern Marchmount

Electric Chair Jesus

Hindu Deity
Photograph by J. Daniel White.

White Crucifixion
Marc Chagall, 1939, Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago

Spiderman Ganesh
Lord Ganesh in Spiderman Incarnation, Hyderabad, India, 2007. Photograph by Jeff Simmermon

Why not try a Religious Studies course?

Either as an elective or complement to what you are already studying, Religious Studies courses are some of the most interesting in the university.

But don't take it from the instructors. Listen to what our undergraduates have to say:

Religious studies is not proselytizing or missionizing. Fascinating primary and secondary texts invite students into the various religious traditions, rituals, and practices which are integral to the lives of so many people around the world. If you want classes filled with lively debate, discovery, and discussion, Religious Studies is the place for you.

Alexandria Clifton, RELS '11

I have been challenged to move beyond my own understanding of what religion is and how others experience it. Learning to think critically and thoughtfully about religious practices and beliefs has been well worth my time. The study of religion at UNC Charlotte has also given me the necessary intellectual skills for engaging a world of diversity.

Josh Berryhill, RELS '11

If you are looking for a minor, ours is one of the most flexible in the university. Even if you have already chosen a major, Religious Studies courses might add a fascinating dimension to your education. You might like our courses so much you consider a second major!

Religious Studies graduates find the skills they acquire highly attractive in a variety of career areas. Our graduates regularly enter the fields of medicine, business, law, communications, public relations, international studies, education, and the helping professions.

Our mission is to foster critical understanding of the historical, cultural, and textual dimensions of religion in human societies and cultures. We especially recognize the integral role of religon in issues of race, class, gender, sexuality, ethnicity, and power.