Religious Studies
Religious Studies News
The academic study of religion at Colby focuses upon the origins and historical development of several of the world's major religious traditions with the goal of enabling students to understand and appreciate religious diversity in the modern world. Although Religious Studies is a small department at Colby, we are able to include within our curriculum courses that explore Christianity, Judaism, Hinduism, Sikhism, Confucianism, Taoism, Shinto, Buddhism, and Islam, and thus represent a considerable exposure to complex and varied religious traditions. Often we are able to expand the scope of our inquiry further. A study of Judaism and Christianity provides students with a deep knowledge of the development of Western culture and its heritage. Similarly, learning about Asian religions is crucial for understanding the culture of India, China, Japan and other Asian countries. We also intend to expose students to a variety of methods in Religious Studies. Thus in our courses students learn to study religions by scrutinizing their literary traditions, archaeological remains, rituals, texts, and their societal influence. The study of religion teaches people to think clearly, critically, and cross-culturally about ways in which human beings continue to understand the world and their role in it. You can learn more about our faculty, our students, and our courses by accessing course materials and resources for your exploration of the world's religions. The menu at the left will help you navigate our site. |
