Religion is one of the driving forces of humanity. Through prayer and ritual, pilgrimage and crusade, the practice of religion has shaped everything it has touched and continues to mold the human condition today.

Why Religious Studies at Sewanee?

The study of religion is central to a liberal arts education. Courses in religious studies here at Sewanee are designed to raise the central, burning questions that challenge us all: What is the nature of religion? How do human beings express their deepest beliefs, concerns, and faiths? Where do we find and how do we make sense of the sacred? What are our moral commitments and obligations?

From antiquity to postmodernity, China to Chattanooga, religion has shaped the human experience. At Sewanee, you will work with faculty through classes and independent studies to investigate the role of religion and the many faces it presents. The religious studies program benefits from multiple perspectives. By necessity, the study of religion is an interdisciplinary effort that requires investigation of history, culture, values, sacred texts, theology, and philosophical thought.

FIRST DESTINATIONS: Religious Studies MAJORS

Sewanee graduates secure positions in a variety of fields. Some you would expect, others, are a bit of a surprise. Sewanee prepares you for your profession and your passion. Below is a sampling of recent graduates' first job.

  • Court Assistant, Lincoln County TN Courts, Fayetteville, TN.
  • Maternal and Child Health Volunteer, Peace Corps, Guatemala.
  • Youth Corps Team, Episcopal Service Corps, Waialua, HI.
  • Youth Director and Young Adult Mentor, St. Peter's Episcopal Church.

A Sampling of Courses

The Many Faces of the Qur'an
Religious Studes

To speak of the Qur'an as a "text" does not begin to address the numerous ways in which it is and has been perceived and experienced for many centuries. While the Qur'an is indeed contained in a physical book, it is also regarded as the eternal word of God, an oral tradition, an historical event, a body of words to be recited for worship, a moral message, a major cultural component of Islamic civilization, and a linguistic accomplishment.

RELG 104
The Spirit and Forms of Anglicanism
Religious Studies

A survey of the history, spirituality, cultures, and practices of church bodies within the international Anglican Communion, including the U.S. Episcopal Church. This course underscores the intellectual heritage of Anglicanism and its distinctive ecumenical role as via media between Protestant and Catholic traditions.

RELG 201
Religion and Animals
Religious Studies

Examine human relationships with non-human animals through the lenses of Buddhism, Christianity, theories and methods in religious studies, and through reflection on their own lives. What roles have non-human animals played in these religious traditions and in the lives of students themselves? Students volunteer in animal-related groups (veterinarian offices, animal shelters, and farms, for example) as they find their own voices in this emerging interdisciplinary field.

RELG 305
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Religious Studies

Programs of Study

Requirements for the Major & Minor in Religious Studies

Contact

Tam Parker
Professor of Religious Studies

tparker@sewanee.edu

Walsh-Ellett 205, Ext. 1539

Spiritual Life
Explore Your Faith

Spirituality, faith, religion, and community are vibrant aspects of the Domain. There is a richness that comes with diversity of faith, and there are many opportunities at Sewanee to be edified through spiritual formation. Explore your faith with services, studies, choir, and more.

Get Involved
Wellness Center
Resilience, mindfulness, connection

The University Wellness Center is a campus resource which offers integrated and holistic health care and peer health education. As part of a growing initiative to provide wellness outreach to campus, the Wellness Center offers lectures on various topics related to well-being, nutrition, stress management, and spiritual wellness.

Be well
Center for Speaking & Listening
Next stop: eloquence and poise

The Center for Speaking and Listening will be your new favorite resource on campus. Check out this quiet space, use state-of-the-art equipment, and meet tutors ready to watch your speech and give constructive feedback. Design, develop, and practice delivering effective, ethical speeches with eloquence and confidence.

Take a look