By Scott Matkovich | 06/20/2024
For the modern mind, it's easy to assume that the study of religion is an outdated endeavor. We may see it as detached from other academic disciplines like science, math, or law.
The field of religious studies stands apart from other fields of academic study because the core ideas of religion aren’t dynamic. In other words, they don’t change.
While religious practices have changed, the essential aspects of each religion are ancient. By studying ancient religious ideas, we are compelled to study other disciplines such as history, philosophy, and sociology.
To Study Religion Is to Study History
To one extent or another, all religions are historical. They emerged at a certain point in time and societal context.
If you want to understand the full context of a religion, you must study its history. Religion doesn’t just show up in human history, but it has a history all its own.
Each major world religion has developed practices, rites of passage, doctrines, and unique religious beliefs. If you look at the New Testament of the Bible, for example, there are several books and letters written in the first century. There are influences from Roman culture, Judaism, and even pagan religions.
In the Book of John, we see John playing off the term “logos” (divine word). In order to understand why John uses this term, it’s necessary to go back to the writings of Heraclitus, the Stoics, and Philo of Alexandria where “logos” originated.
By taking a historical approach to religion, you can see a vast array of cultural differences, religious traditions and religious commitments. But adopting a historical perspective is just one avenue to take when you study religion.
To Study Religion Is to Study Philosophy
At the heart of religious studies is the same critical thinking skills we use when assessing worldviews. It is the practice of thinking deeply about the way things really are. Deep questions about the nature of the world, why we are here, and what we're supposed to be doing with our time on earth are central to both religions and worldviews.
Religious studies largely investigate both seen and unseen worlds. In the philosophy of religion, we look at arguments for and against the existence of God, why God would allow evil in the world, the origin of consciousness and the soul, along with a plethora of the most interesting questions about existence.
From an ethical perspective, philosophy tells us how we should live and, in so doing, finds itself easily overlapping with the study of religion. Religious traditions describe the human experience of yearning for meaning, value, and purpose, along with how to find it in order to live a religious life.
To Study Religion Is to Study Human Purpose
While both psychology and religion are large fields of study with many areas of investigation, they both address how we should function as human beings. Though their answers to this particular question will differ, to pursue religious studies is to study what human beings were “meant” to do.
In philosophy, this is called a “telos” or aim of the individual. More simply, we may say that our telos is what are we to become.
Psychology has a storied history of how it has answered this question; perhaps you have heard the terms “self-actualized” or “achieve a flow state.” In religion, it’s referred to in other ways such as “Christlikeness” or taking on the “Buddha nature.” It can be argued that while clinical psychology is concerned with functioning, religion is concerned with flourishing.
To Study Religion Is to Study Sociology
There is another entirely different approach to studying religion called religious non-realism. This view doesn't focus on the divine or inspired texts as much as human life and human nature.
On the non-realist view, religion tells us more about ourselves than the truth of external reality. In fact, religious non-realists would contend that religion is a human construct that plays a central role in teaching us about the human condition. By studying religion, we don't study the divine; we study ourselves.
By studying religious traditions, religious belief, and religious diversity, we find ourselves in the center of a robust inter-disciplinary approach that prepares us to think deeply about life's biggest questions.
To Study Religion Is to Study the Self
The overwhelming majority of humanity has been religious. Even in an increasingly secular world, many people still describe themselves as spiritual and follow the particular traditions of a religious life.
Divinity schools are still full of students who want to get graduate degrees in theology or religious studies. As one of those people myself, I was often prodded by the more pragmatically minded with the question, “What are you going to do with a religious studies degree?”
It’s a fair question. From my own perspective, studying religion was something I had to do. It was a calling.
For me, the philosophy of religion asked the most important and basic questions about existence, the universe, and our role within it. When I was a religious studies major, I got to take my time reading the great religious texts that has influenced the world in countless ways. My instructors taught me how religious ideas shaped music, art, literature, and more.
Why Pursue a Degree in Religion?
Perhaps you are considering a degree in religion or religious studies because you'd like to seek job opportunities as a chaplain, clergy member, or other religious worker. I earned my religious studies degree so I would be prepared for graduate-level work in philosophy. If you feel called to become an expert in this field, put on your seatbelt and get ready to learn just as much about yourself in the process!
The Bachelor’s Degree in Religion at American Military University
For students interested in world religions, existentialism, religious traditions, and other related topics, American Military University (AMU) offers an online bachelor’s degree in religion. The courses in this program cover a wide degree of topics, including:
- God and World
- World religions, including both East Asian and South Asian religions
- Contemporary Christianity
- Race and religion
- Myth and ritual
- New religious movements and cults
These courses are taught by experienced faculty members who encourage critical thinking and the development of research, analytical and writing skills. For more details, visit our program page