CofC Department of Religious Studies

CofC Department of Religious Studies The Department of Religious Studies at the College of Charleston The department offers a broad range of courses in religious traditions from around the world.

The Department of Religious Studies at the College of Charleston offers both a major and minor degree in religious studies. With eight full-time faculty members, the department supports a wide-ranging, diverse curriculum and fosters close interaction between students and faculty. Students may choose to specialize in individual religions or subject areas through special topics courses and tutorials

. The flexibility of the curriculum gives students the opportunity to explore diverse cultures and religions, while providing them with important tools to understand and interpret these worldviews critically. The religious studies department introduces students to the academic study of religion, which engages in the descriptive and cross-cultural analysis of religious beliefs, practices and institutions, both past and present. The teaching orientation is comparative and non-sectarian in that it does not promote any specific religious tradition to the exclusion of others. It encourages students to complete courses in the areas of western traditions (such as Judaism, Christianity, and Islam), eastern traditions (such as Hinduism, Buddhism, Chinese and Japanese religions) and American religions (such as Native American, African American, and many New Religious Movements). Students become more deeply aware of their own cultural traditions by studying those of others, and will approach other religions with greater empathy and sensitivity to their respective complexity. Religious studies at the College of Charleston is both a comparative and interdisciplinary enterprise. It serves as a bridge between various disciplines in the humanities and social sciences, particularly those of history, anthropology, sociology, psychology, philosophy and literature, as well as various language programs. Courses explore various religions through a variety of dimensions and themes – ritual, myth, symbol, mystical experience, cognitive patterns, gender, ethnicity, identity – and they also consider the role played by political, economic and social factors on the development of religions in their global context. Religious studies thus provides a coherent disciplinary context where students can engage in a holistic and sustained examination of the history, diversity and ingenuity of human belief and behavior, one of the hallmarks of a liberal arts and sciences education.

Welcome back to classes for the final lap of the semester!
03/11/2024

Welcome back to classes for the final lap of the semester!

Hot off the presses! Get yours so you are ready for upcoming advising meetings and registration. Summer is open NOW!
03/10/2024

Hot off the presses! Get yours so you are ready for upcoming advising meetings and registration. Summer is open NOW!

29.5 hours. More time to make a difference in the learning experiences of our students. Field trips, funding for confere...
03/10/2024

29.5 hours. More time to make a difference in the learning experiences of our students. Field trips, funding for conferences and study abroad, and awards for outstanding research are possible because of the generous gifts of alumni, faculty, staff, and friends of Religious Studies. Give Day starts at 4:30 pm on 3/13.

The third film of this semester is guaranteed to be fire 🔥 🔥 🔥. Dr. Fisher will host Mississippi Burning on Wednesday, 3...
03/10/2024

The third film of this semester is guaranteed to be fire 🔥 🔥 🔥. Dr. Fisher will host Mississippi Burning on Wednesday, 3/13/24 at 700 pm in ECTR 116. He will lead what's sure to be a spirited discussion about southern culture, race, religion, and legal justice. Bring a friend. Snacks provided.

Read all about it!!! RELS is hosting the AAR-Southeast Conference this weekend at CofC. Drs. Lowe and Keegan, the curren...
02/29/2024

Read all about it!!! RELS is hosting the AAR-Southeast Conference this weekend at CofC. Drs. Lowe and Keegan, the current president and vice president of AAR-SE, have been working hard to make the conference a success. The entire RELS department is excited to display the beauty of CofC's campus and Charleston, highlight the religious department's academic excellence and allow several religious studies students to present research papers. And a familiar face will be the keynote speaker on Saturday. It will be great to see Dr. Matthew Cressler on campus again.

The College of Charleston Department of Religious Studies will host the 2024 American Academy of Religion-Southeast annual conference.

Just in time for the upcoming 2024 elections. Join us and the Civility Initiative at the College of Charleston as we wel...
02/22/2024

Just in time for the upcoming 2024 elections. Join us and the Civility Initiative at the College of Charleston as we welcome Dr. Randall Balmer as shares how we can engage with one another about religion and politics during these polarizing times. https://www.instagram.com/p/C3odoNzrr7N/?igsh=cTdldDY2OXNvZTVh

The second film in this semester's series is tomorrow at 7 pm in ECTR 116. Join Dr. Bjerken for "The Life of Pi", popcor...
02/14/2024

The second film in this semester's series is tomorrow at 7 pm in ECTR 116. Join Dr. Bjerken for "The Life of Pi", popcorn and conversation. Bring a friend. All are welcome.

The president and vice president of the American Academy of Religion-Southeast (AAR-SE) region, Drs. Lenny Lowe, Brennan...
01/29/2024

The president and vice president of the American Academy of Religion-Southeast (AAR-SE) region, Drs. Lenny Lowe, Brennan Keegan, and the entire RELS department are excited to host the AAR-SE annual conference here at the College on March 1-4, 2024. Scholars of religion from peer institutions all across the Southeast will converge on Charleston and our campus for a weekend of dynamic programming featuring paper panels, films, and invited speakers centered around the theme "Tensions." In collaboration with local institutions such as the International African American Museum, this symposium will showcase the richness and complexity of religion in the Low Country and provide a platform for intellectual exchange. The conference will also highlight our distinguished department's academic vibrancy and productivity. More information can be found at the website www.relse.org

12/05/2023

Today at 1:30 in the Religious Studies Lounge at 4 Glebe Street.

Address

4 Glebe Street
Charleston, SC
29424

Telephone

+18439530895

Website

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