The Department of Religious Studies examines religious beliefs, institutions and practices using approaches from the humanities, arts, social sciences and sciences. The academic study of religion, combined with appropriate courses in other fields, provides an excellent background for any professional career—including law, engineering, medicine and health care professions, journalism, social work and others—and for graduate studies in a number of fields.

A major in religious studies provides a well-rounded liberal arts education or can be combined conveniently with a second major. Minors or sequences in religious studies complement and broaden any field chosen as a major.

“Rejecting the Pill: A History of the Science of Natural Family Planning” presented by Katherin Dugan, PhD

In this lecture, Katherine Dugan will examine the history of the science of Natural Family Planning–starting with the “rhythm” method of the 1920s through the app-based methods of the 2020s. This lecture interweaves medical history with Catholic history in order to tell the story of how what is now known as NFP came to be practiced. In addition to tracing the history of these methods, the lecture also details some of the biographical history of the medical doctors and scientists committed to this work.

Thursday, April 18th, 2024 4:30-5:30 pm (In person or live stream)

The event is free, registration is required for those who want to attend in person

Click here to register

The event will be held at:

Allen Memorial Public Library, 110 Euclid Ave. Zverina Room, 3rd floor

Live stream details will be available here

Keynote: Dr. Joy R. Bostic

Associate professor Joy R. Bostic is giving the opening keynote address at St. John’s College,

University of Oxford for the Mystical Theology Network’s Mysticism and Action conference,

March 19-21. Her keynote address “‘It Feels So Good to Be Alive’: Vital Unity, Africana

Cosmology and Embodied Sociality as Spiritual Practice” includes excerpts from her upcoming book

on Africana religion and popular culture

Black Visions, Black Voices, and the Power of Black Art: AFRICOBRA and Ohio

Siegal Lifelong Learning is holding an upcoming two-part remote lecture.

Join Dr. Regennia N. Williams Tuesdays, April 9 & 16 | 7:00 PM to 8:30 PM ET as she facilitates a discussion about the Black Arts Movement of the 1960s and beyond as seen through the work of Wadsworth Jarrell, Jae Jarrell, and Nelson Stevens.

Students are invited to attend free of charge.

For more information, click here. For registration click here.

Award winning show consulted on by Religious Department’s own, Deepak Sarma

Professor Deepak Sarma, in addition to their University duties, is a cultural consultant for Netflix, Mattel, and Moonbug, and has worked on projects such as “Deepa & Anoop” and “CoComelon Lane”. For the last several years, they consulted on the new YouTube series, “Ghee Happy”, which has just been awarded the 51st Annie Award’s “Best TV/ Media – Preschool” in the field of 2023 animation! The series is a playful reimagining of the Hindu deities as little kids discovering their powers in a deity daycare. Full episodes, shorts, and music videos can all be found at the Ghee Happy Studio on YouTube. From all of us here in the Religious Studies Department, we wish you a warm congratulations, Deepak!

Highlights

Reisacher Summer Fellowship applications

Applications for the Reisacher Summer Fellowship are due April 1st, 2024. Complete and submit this cover sheet and the additional requirements to jesse.friedman@case.edu

Winners will be notified by May 1, 2024.

Alumni Spotlight – Liz Hanna

Introducing the Religious Studies Alumni Spotlight, where we celebrate the diverse successes and outstanding talent that define our alumni community.

This edition focuses on Liz Hanna, a 2020 CWRU alumna and Religious Studies minor, who has navigated her post-graduate journey with exceptional accomplishments.