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.

Dr. Jue Liang Reflects on Her Course about Ghosts, Zombies, and Monsters

Dr. Jue Liang published a short reflection with the Conversation (US) on a new course she taught in Fall 2024, titiled Ghosts, Zombies, and Monsters: What We Fear and Loathe in Religions. This course was supported by a Flash Grant from the Baker-Nord Center for the Humanities, and explored these fearsome and “other-than-human” beings as embodiment of the issues, concerns, hopes, and fears that have shaped our lives.

Read the reflection here

Final of Five Finite Futures Lectures: Sylvester Johnson, “The Global South Is Our Future: Climate Collapse, Socio-Technical Innovation, and Global Governance after Democracy”

What if it’s too late to avoid some kind of ecological catastrophe? Maybe it’s not, and we should be doing everything we can so that it isn’t. Still, what if it is? Shouldn’t we also be talking about that? What kind of a future do we want to create for ourselves on such a horizon? What might it mean to collapse well?

Sylvester Johnson, Professor of Black Studies at Northwestern University, presents, “The Global South Is Our Future: Climate Collapse, Socio-Technical Innovation, and Global Governance after Democracy,” the final lecture in a series of free public lectures by internationally renowned scholars and public intellectuals made possible by the Henry Luce Foundation. In this talk, Dr. Johnson examines fundamental challenges to humanity posed by irreversible environmental harms amidst the global rise of authoritarianism and the accelerating pace of technological innovation. Taking his cue from the decades-long history of communities and institutions in the Global South that have tackled these issues, he proposes key lessons to be learned from the strategies and socio-technical innovations that have emerged in those contexts.

Read more about the lecture series and the Finite Futures project

Thursday, November 21st at 4:30pm

Clapp Hall, Room 108

2080 Adelbert Rd. Cleveland, OH 44106

Free to the Public, no registration required

American Academy of Religion Annual Meeting, November 23-26, 2024 in San Diego, California

Faculty members in the Department of Religious Studies will be presenting and participating in panel discussions on a wide range of interdisciplinary topics at the 2023 American Academy of Religion annual meeting.

Click here for more information

The topics and panels covered are as follows:

Professor Brian Clites is convening and presiding over the Contextualizing Sexual Abuse Seminar session, “Reconsidering Nuns as Both Victims and Perpetrators of Clergy Sex Abuse,” on Sunday, Nov. 24

Professor Jue Liang is the co-organizer of and a panelist at the roundtable “Author Meets Author: Multiple Truths in Buddhist Studies,” co-sponsored by the Buddhist Critical-Constructive Reflection Unit and the Global-Critical Philosophy of Religion Unit, on Saturday, Nov. 23.

Professor Justine Howe is presenting, “Developing Student Voice and Expertise in the Islamic Studies Classroom,” on a panel entitled “Feminist Pedagogy in Islamic Studies,” on Sunday, Nov. 24. This panel focuses on developing feminist approaches to teaching Islam and gender.

Professor Timothy Beal is featured in the SBL Meta criticism of Biblical Scholarship round table discussion presenting “Review of Beal, The Book of Hiding: Gender, Ethnicity, and Annihilation in Esther”.

Dr. Sarma quoted in NPR’s article on Diwali, the Festival of Lights

NPR sheds some light on India’s most widely celebrated holiday, Diwali, also known as Deepavali and the Hindu “Festival of Lights”. The celebration is observed around the world for 1 to 5 days, beginning this year on October 31st. Dr. Sarma shares their insight into its history and significance, as well as reminding us that you don’t have to be Hindu or Indian to celebrate Diwali. To learn more, read the article here: What is Diwali: Here’s all you should know : NPR

Highlights

CAS Summer Spotlight – Jue Liang

Religious Studies newest faculty member, Dr. Jue Liang, was featured in the College of Arts and Sciences summer spotlight, focusing on her recent world travels. Click here to read more and get a taste of her journey.

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.