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. Michele Berger’s recent co-authored op-ed on the success of Gender Studies’ Graduates
Dr. Michele Tracy Berger published her co-authored op-ed, Our Graduates’ Successes: What the Data Tells Us About the Value of Cultural and Gender Studies Degrees, for Ms. Magazine on Sunday, July 20th, 2025. The op-ed argues that in contrast to the recent demonization of DEI & “gender ideology,” which have painted our interdisciplinary fields as “useless” or “garbage degrees,” our data-informed perspective, drawing from government and other national data (such as the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Association of Colleges & Employers), paints a far more positive picture of what graduates accomplish.
Dr. Brian Clites quoted by the Washington Post on the abuse scandal from the new pope’s church
Dr. Brian Clites, the Archbishop Paul J. Hallinan Professor in Catholic Studies II, provided insight to the Washington Post on their recent article, A new Pope confronts his church’s abuse scandal amid praise and scrutiny. The allegations “are serious,” he said, “but they’re so common that I cannot imagine many people who would have been elected pope who would not have had similar profiles.”
Dr. Jonathan Tan offers insight on the appointment of Pope Leo XIV
As the papal conclave concludes with the election of Pope Leo XIV, Professor Jonathan Tan has continued to be a leading voice in media coverage of this historic transition. The Archbishop Paul J. Hallinan Professor of Catholic Studies, Dr. Tan has provided expert analysis across major outlets, offering valuable context on the implications of Pope Leo’s election following the passing of Pope Francis.
Having spent the last few weeks being sought out by the media worldwide, extensively covering Pope Francis’s passing, Dr. Tan prepares for a second marathon of interviews:
- Thursday, May 8th, 12:11pm: live commentary on WOIO Cleveland 19 with Dan DeRoos as the new pope was announced and presented to the world.
- Thursday, May 8th, 8:10pm (Friday, May 9th 8:10am Singapore time): “CNA938 Rewind – What to know about the new Pope Leo XIV” Singapore CNA 938 Morning Report with Hairianto Diman and Susan Ng
- Friday, May 9th, 11pm: WEWS ABC News 5 with Clay LePard
Dr. Tan additionally published an op-ed for UCA news titled, “Pope Leo XIV and the Church’s coming of age in the Global South,”(May 13, 2025) in which he discusses the new pope’s decision to identify with Peru and what his dual citizenship could mean for the Catholic Church.
This page will be continually updated, stay tuned!
Dr. Brian Clites quoted in HuffPost article, “Pam Bondi Unleashes On Alleged ‘Anti-Christian Bias’ — And A Christian Leader Has Thoughts”
Dr. Brian Clites, Archbishop Paul J. Hallinan Professor in Catholic Studies II, was quoted extensively in the article, Pam Bondi Unleashes On Alleged ‘Anti-Christian Bias’ — And A Christian Leader Has Thoughts (HuffPost, April 24, 2025), discussing the Trump administration’s latest task force. Dr. Clites states that Trump’s executive order “cites the First Amendment protection of religious liberty as its guiding principle, but in fact the order itself is a remarkable incursion against the separation of church and state.” He further observes, “By calling out the protection of women’s rights as ‘anti-Christian,’ the administration is uplifting the views of some Christians over and against the views of other Christians,” emphasizing that “American Christians hold diverse views about reproductive justice and Transgender rights”
Highlights
RLGN 249: Sacred Places and Pilgrimage in Buddhism
Mondays & Wednesdays 12:45pm – 2:00pm
Professor Jue Liang
RLGN 249 is one of our newest courses being introduced this fall. Seats are still available!
What makes a place sacred? How do people interact with these sacred places and build community around them? What does it mean to be present? And what are the different expressions of presence in pilgrimage? It engages with practices of space and movement in its rich expressions — literary, artistic, somatic, and psychological, to name a few. Together, the instructor and students will construct a toolkit for experiencing bodily agency, empathy, and community building by approaching the themes of place and movement from a multitude of perspectives.
This course counts as UGER Human Diversity & Commonality
Questions? Email Professor Liang at jue.liang@case.edu
Alumni Spotlight 2025
Welcome to the Religious Studies Alumni Spotlight, where we celebrate the diverse successes and outstanding talent that define our alumni community.
This edition focuses on Chloe Gerus, a 2021 CWRU alumna and Religious Studies major, who has navigated her post-graduate journey with exceptional accomplishments