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.
“Beyond a Eurocentric Catholic Church: Insights and Reflections from Asian Catholicism,” a lecture by Dr. Jonathan Tan
Dr. Jonathan Tan presents his talk, “Beyond a Eurocentric Catholic Church: Insights and Reflections from Asian Catholicism,” Wednesday, February 5th at 8pm EST.
The presentation with a following discussion will be hosted via Zoom.
Scan the QR code in the flyer to participate.
“Decolonizing Transgender History: Eunuchs, Renyao, and Adju” a lecture by Dr. Howard Chiang
Dr. Howard Chiang of the University of California at Santa Barbara, the Lai Ho & Wu Cho-Liu Endowed Chair in Tawan Studies and Professor of East Asian Languages and Cultural Studies, will deliver his talk on Thursday, March 6th at CWRU. This talk uses the concept of “transtopia” in order to develop a new model of transness. Through three historical examples from the Sinophone Pacific—eunuchs, renyao, and adju — it challenges the assumption that gender nonconforming figures did not exist historically and the idea that the Western category of transgender delivers the best framework for understanding their experience.
Co-sponsored by the Baker-Nord Center for the Humanities and the Departments of History and Religious Studies.
Thursday, March 6th
12pm – 1:30pm
Mather 100
Light lunch will be served
Epistemic Doubt: A Dream We Dreamed One Afternoon Long Ago – A Lecture by Dr. Deepak Sarma at Reed College
At the invitation of Reed College, Professor Sarma departs for Portland, Oregon to present their lecture “Epistemic Doubt: A Dream We Dreamed One Afternoon Long Ago.” Sarma has wondered if experiences are real or not and if perceptions are merely projections on an underlying undifferentiated and real substrate. Their own congenital epistemic confusion, compounded by a TBI in 1995, led to reflections about mysticism, consciousness and psychedelics. Sarma writes and researches about psychedelics, Cultural Theory, philosophy, post-colonial studies, museology, the Grateful Dead, “Hinduism,” contemporary Hinduism, bioethics, and Madhva Vedanta. Verily, their job is to shed light and not to master.
The lecture takes place January 29th, 2025
Dr. Deepak Sarma to be a panelist at Harvard’s 2025 PULSE Conference
Dr. Deepak Sarma will be a panelist at the upcoming 2025 PULSE Conference, “Sacred Rights: Psychedelics, Law, and Spirituality,” at Harvard University.
“Scientific and commercial interest in psychedelics is exploding. In the flood of news about drug companies, clinical trials, and state and federal regulation, one might overlook the spiritual use of psychedelics. However, spiritual use long predates Western scientific applications and is seemingly expanding. The trend raises difficult questions for lawyers, ethicists, and religious practitioners. This in-person conference at Harvard Law School emphasizes the spiritual aspects of psychedelic experience. Speakers will explore the complex relationships between psychedelics, religious communities, courts, Congress, and federal agencies. They will discuss how psychedelic law previously impacted spiritual practice and how it should in the future.”
Dr. Sarma’s panel will discuss how constitutional doctrine, drug law, and bioethics affect the spiritual use of psychedelics.
The Conference takes place on February 14th, 2025 from 1-5pm
Registration is free and open to the public.
Following the event, a recording will be made available on the Petrie-Flom Center YouTube channel
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.