Religious Studies
Religious Studies
A gathering of some Religious Studies Majors Front row: Matthew Stouffer, Carl Freeman, Sarah Buntin, Abigail Harris-Ridker; Back row: Celeste Tannenbaum, Christina Bowerman, Jessie Felling, Julia Murphy, Jordan Key
Religion in its various forms is an integral part of all societies and cultures, past and present. It continues to shape contemporary politics, global economics, and ethnic identity. Many of the current moral debates in the U.S. (abortion, euthanasia, stem cell research, same-sex marriage, war/peace) are essentially debates over fundamental ways of viewing the world and competing/conflicting systems of value.
The Religious Studies department does not endorse a particular creed or religious position, but does create the context for discussion and study that allows students to explore academic and personal questions about religion and society within the framework of their growing knowledge.
Linda Kuster, class of 2011
Linda Kuster, class of 2011, spent her sophomore summer research internship studying and photographing Asian religious communities in Ohio and PA under the guidance of Religious Studies Department chair, Mark Graham. The banner image was taken in the Light Room of a Hindu temple in Monroeville, PA. The lights are believed to destroy sins and bring wisdom. When a devotee lights one of these candles, the prayer will be transmitted to the gods.