Why study religion?

Religion has reemerged in recent years as a vital, dynamic, and irrepressible element of cultural life, both nationally and internationally.  As a consequence, the need to understand the diverse religions of the world has become more urgent rather than less, contradicting what many observers predicted a generation ago.  It is not possible to understand today's pluralistic and interconnected world without knowledge of the religious traditions that lie at the foundation of distinctive cultural outlooks worldwide.

With a view toward a globalized cultural literacy, our students investigate how religions shape and are shaped by human cultures from multiple theoretical perspectives, including History of Religion, Philosophy of Religion, Feminism and Gender Studies, Semiotics, Orality Studies, Postmodernism, Cultural Studies, Phenomenology, and Psychology of Religion.  In this way, Skidmore students engage questions at the heart of the human effort to understand and order the self, society, the world, and transcendent reality.

Because of this training, our students are well equipped to enter any field requiring a solid liberal arts preparation, including teaching, law, diplomatic service, human services, journalism, and business.  Some pursue graduate studies in religion or a related field, while others choose to enter seminary.  The skills acquired in the study of religion may be applied widely, and the special expertise provided by the major will prove invaluable in a work environment requiring research skills, critical thinking, cultural sensitivity, and a globalized knowledge base.