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Chair: Daniel Cowdin, Ph.D. The Department of Religious Studies understands its mission to be consistent with the overall mission of the University (Mission Statement of the University). In concert with this mission it understands religious studies as an academic discipline that helps students bring their critical intelligence to bear on the phenomenon of religion and particularly on its Christian and Catholic manifestations. “Critical” in this sense means exercising judgment in an ordered way. Intelligence includes not only rational objectivity, but also an awareness of one’s experience, emotions, nonrational consciousness, and the presuppositions that one brings to the study of a particular religious tradition. To understand from within a religious tradition, to clarify one’s attitudes, to take a stance, to decide what one’s relation to religion is and will be is the work of critical intelligence. To initiate such critical and intelligent reflection is the aim of the Religious Studies program.
Chair: Dr. Daniel Cowdin, Ph.D Religious Studies is an academic discipline that helps students bring their critical and creative intelligence to bear on religious phenomena. This requires not only information and rationality, but also the exploration of images, symbols, experience, and emotion. In keeping with the mission of the University, a Catholic institution that welcomes people of all beliefs, course offerings in the Department of Religious Studies engage a variety of religious perspectives. Certain courses focus on the Christian tradition with special attention given to its Catholic manifestation, several courses focus on non-Christian religions, and others explore the relationships between Christianity and other traditions. In keeping with the goals of the undergraduate Core Curriculum, Religious Studies cultivates liberal arts skills, a rich understanding of Catholic identity, and an underpinning for responsible global citizenship in a religiously pluralistic world. | |
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