To gain a deeper understanding of our own religious traditions.
Academic study makes available a wealth of information and interpretation
that can enhance a believer's religious experience.
To gain understanding of the people around us. The political scene,
on both the national and the local level, is increasingly defined in
religious categories. Current debates with a religious component involve
fundamentalists and liberals, creationists and evolutionists, pro-life and
pro-choice. Then too we are often bewildered by the religious claims of
sects such as the Branch Davidians. We can only make sense of these issues
if we unravel the religious ideas and motivations of the parties. The study
of religion lends an informed perspective on these matters.
To help cope with life in our "global village." There is
no avoiding the increasing globalization of markets, ideas, and threats.
Religious disputes or misunderstandings are at work in the battles between
Muslims and Christians in the former Yugoslavia; Jews and Muslims in the
Holy Land; Muslim factions in Iran and Iraq; Sikhs and Hindus in India;
Catholics and Protestants in Northern Ireland. Where such local conflicts
can so easily escalate to world crises, an understanding of their religious
dimension is crucial for world survival. Even where there is no open
conflict, an understanding of the religious climate is often the key to
diplomatic and business success. The study of world religions helps to
provide such an understanding.
To feed our sense of wonder. Humans have always been explorers, not
content with the obvious limits of what appears to be. We persist in asking:
What is behind appearances? What is ultimately true? Most religions refer to
some truth beyond the appearances. The immense variety of their answers
makes a fascinating study, which can also lead to personal enrichment.
Courses in world religions and the philosophy of religion explore these
issues.
To learn more about our culture. The history of the United States
is closely bound up with religious ideas. Just how these ideas relate to our
present needs is a hotly disputed question. Study of the Bible, and of the
history of the Christian Church, gives a valuable perspective on who we are.
To help decide what is fair and right.
When does life start? Is it
ever right to "pull the plug?" How should we distribute wealth and
resources? Do people have "natural rights?" What are the limits on
personal choices? Many religious traditions claim to have the answers to
such questions. But can such claims be justified? And how can we make sense
of the many conflicting answers? The study of ethics from a religious
perspective brings these questions into sharp focus, and helps provide
perspective on contemporary moral issues.
To sharpen critical thinking skill. The issues raised by the study of religion are not easy ones. To investigate these issues requires factual discovery and conceptual insight. Students and teachers alike must read and listen with empathy; digest and compare points of view; articulate conclusions in oral and written form; and defend their own conclusions. The skills gained in this process are applicable to many other areas in the academic, business, and professional worlds.
Apart from personal enrichment, how can a student expect to benefit from the major or minor in Religious Studies at North Carolina Wesleyan College?
Most of our recent majors have gone on to graduate study. Many are headed for seminary at institutions such as Duke University and Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. Others aim at graduate work in philosophy. Even those who are planning further studies often seek a job in the short term.
Corporate managers consistently state that, when hiring college graduates, they are seeking intellectual breadth, reasoning ability, and moral maturity. Thus they prefer students with degrees in humanities subjects over those with a narrow specialty.
Recent studies suggest that by the fourth or fifth year out of school, persons with solid grounding in the humanities are higher in earning power than those who stick to a more technical curriculum. In today's rapidly changing world, specific technical information becomes obsolete in a few years. Merely technical studies do not yield as much adaptability to changing conditions as do broader subjects that promote the understanding of human nature and human experience.
A degree in Religious Studies provides cultural background information, critical reasoning ability, and the opportunity for moral reflection. Thus it promotes the ability to adapt, learn new skills, and apply old lessons to new situations.
For these reasons a major or minor concentration in Religious Studies is a good foundation for any career track.