FAQs

Why study religion and theology? 

Religious and theological studies enable students to engage in the appreciative and intellectually rigorous (critical) study of the single most powerful feature of human life: religion.

History teaches us that people are willing to endure pain and suffering, wage wars, travel across the globe, devote their entire lives, spend tremendous amounts of money, and even sacrifice their very lives all because of their religious beliefs. Religions provide meaning and direction to many people’s lives.

It provides them a sense of purpose, concepts of justice, theories about what happens to us when we die, and offers ideas about the origins, nature and destiny of the universe.

Religious and theological studies at Merrimack College enable students to:

• Understand the world around them by unraveling the religious influences in history, politics, and economics;
• Explore the most pressing ethical issues of the day, as well as the psychological and sociological forces that shape the human search for meaning;
• Develop analytical and writing skills, as well as a cross-cultural understanding and appreciation of the diversity of American culture;
• Attain a better understanding of themselves, their values, and what ultimately makes them happy and fulfilled;

Because religion addresses these most basic questions, it also involves controversial topics. By becoming a religious and theological studies major or minor, you will be engaging some of the most exhilarating ideas, persons, and movements in all of human history.

Those who major or minor in religious and theological studies are a diverse group themselves. Some hold fast to strong faith convictions, others seriously doubt the existence of the Divine, while others are searching for answers to personal and profound questions. Regardless of their differences, they are well-rounded individuals who are knowledgeable about many areas of life and take their education seriously. Religious and theological studies take a multidisciplinary approach to learning and draw on many fields of study, including: archeology, art, anthropology, gender studies, history, literature, music, philosophy, political science, and sociology.

Finally, those who study religion and theology find it personally enriching. The ideas, readings, and conversations force one to reflect on the meaning and direction of their own lives and their relationship to the eternal.

Religious vs. Theological Studies: What’s the Difference?

Religious Studies refers to an interdisciplinary approach to the study of religion that includes the social sciences (sociology, psychology, economics, political science, etc.), the historical study of religions, philosophy, and the study of sacred texts and their interpretation.  Thus the main purpose of religious studies is descriptive, i.e. to understand, analyze, appreciate, and critique the role religion plays in society.

Theological Studies is also interdisciplinary. It uses many of the same descriptive and analytical tools that religious studies employs, but from within a particular religious tradition. The purpose of theological studies is to define, explain, critique and sometimes defend the beliefs, morals, prayers, rituals, and social norms of a religious community.

As a religious and theological studies department at a Catholic college, we take an appreciative, but intellectually honest approach to the study of Catholicism and other religious traditions.

Students at Merrimack College have the best of both worlds. They can explore the religions of the world and plumb the riches of the Catholic faith.

Further Information

There are several excellent online resources addressing religious and theological studies, and many ideas for building a career with a major and/or minor in RTS.

One of the top resource sites is sponsored by the American Academy of Religion (AAR). The AAR website can be found at http://www.studyreligion.org.

Another useful site is provided by the Department of Religious Studies at the John Carroll University in Cleveland, Ohio, which has information on specific career paths for majors and minors in religious studies. The website can be found at this address: http://www.jcu.edu/religion/careers.htm.
 
Finally, another site offers detailed information for those who are considering graduate studies in religious studies, and would like to get information on graduate programs and academic communities in the field. The site is part of the Religious Studies Department of California State University in Chico, CA, and can be found at http://www.csuchico.edu/rs/grad_school.html.

Also check out the site www.idealist.org for a wide range of non-governmental job hunting and advertising opportunities.

If you would like to speak to the religious and theological studies faculty at Merrimack College about majoring or minoring in RTS, please contact us. We will be glad to help you in your decision-making process.