Religion plays a central role in many areas of human life, from the individual quest for meaning and purpose to the broader arenas of social values, politics, and both conflict and cooperation among nations and groups.
Our courses focus on these topics through the study of religious communities and their histories, texts, rituals, ethics, and creative literatures, as well as on religion’s influence on key social and political issues.
The major enables students to pursue the study of religion through courses on religious traditions (including especially Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, and religions of Africa) sacred texts, religion and society, and theories of religion.
Learn the requirements for the major and minor
Students have the opportunity to work closely with a faculty member on a topic of their own interest.
Learn about independent study and capstone courses
The Conversation ran an article on March 26 by Prof. Brett Hendrickson.
Natalie Beckford ’24 shares her educational journey, including making Lafayette history as the College’s first student to earn a Payne Fellowship.
“What I love about teaching at Lafayette is the combination of curiosity and diligence that so many of our students bring to the classroom,” shared Brett…