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Religion: Home

Oxford Dictionaries defines religion as the belief in and worship of a superhuman controlling power, especially a personal God or gods

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Overview of Religion

  • 'Religion, human beings’ relation to that which they regard as holy, sacred, absolute, spiritual, divine, or worthy of especial reverence.
  • It is also commonly regarded as consisting of the way people deal with ultimate concerns about their lives and their fate after death.
  • In many traditions, this relation and these concerns are expressed in terms of one’s relationship with or attitude toward gods or spirits; in more humanistic or naturalistic forms of religion, they are expressed in terms of one’s relationship with or attitudes toward the broader human community or the natural world. In many religions, texts are deemed to have scriptural status, and people are esteemed to be invested with spiritual or moral authority.

Information retrieved from:  Encyclopaedia Britannica

 

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There are five dominant religious denominations:  These are: Christianity,  Hinduism, Islam, Judaism, and Multi-denominational. Each of these denominations have branches.

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A college degree in religious studies opens up similar career possibilities as those available to a student of liberal arts or other related subjects.

Postsecondary Teachers

It's not uncommon for students to pursue religious studies degrees in order to teach about religion at the college level.

  • Some postsecondary teachers need a Ph.D. for entry-level work. However, a master's degree may be sufficient for certain positions.
  • Certification may not be required, but a teaching license could be for certain positions.

Historians

A historian that focuses on religion would make knowing every aspect of the world's religious history his or her job.

  • Historians typically need a master's degree, although some research positions may require a doctoral degree.
  • Certification is not typically required for this career.

Clergy

While theology may be more appropriate for this kind of work, that's not to say religious studies students can't become religious figures if they so choose. Clergy members work in churches and other religious settings, performing a wide range of job duties that help their constituents celebrate their religious faith.

  • Many clergy members have a graduate degree.
  • You typically do not need to be certified to work in this field, although you may need to become ordained.

Marriage and Family Therapists

Some religious studies majors find their calling in a place you might not expect: as a marriage and family therapist. The critical thinking skills and the in-depth studies of psychology, anthropology and sociology that characterize religious studies can be useful for examining the psyches of others and offering them guidance.

  • Marriage and family therapists typically need a master's degree to practice in this profession.
  • These workers must become licensed to practice in their state.

Social and Human Service Assistants

As public servants, social and human service assistants dedicate their careers to helping others. They help struggling families and individuals in their communities find the resources they need to improve their lives.

  • A high school diploma and on-the-job training are the starting requirements for this career, although an associate degree could lead to better job prospects.
  • These professionals don't need to be certified to conduct their work.

Information from: https://www.worldwidelearn.com/online-education-guide/arts-humanities/religious-studies-major.htm

Study of Religion at Lincoln University

  1. Prepare students for graduate school studies.
  2. Equip students to articulate the different branches of  theological/religious  study in their discipline.
  3. Develop critical thinking approach to various moral and ethical  issues in life.
  4. Prepare the student to enter the marketplace with leadership skills.
  • Describe the experiences of the founders of major religions studied, and define discipline-based terminologies.
  • Explain the nature of major disciplines in the field of religion, such as theology, comparative religious ethics, the phenomenology of religion and practical theology
  • Examine the Intelligent Design, Ontological, Cosmological and the Wager arguments for the existence of God.
  • Analyze and articulate a set of major beliefs in each of the six religions studied in this program.
  • Identify the basic principles of morality upon which ethical decisions are made.
  • Formulate critical and express coherent theological statements.

Please see the University Catalog for more information and program requirements.

For more information contact the History, Political Science & Philosophy Department.