

Six of the seven billion people world-wide declare themselves people of faith, and that number is growing. Religion is a fundamental dimension of human experience. At Carthage, students examine world religions from many angles, and receive the conceptual skills necessary to interpret religious experience in its many manifestations.
The religion curriculum at Carthage is progressive in design. Your classes will address the most pressing religious issues of the day, while still providing the depth and breadth in classical religion scholarship needed for effective ministry and graduate studies. The department has a fine record of landing graduates in some of the most prestigious seminaries and graduate schools in the country.
Carthage offers students academic study in world religions, church history, theology, the Bible, and religion in society. Courses include Understandings of Religion; History of Christian Thought; Greek and Roman Mystery Religions; Religious Thinkers of Modern Times; Faith, Love and Ethics; Issues in Living and Dying; Creation and Apocalypse; Parish Service; and more.
The Carthage religion department has a diverse faculty to provide you with a wide range of approaches to religious questions. All faculty members have earned Ph.D.s, publishing records, extensive involvement in professional associations, and plenty of enthusiasm for teaching.
Students studying religion at Carthage have ample opportunity to study outside the United States during J-Term or for a semester. Spend a month excavating an ancient Roman temple in northern Israel, or spend a January examining religious myth and political vision in theatre in Berlin. Students have studied in Greece, Guatemala and the Himalayas. Current programs are offered in India, the Mediterranean and Germany.
A major in religion at Carthage is flexible. You can customize the program to meet your needs and interests, and readily combine it with a major or minor in another discipline.

An article written by Carthage faculty member Kirk MacGregor was published in the April 2012 edition of the Harvard Theological Review. more...

Having won a worldwide vote for best religion blog, Prof. Karl Seigfried now teaches Carthage students about the topic: Norse Religion. more...

Students probe religious themes in science fiction literature, film and television in J-Term course taught by religion professor Sandie Bisciglia. more...
"The program successfully provides the skill of critical investigation and encourages students to consider other perspectives on any given subject manner pertaining to religion. But most of all, the willingness of the entire faculty to go beyond the 'call of duty' is another strength of this department."
— Emerson Murphy, '12, Roseland, Chicago, Ill.
Hear what students have to say about studying religion at Carthage.