Religion

Student Voices

Rebecca Payne, '14

Meet Rebecca

"The Religion Department offers a diverse education about all the major religions."

Hometown: Skokie, Ill.

Major: Religion

Minor: Classics

Career Goal: "To become a Lutheran pastor."

Even though Rebecca Payne is only a freshman, she is already diving into everything Carthage has to offer. She has declared her major, joined numerous clubs, and taken a J-Term trip.

Rebecca chose to come to Carthage because "I liked its small size, liberal arts education, and the Lutheran affiliation," she said.

She decided to to study religion because it will help prepare her for seminary. "I liked the variety available in the religion courses," Rebecca said. "The flexibility in the Religion Department is definitely a plus."

She also likes that the Religion Department allows students to study many religions. "Just because Carthage is affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) doesn't mean you just learn about Christianity. The Religion Department offers a diverse education about all the major religions."

One unforgettable experience was the J-Term trip she took to Germany and Poland to study the Holocaust. She's also in the Carthage Women’s Ensemble, Gospel Messengers, and Geography Club, and climbs the rock wall in the N. E. Tarble Athletic and Recreation Center regularly.

Rebecca has many goals for the future. She would like to study abroad her junior year in the U.K. Her goal is to "travel around Europe to see important locations in Western religious history," she explained. After graduation she plans to become a Lutheran pastor.

Favorite professor: "I really like Professor Maczka. His Understandings of Religion class is really interesting. He comprehensively present the material and it's fun, too."

Favorite class: "I loved my Western Heritage class. There were only nine people in my class and we had amazing discussions."

Toughest class: "My hardest class was Latin. I forgot how difficult it is to learn a new language, especially a dead one."

Favorite moments at Carthage: "I love making new friends, and I've done that a lot. The way Carthage is organized, it's really easy to meet people from other grades, not just your own."

Favorite spot on campus: "Einsteins! I go there every day, not just to eat, but to sit there and do my homework."

Biggest surprises so far: "I didn't realize how much of the College was involved in Greek life, but they're not exclusive at all. I hang out with people from multiple Greek organizations."

— Kasey Dallman, '14, student writer

Student Voices

Emerson Murphy, '12

"Be open to other perspectives than your own and prepare to learn, maybe even debate, and most importantly, make connections from your experiences to that of your peers."
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Rebecca Morris, '12

"Regardless of what religion you are, I think it is important to know what other people believe and why."
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Rebecca Payne, '14

Rebecca plans to study abroad her junior year to see important locations in Western religious history.
Read more ...

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