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Religion

A photo taken during the India J-Term study tour in 2015. A student poses in front of landmarks in India.

At A Glance

The religion curriculum at Carthage is progressive in design. Your classes will address the most pressing religious issues of the day while 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.

Major

  • Religion

Minor

  • Religion

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Progressive Curriculum

Six of the seven billion people worldwide 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.

  • <div class="lw_widget lw_widget_type_blockquote"><blockquote class="blockquote"><div class="blockquote__image"><picture class="lw_image"><source type="image/webp" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/47/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1006,1006/37815_8363_163701665847155.rev.1684810261.webp 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/47/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1006,1006/37815_8363_163701665847155.rev.1684810261.webp 3x" data-origin="responsive"/><source type="image/jpeg" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/47/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1006,1006/37815_8363_163701665847155.rev.1684810261.jpg 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/47/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1006,1006/37815_8363_163701665847155.rev.1684810261.jpg 3x" data-origin="responsive"/><img src="/live/image/gid/47/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1006,1006/37815_8363_163701665847155.rev.1684810261.jpg" alt="Elsie Berg" width="183" height="183" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/47/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1006,1006/37815_8363_163701665847155.rev.1684810261.jpg 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/47/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1006,1006/37815_8363_163701665847155.rev.1684810261.jpg 3x" data-max-w="1006" data-max-h="1006" loading="lazy" data-optimized="true"/></picture></div><div class="blockquote__content"><div class="blockquote__quote"><svg aria-hidden="true" class="icon icon-round-left-quote" width="48" height="33"><use xlink:href="#icon-round-left-quote"/></svg><p> “Studying religion has taught me to see the complexity in so many religious practices that I do not subscribe to. Being a religion major at Carthage has taught me how to lead an educated, compassionate, and informed life and to open myself up to understanding such a crucial part of the human experience.”</p></div><footer class="blockquote__footer"><span class="blockquote__author"><a href="/live/profiles/2440-">Elsie Berg</a> ’24</span></footer></div></blockquote></div>
  • <div class="lw_widget lw_widget_type_blockquote"><blockquote class="blockquote"><div class="blockquote__image"><picture class="lw_image"><source type="image/webp" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/110/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,2400,3200/997_HaileeSundquist24.rev.1638815714.webp 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/110/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,2400,3200/997_HaileeSundquist24.rev.1638815714.webp 3x" data-origin="responsive"/><source type="image/jpeg" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/110/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,2400,3200/997_HaileeSundquist24.rev.1638815714.jpg 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/110/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,2400,3200/997_HaileeSundquist24.rev.1638815714.jpg 3x" data-origin="responsive"/><img src="/live/image/gid/110/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,2400,3200/997_HaileeSundquist24.rev.1638815714.jpg" alt="Hailee Sundquist '24" width="183" height="183" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/110/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,2400,3200/997_HaileeSundquist24.rev.1638815714.jpg 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/110/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,2400,3200/997_HaileeSundquist24.rev.1638815714.jpg 3x" data-max-w="2400" data-max-h="3200" loading="lazy" data-optimized="true"/></picture></div><div class="blockquote__content"><div class="blockquote__quote"><svg aria-hidden="true" class="icon icon-round-left-quote" width="48" height="33"><use xlink:href="#icon-round-left-quote"/></svg><p> “Understanding different world religions allows us to better understand where others are coming from and how to respond to them.”</p></div><footer class="blockquote__footer"><span class="blockquote__author"><a href="/live/profiles/1224-hailee-sundquist">Hailee Sundquist</a> ’24</span></footer></div></blockquote></div>
  • <div class="lw_widget lw_widget_type_blockquote"><blockquote class="blockquote"><div class="blockquote__image"><picture class="lw_image"><source type="image/webp" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/47/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1150,1003/38875_11001_163701665847155.rev.1701655045.webp 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/47/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1150,1003/38875_11001_163701665847155.rev.1701655045.webp 3x" data-origin="responsive"/><source type="image/jpeg" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/47/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1150,1003/38875_11001_163701665847155.rev.1701655045.jpg 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/47/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1150,1003/38875_11001_163701665847155.rev.1701655045.jpg 3x" data-origin="responsive"/><img src="/live/image/gid/47/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1150,1003/38875_11001_163701665847155.rev.1701655045.jpg" alt="Kara R. Oldham" width="183" height="183" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/47/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1150,1003/38875_11001_163701665847155.rev.1701655045.jpg 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/47/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1150,1003/38875_11001_163701665847155.rev.1701655045.jpg 3x" data-max-w="1150" data-max-h="1003" loading="lazy" data-optimized="true"/></picture></div><div class="blockquote__content"><div class="blockquote__quote"><svg aria-hidden="true" class="icon icon-round-left-quote" width="48" height="33"><use xlink:href="#icon-round-left-quote"/></svg><p> “I chose Carthage for the location, small class sizes, and the limitless opportunities to pursue your passions. The views don’t hurt either!”</p></div><footer class="blockquote__footer"><span class="blockquote__author"><a href="/live/profiles/2578-">Kara R. Oldham</a> ’26</span></footer></div></blockquote></div>

Multidimensional Study

Carthage offers students academic study in world religions, church history, theology, the Bible, and religion in society. Courses include…

  • History of Christian Thought
  • Faith, Love, and Ethics
  • Creation and Apocalypse
  • The Dead Sea Scrolls
  • Jesus Beyond Christianity
  • Christians and Muslims: Conflict vs. Dialogue

See more religion courses


Accomplished Faculty

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 PhDs, have published records, have extensive involvement in professional associations, and have plenty of enthusiasm for teaching.


beyond the classroom

Student Organizations

Many campus groups welcome students who want to explore and live out their beliefs, such as Better Together Interfaith Movement, Catholics at Carthage, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Free Thinkers Society, InterVarsity Christian Fellowship, Jewish Student Union, Muslim Student Association, and Pagan Forum. Strong scholars can be elected to religion honor society Theta Alpha Kappa.

Practicum in Religion

Students seeking hands-on experience in ministry and church leadership can assist the pastor of a local congregation or lead a church youth group.

Study Abroad

During the popular J-Term, professors have led religion-focused study tours to destinations like India, Tanzania, Greece, Germany, and Spain. 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. 

More student opportunities

 

Religion students on the J-Term study tour Experience Tanzania: Religion, Society, and Culture.

Religion students on the J-Term study tour Experience Tanzania: Religion, Society, and Culture.

Lutheran Church in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

Lutheran Church in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

Moravian Church in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

Moravian Church in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

Students donating goods to the Malaika Orphanage Center in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

Students donating goods to the Malaika Orphanage Center in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

A group photo in front of the Ngorongoro Crater.

A group photo in front of the Ngorongoro Crater.

Students holding a conversation with Muslim community leaders in Zanzibar, Tanzania.

Students holding a conversation with Muslim community leaders in Zanzibar, Tanzania.

Students observing a Hindu worship service in Arusha, Tanzania.

Students observing a Hindu worship service in Arusha, Tanzania.

The Village Museum in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

The Village Museum in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

Inside a Hindu Temple in Arusha, Tanzania.

Inside a Hindu Temple in Arusha, Tanzania.

Students dressed in Maasai traditional clothing in Arusha, Tanzania.

Students dressed in Maasai traditional clothing in Arusha, Tanzania.


Customized Program

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.


Connect with Us

Connect with religion faculty and students on the Religion Department’s Facebook page. 

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