The Department of Religious Studies promotes the academic study of religion by offering courses that explore the diverse aspects and experiences of global religious traditions. Particular emphasis is given to the origins and history of different religious traditions, as well as the continuing influence that different religions exert on contemporary cultures and societies. Religious Studies courses welcome students with any faith commitment (or none at all).

Honors research in Religious Studies is established by consultation between the student and the department. In addition to the courses required for a major, the honors program requires the one-hour junior honors tutorial (Religious Studies 399), and the senior honors tutorials (Religious Studies 495-496), in which the student will be guided in the research and writing of an honors paper. Students are invited to contact the department chair for more details.

Professors

Patrick Gray. 2002. The Albert Bruce Curry Professor of Religious Studies. B.A., Oglethorpe University; M.T.S., Ph.D., Emory University. (New Testament; history of biblical interpretation; Greco-Roman moral philosophy)

Stephen R. Haynes. 1989.  B.A., Vanderbilt University; M.A., Florida State University; M.Div., Columbia Theological Seminary; Ph.D., Emory University. (Holocaust studies; religion and politics; religion and literature; religion and education)

Steven L. McKenzie. 1983. The Spence L. Wilson Senior Research Fellow. B.A., M.Div., Abilene Christian University; Th.D., Harvard University. (Old Testament/Hebrew Bible; Hebrew language)

Associate Professors

John C. Kaltner. 1996. The Virginia Ballou McGehee Professor of Muslim-Christian Relations. B.A., State University of New York at Oswego; M.A., Maryknoll School of Theology; S.S.L., Pontifical Biblical Institute; Ph.D., Drew University. (Biblical studies; Islam)

Sarah E. Rollens. 2015. Chair. The R. A. Webb Professor of Religious Studies. B.A., University of North Carolina at Wilmington; M.A., University of Alberta; Ph.D., University of Toronto (in collaboration with the Anne Tanenbaum Centre for Jewish Studies) (New Testament; Early Christianity; Method & Theory in Religious Studies; Historical Jesus)

Brooke Schedneck. 2017. The W. J. Millard Professor of Religious Studies. B.A., Boston University; M.T.S. Harvard University; Ph.D., Arizona State University. (Asian religions) 

Assistant Professors

Shatavia L. Wynn. 2022. B.A., Claflin University; M.A., Yale University Divinity School; Ph.D., Vanderbilt University. (African American religion; Africana studies)

Part-Time Faculty

Herbert Berg. 2019. B.Math (Honors Computer Science), University of Waterloo; B.A., University of Waterloo; M.A., University of Toronto; Ph.D., University of Toronto. (Islamic Origins; Islam in America; Nation of Islam; International Studies)

Micah D. Greenstein. 2020. B.A., Cornell University; M.P.A., Harvard University; Rabbinic Ordination, M.A.H.L., D.D., Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion. (Judaism)

Jonathan C. Lewis. 2021. B.A., University of Georgia; M.Div., Duke Divinity School; D.Min., Memphis Theological Seminary. (Religious studies; Speech communications; Pastoral care and counseling; Narrative medicine) 

Staff

Meaghan Wolfe, Departmental Assistant.

A total of thirty-six (36) credits as follows:

1. Religious Studies 255 and 256.
2. One of the following 200-level History of Religions courses: 251, 253 or 258.
3. One of the following 200-level Bible courses: 260, 270-277, 280-286.
4. One of the follow 200-level Theology and Ethics courses: 211, 220, 232, 233. (The Religion track of HUM 201 can count toward this requirement with approval from the department chair.)
5. Three 300-level courses. (Religious Studies 399, the Junior Honors Tutorial, does not count towards fulfilling this requirement.)
6. Religious Studies 485 (Religious Studies 256 and at least one 300-level course must be completed prior to taking Religious Studies 485.)

Note: some 200-level RELS courses can fall into more than one of the three categories (History of Religions; Bible; Theology and Ethics). Please contact the department chair if you have questions about whether a 200-level RELS course can count for a category other than what is designated in the catalog.

Note: The Health Equity Internships (Religious Studies 460) may count toward fulfilling the fourth requirement for the Religious Studies major. Students should meet with the department chair to discuss the details of the internship before enrolling in it.

A total of twenty (20) credits as follows:

1. Religious Studies 101 and 102 (or Humanities 101 and 102).
2. Two 200-level courses in different areas of Religious Studies (History of Religions; Bible; Theology and Ethics). Certain courses (e.g., Humanities 201 or AMS 250) can fulfill this requirement when cross-listed as Religious Studies courses.
3. One 300-level Religious Studies course in any area.

Note: some 200-level RELS courses can fall into more than one of the three categories (History of Religions; Bible; Theology and Ethics). Please contact the department chair if you have questions about whether a 200-level RELS course can count for a category other than what is designated in the catalog.

Note: The Health Equity Internships (Religious Studies 460) may count toward fulfilling the second requirement for the Religious Studies minor. Students should meet with the department chair to discuss the details of the internship before enrolling in it.