Religion Department

The Religion Department is a community of students and faculty engaged in the exploration of religion: the different ways faith is expressed and practiced, the historical and cultural contexts of religions and their texts, as well as the interconnections between religion and other areas of human life — philosophical thought, the psychological, social, political, and economic dimensions, and the presence of religion and religious symbols in literature and fine arts, etc. To encourage creative and independent thinking, we emphasize the study of primary texts, rather than simply reading what other people have written about those texts.

Our approach is not faith-based. We are not in the business of either promoting or demoting faith; appreciation and critical understanding are our common goals. As an integral part of the larger Bishop’s community, students from all disciplines are welcomed in Religion courses, and students in Religion are encouraged to take courses in other related fields such as Philosophy, Classical Studies, History, Liberal Arts, etc. These may be counted as cognate courses to the Religion Major or Honours program. In addition, students may pursue their particular interests through independent study courses.

Why Study Religion at Bishop’s?

Department strengths

• Small class sizes. Students are individuals, not numbers — you really get to know your professors, and they you!
• We place a premium on teaching well; Dr. Harvey White won the University's Turner Award for teaching in 2007.
• Several Religion courses are cross-listed to offer credits in Classical Studies, Philosophy, Liberal Arts and Political Studies.
• Visits to places of worship (such as synagogues, monasteries, Hindu and Buddhist Temples, etc.) are often part of our courses.
• Students have the opportunity to gain 6 credits participating in trips and archaeological excavations in Jordan, Greece and the American Southwest.
• Religion courses help students develop their research and writing skills — very highly valued in today's job market!

Some popular courses

• Western Religions
• Eastern Religions
• Sex and Religion
• Psychology of Religion
• Politics and Religion
• Film and Religion
• Death and Dying in the Ancient World
• Sociology of Religion
• Women in Religion
• Philosophy of Religion
• Israelite Mythology and Cultic Practice
• Philosophy of Religion and Theology

• Department of Religion parties (for Religion faculty and students) take place each semester at a professor's home.
• Dr. Harvey White has won the university-wide Turner award for outstanding teaching.
• Dr. Daniel Miller has excavated in Israel, has studied Ugaritic tablets in the Louvre Museum, and is an expert on The Simpsons.
• Dr. Michele Murray is fluent in modern Hebrew, has excavated in Israel and Jordan, and earned her commercial pilot's licence.
• You can participate in an archaeological excavation in Jordan — and get Bishop's University credits for it!