Religion :: Swarthmore College

Why Study Religion?

To explore how humans understand and experience the sacred, the self, and the world.
To celebrate the complexity and variety within religious life and thought.
To cultivate skills of reading, speaking, and writing.
To share in the delight of asking--and even risking answers to--questions about the meaning of life and the sources of human and social transformation.
To experience the knowledge that arises from an appreciation of the place of religion in human experience.
The study of Religion can provide excellent preparation for a variety of careers, such as law, teaching, counseling, business, journalism, politics, writing, medicine, and the arts. Find courses here.

Reflections on the Study of Religion

Read Professor Mark Wallace's essay Why Study Religion?
Read Professor Steven Hopkins' Reflections on Teaching

Religion Courses Offered

Interpreting Jews: Premodern Biblical Interpretation

Partitions: Religions, Politics, and Gender in South Asia Through the Novel

Religion and Nature in the African Diaspora: Wonders, Signs, & Portents

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The Phoenix features Professor Hopkins

Interconnection: A Conversation with Professor Hopkins

Although cliché, some professors at Swarthmore make an impression in the way they lecture, while others do so in the way they inherently challenge you to your core, creating mental chasms through your body and mind. But few weave their lived experience and genuine, natural curiosity as seamlessly into their teaching as Professor Steven Hopkins. Sitting across from him in office hours, the stories of his life unfold not as a linear progression but as a series of interwoven narratives — much like the poetry and religious teachings he explores in his courses.

Please visit The Phoenix for the full article.

Religion Alum, Dr. Wendy Cadge, named Bryn Mawr's 10th President

Swarthmore alumni, Dr. Wendy Cadge, who received a bachelor’s degree with high honors and majors in Sociology and Anthropology, and Religion, from Swarthmore College, has been selected by the Bryn Mawr College Board of Trustees to serve as the College's 10th president, effective July 1. Read the full story here.