Why Study
Religion?
Whether you consider yourself a religious person or not, or whether you
think
religion has played a positive or negative role in history, it is an undeniable
fact that from the beginning of time, humans have engaged in activities that
we now call religion, such as worship, prayer, and rituals marking important
life passages. Moreover, religions have always asked fundamental questions,
such as: What is the true meaning of life? What happens to us after death?
How do we explain human suffering and injustices?
Human Understanding
The answers different religious traditions give to these important questions
are many and varied and often contradictory. But the questions themselves
are ones with which humans throughout time have grappled, and probably
will continue to grapple with into the indefinite future. Thus, one of the first
reasons to study religion is simply to deepen our understanding of others and
ourselves.
Cultural Influence
We also study religion in order to learn more about how different aspects of
human life—politics, science, literature, art, law, economics—have been and
continue to be shaped by changing religious notions of, for example, good and
evil, images of the deity and the divine, salvation and punishment, etc. By
studying different religious doctrines, rituals, stories, and scriptures, we can
also come to understand how different communities of believers—past and
present, East and West—have used their religious traditions to shape, sustain,
and transform themselves.
Global Insight
More than ever before, the world we live in is both multicultural and global.
We no longer need to travel across the ocean to visit a Hindu temple or an
Islamic mosque or to meet a Sikh or a Jain. The chances are that you can find a
temple or mosque within a few miles of where you live, and it is almost
certain that you will be meet someone from any and all of these religious
traditions on campus or on the street. This makes it even more essential that
we cultivate our ability to understand and interpret other people’s religious
traditions.
Notes/Questions
from different disciplines in the humanities and the social sciences, such as
history, anthropology, literature, art history, and political science. Studying
religion thus provides you an opportunity to learn about a range of
disciplinary approaches, and, even more importantly, the connections and
linkages among them. In this way studying religion invites us all to think in a
more interdisciplinary and integral way about the world and our place in it.
Broad Opportunity
So, what can you do by learning about religion? The study of
religion helps you to learn how to think critically, listen empathetically, speak
thoughtfully, and write clearly—all skills that will be of great use no matter
what you go on to do in life. It will also help you to better live and work in our
increasingly diverse society and global world. Students of religion go on to
careers in a wide variety of fields including teaching, medicine, social service,
law, journalism, international business, diplomacy, and, of course, religious
professions of various kinds.
Question 1
Why is it important to study religion, according to the article?
A To deepen our understanding of different cultures and beliefs
B To convert to a new religion
C To prove that one religion is better than others
D To stop people from practicing their faith
Question 2
What role does religion play in shaping various aspects of human life?
A It significantly influences politics, science, literature, and more
B It has no impact on other aspects of life
C It only affects religious ceremonies
D It only impacts the economy
Question 3
In our multicultural and globalized world, why is it essential to study religion?
A To better understand and respect diverse religious traditions
B To criticize and judge other people's beliefs
C To develop intolerance towards different cultures
D To prove one's own religion is superior
Question 4
How does studying religion encourage interdisciplinary thinking?
A By highlighting the connections and linkages among different fields of study
B By discouraging the exploration of multiple perspectives
C By separating religious studies from all other academic disciplines
D By focusing solely on religious scriptures
Question 5
What skills can students gain from studying religion, which are useful in various
professions?
A Critical thinking, empathy, effective communication, and clear writing
B How to win debates
C How to dominate in sports
D How to solve complex mathematical equations
