| How should the word religion be defined? Most of | | | | study of religion. First is Theology, in which religion is |
| the people have their own personal definition which is | | | | studied from the perspective of a particular |
| for them the right one, to the exclusion of all others. | | | | community of believers. Theology is a foundation of |
| Some people give a very narrow definition which | | | | undergraduate education at many American schools. |
| matches with their own individual's religion. Like in | | | | The other is religious studies, the academic study of |
| 'Tom Jones", a novel written by Henry Fielding where | | | | religion aims to treat all religion traditions |
| he has one character: "By religion I mean Christianity, | | | | even-handedly. Among the other academic fields such |
| by Christianity I mean Protestantism, by | | | | as history, philosophy sociology, anthropology, |
| Protestantism I mean the Church of England as | | | | psychology and theology itself, the religious studies |
| established by law." For some people, the definition | | | | come out as a broad inquisitiveness about the nature |
| of religion require a belief in the God or Goddess or | | | | of religion. While theology concerns with the study of |
| combination of both who are responsible for the | | | | a mystical force, religious studies focus on studying |
| creation of the universe and for its ongoing operation. | | | | human religious behavior and belief from any particular |
| Such definition eliminates non-theistic religions such as | | | | religious viewpoint. It offers an opportunity to ask |
| Buddhism and many forms of religious Satanism. | | | | fundamental questions about religious traditions. Most |
| Religion as an inquisitive phenomenon | | | | of the college students have practical concerns about |
| Religion is powerful and persistent. It persists | | | | how religious studies will improve their lives |
| everywhere, on television, in films, in our towns and | | | | Religion as a career prospect |
| neighborhood it is also becoming a center of global | | | | The study of religion shows the way in many |
| issues and cultural conflicts. It lies in our lives, in the | | | | directions. It qualifies undergraduates for further |
| lives of people we love. Religious traditions are | | | | study in graduate school and offers a wide array of |
| adjustable in important ways. Therefore, religion is | | | | prospects and a solid foundation for a successful |
| becoming an intensely curious phenomenon that calls | | | | career. Students are trained in an exceptional |
| out for better understanding. It is getting very | | | | combination of skills including direct observation, vital |
| important for both practitioners and observers to be | | | | thinking and cross-cultural understanding. There is an |
| informed about this miraculous phenomenon. | | | | opportunity of choosing the religion as a center of |
| Religion is an energetic academic field. Religion as a | | | | the professional career, either as the chief of a |
| course is taken by thousands of undergraduates | | | | religious community or as an educational specialist in |
| every year. There are many students who take | | | | higher education The study of religion has become a |
| religion as their main course and decide to focus on | | | | very important part of American colleges or |
| the topic "theology" or "religious studies". | | | | universities. No matter where you decide to attend |
| Religion as an educational field | | | | college, most likely you can find courses in religion as |
| In America, there are two main branches of the | | | | part of the syllabus. |