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With particular strengths in the study of Christianity, Judaism, American religions, Islam, secularism, Buddhism, and other Asian religions, the Department of Religious Studies emphasizes descriptive, historical, and theoretical approaches to the study of religion.

Upcoming Events



Naturalizing Religion: Burmese Buddhism and Resource Extraction

RELS Colloquium
Alexandra Kaloyanides (UNC-Charlotte)
Oct 17, 2024 at - | Cohen 204

This presentation explores the way Myanmar’s natural resources have shaped its religious life, and how its religious life shapes the country’s extractive industries. Long famous…



Interview Skills Workshop

RELS Colloquium
Megan Eaton Robb (RELS) & Donovan Schaefer (RELS)
Oct 24, 2024 at - | Cohen 204

All graduate students are welcome to this workshop discussing the craft of the academic job interview, led by Prof. Megan Robb (RELS) and Prof. Donovan Schaefer (RELS). Recent…



Building a "Great Wall of Esoteric Buddhism" on the Sino-Russian Borderlands: Buddhist Pan-Asianism and (Re)Education in the Japanese Empire

RELS Colloquium
Daigengna Duoer (Boston)
Oct 31, 2024 at - | Cohen 204

This paper explores the history of the Kōa Mikkyō Gakuin (Esoteric Buddhist Academy for Asia’s Prosperity) on Mount Kōya in Japan during the 1930s and 1940s, focusing on the colonialist (re)education programs…