Religion and Philosophy
Mission Statement
The faculty of the Religion and Philosophy program is dedicated to challenging and supporting students to think critically and creatively and to enhance their communication skills as they deal with fundamental issues of self, world, and God. The program provides a safe, caring, and ethical community where students are allowed to grow and mature as global citizens.
Learning Objectives
The overall learning objectives of the Religion and Philosophy program are that students are enabled to do the following:
- Students will demonstrate an ability to think critically about religious traditions by being informed by a variety of perspectives. These perspectives include not only the range of positions within Christian history and theology, but also when appropriate, inter-faith perspectives are included as well.
- Students will demonstrate an ability to respond creatively to these received traditions by approaching issues from a first person perspective and making personal responses to them, informed by insights they have gained from other academic disciplines.
- Students will demonstrate an ability to explore their own faith commitment in a complex global world and enlarge their perspectives of the world, as well as be prepared for leadership in a pluralistic and increasingly international context.
- Students will demonstrate an ability to communicate effectively in writing and speaking and to conduct undergraduate research.
- Students will demonstrate that they are prepared for graduate studies in Religion or Philosophy and/or to work effectively in church settings by gaining competence in these areas: (1) biblical studies, (2) history, (3) theology, ethics, and social scientific study of religion, (4) philosophy, (5) church leadership.
Assessment of Learning Objectives
Success in achieving the objectives of the Religion and Philosophy major will be measured by the following assessments:
- Course papers evaluated by a common grading rubric
- Senior Thesis/Project
- Performance on the NSSE and CLA assessment instruments
- Performance evaluations in internships, where applicable
- Exit Interviews of graduating seniors
- Graduate School Acceptance, where applicable
- Success in church ministry settings, where applicable
- Periodic review of the program by an outside evaluator
The Religion and Philosophy Major with a Concentration in global missions and service
The Religion & Philosophy concentration in Global Missions and Service will prepare students for careers in global ministry and service, both abroad and to international communities in the United States. All students will complete 24 hours in Foundation Courses in the Religion & Philosophy program, described below. All students also must include an approved international study experience (Interim term international service course or longer experience) sometime while earning the college degree. The concentration shares an introductory course (NPLD 2200: Foundations in Non-Profit Leadership) with the Non-Profit Leadership major. All students will complete a Senior Thesis or Project that synthesizes the Religion and outside coursework.
In addition to the common Foundation courses, students will choose one of three tracks: Business as Missions, Latin America, or Asia. These courses are offered by cooperating college programs.
Foundation Courses: (24 Hours) Required for All Tracks
- NPLD 2200: Foundations in Non-Profit Leadership
- RLGN 1103: New Testament
- RLGN 1104: Dialogue with World Faith Traditions
- RLGN 2215: Global Christianity
- RLGN 3360: Missions: Theology and Practice
- RLGN 4620: Senior Thesis or Project
- Electives: 2 RLGN or PHIL courses 2000-level and above
- Business as Missions Track: Religion & Philosophy Foundation Courses and four (4) courses in Management and International Business (12 hours):
- FNCE 3390: Foundations in Non-Profit Leadership
- MGMT 3370: Management and Organizational Behavior
- MGMT 3393: Cultural Aspects of International Business
- MGMT 4410: Social Entrepreneurship
-or-
- Latin America Track: Religion & Philosophy Foundation Courses and five (5) courses in Spanish and Latin American Culture [15 Hours]:
- Competency through the Intermediate Level in Spanish [up to six (6) hours in addition to the college foreign language requirement]
- Choose three (3) courses from:
HIST 3331: Colonial Latin American History
LAST 1104: (Introduction to Latin American Culture)
LAST 2000: (Introduction to Latin American Studies)
LAST 3332: Comparative Colonization and Slavery
LAST 3110: Special Topics in Latin American Studies
POLS 3352: States and Politics of Latin America
-or-
- Asia Track. Religion & Philosophy Foundation Courses and five (5) courses in Asian Language and Culture [15 Hours]:
- Competency through the Intermediate Level in Japanese, Korean, or Chinese [0-6 Hours in addition to the college foreign language requirement]
- Choose three (3) courses from:
HIST 2380: Introduction to the History of East Asia
HIST 3380: History of China
HIST 3382: History of Korea
HIST 3384: History of Japan
The Philosophy Minor
No major program currently is offered in philosophy. A minor consists of four (4) courses in Area IV, of which at least two (2) courses must be taken at the 2000-level or above.
The Church Music Program
The church music program is administered through the Music program in cooperation with the Religion and Philosophy program. See the Music section of the Bulletin for a program description.
Course Descriptions (RLGN and PHIL)
Core Exploratory Courses:
Explorations of the Christian Faith
Completion of any course in this area (1000-level courses) will meet the college’s Core requirement for an Exploratory Studies course in Religion. These courses have no prerequisites.
RLGN 1101 Introduction to Christianity. (3)
An introduction to the Christian tradition of faith through a study of its central symbols, sacred texts, and practices.
RLGN 1102 Jewish Origins in Context. (3)
A study of the Hebrew bible, commonly called by Christians the Old Testament, in the context of the ancient near eastern world. The course asks students to reflect on the impact of the Hebrew bible on Western civilization and its implications for the contemporary world.
RLGN 1103 New Testament Writings in Context. (3)
A study of the New Testament writings in the context of Greco-Roman civilization. The course asks students to reflect on the impact of Christian scriptures on Western civilization and consider their implications for the contemporary world.
RLGN 1104 Dialogue with World Faith Traditions. (3)
The course places the insights of the Christian faith in dialogue with those of major living world religions, such as Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism, Confucianism, and Daoism.
RLGN 1105 Christian Ethics and Contemporary Social Issues. (3)
A study of contemporary ethical issues in the light of the moral traditions central to the Christian faith. The course examines such issues as marriage and family, war and peace, racism, abortion, and the environment. Servant leadership component.
RLGN 1106 American Christianity. (3)
This course will be an investigation of the origins of denominationalism in America. The class will read a history of American Christianity, but will look further afield by analyzing some of the particularly American expressions such as Mormonism, Jehovah’s Witnesses, and Christian Science. The course will enable students to answer questions about their own denominations and the now global framework of movements such as Pentecostalism and Evangelicalism.
RLGN 1107 Religious Faith in a Scientific Age (3)
Contemporary debates over intelligent design, climate change, evolution, and stem cell research demonstrate the lively and sometimes contentious interactions between science and religious faith. Students will develop personal positions about the relationship of science and religion and develop ethical perspectives on such controversial biomedical practices as human reproduction, genetic engineering, and end-of-life care.
RLGN 1108 Earth Theology. (3)
This course explores the inherent value of the Earth, examines the human impact on the environment, and explores ways to address the present global environmental crisis with Biblical and theological resources.
Students will become acquainted with some prominent thinkers and theologians who are taking action regarding environmental concerns while discovering sustainable connections between theological reflection and ethical living.
Religion and Philosophy Courses
Area I: Biblical Studies
RLGN 2120 Introduction to Hellenistic Greek I. (3)
A beginning course designed to teach the fundamentals of Hellenistic or Koine Greek, which includes the language of the New Testament. Completion of the two course sequence in Greek will fulfill the college’s foreign language requirement.
RLGN 2121 Introduction to Hellenistic Greek II. (3)
A continuation of RLGN 2120.
Prerequisite: RLGN 2120
*RLGN 3120 The Prophets (3)
A study of the prophets and prophetic movements in ancient Israel, as well as modern day prophets who continue this tradition in the contemporary context.
Prerequisite: RLGN 1103, or permission of professor
RLGN 3150 The Apostolic Age. (3)
An examination of the origin and expansion of the early Christian Church, with studies in the Epistles and the Acts of the Apostles.
Prerequisite: RLGN 1103, or permission of professor
RLGN 3160 The Gospels. (3)
An examination of one of the four canonical gospels with emphasis on the historical context, history of interpretation, and modern appropriations of the text.
Prerequisite: RLGN 1103, or permission of professor
Area II: Historical Studies
RLGN 2210 Early Church History. (3)
A survey of the history of the Christian Church from the close of the Apostolic age to the end of the Middle Ages.
*RLGN 2215 Global Christianity. (3)
A study of the growth of Christianity into a world-wide religion, highlighting Christianity in Asia, Latin America, and Africa.
RLGN 2220 Modern Church History. (3)
A history of the Christian Church from the reformation era to the modern period.
*RLGN 2230 Ethnicity and Religion in America. (3)
This course examines the role that religion played and continues to play in American race relations and racial identities. The course will study the history and the theorists of the civil rights movement, but also dynamics of race and religion in America’s newer immigrant communities.
Prerequisite: English 1102
RLGN 3210 United Methodist Studies. (3)
A survey of the history, theology, and polity of the United Methodist Church.
Prerequisite: A religion core course
Area III: Theology, Ethics, and the Social Scientific Study of Religion
*RLGN 2320 Conflict and Peace-making. (3)
An examination of models of non-violent social change that are grounded in religious faith commitments. The course focuses on the Christian faith tradition but works comparatively with figures and movements from Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, and Islam. The course includes practice in the skills of peace-building that are guided by the principles of restorative justice.
Prerequisite: English 1102
RLGN 3310 Contemporary Christian Thought. (3)
A survey of the development of Christian thought, with particular attention to the nineteenth and twentieth centuries.
Prerequisite: A religion core course
RLGN 3320 or The Ethics of Sexuality, Marriage, and Gender. (3)
GNDR 3320
A study of the moral issues related to sexuality, gender roles, and family life. Topics vary per offering, but may include ethical reflection on such topics as the meaning and purpose of sexuality, gender roles, pre-marital and extra-marital sexuality, homosexuality, and family structure. We will compare the range of positions on these issues within Christianity, and also compare them with positions in other world faiths.
Prerequisite: A religion core course
RLGN 3340 Sociology of Religion. (3)
A sociological analysis of the interplay between religion and culture.
Prerequisite: A religion core course
RLGN 3360 Missions: Theology and Practice [3]
A study of the nature of missions and missional work through modern and historical texts, theory and theology, and practical, hands-on engagement. Students will explore the field of missions as both calling and career, as they embrace a servant leadership focus and sustainable practices.
Prerequisite: RLGN 2215
Area IV: Philosophy
‡ PHIL 1410 Introduction to Philosophy. (3)
A survey of major philosophical themes and figures that were formative in Western civilization.
PHIL 2410 Moral Philosophy. (3)
A study of the major philosophical understandings of morality and the good life.
‡ PHIL 2440 Elementary Logic. (3)
An introduction to the logic of propositions with attention to the structure and evaluation of informal arguments. The rhetoric of persuasion and its use of logic and emotions are discussed.
PHIL 3410 Philosophy of Religion. (3)
An investigation of problems related to philosophical reflection on religious thought and experience.
Prerequisite: At least one prior course in philosophy or permission of professor
*PHIL 3420
or Themes in Political Philosophy. (3)
POLS 3340
An introduction to the basic ideas of political philosophy. Topics considered include the social and historical context of political theory, the development of major ideas in political philosophy, critical analysis of theoretical arguments, and the relation of political theory to contemporary politics.
PHIL 3430 Bioethics. (3)
A study of the ethical issues raised by the practice of nursing, medicine, and biomedical research.
Prerequisite: English 1102
PHIL 4410 Selected Topics in Philosophy. (3)
A seminar course on a major subject of concern in philosophy based on individual research and assigned readings.
Prerequisite: At least one prior course in philosophy or permission of professor
* Denotes additional courses that may fulfill the Core Exploratory religion requirement.
‡ Denotes courses in Philosophy that may fulfill the requirement for a second Humanities course in the CORE Curriculum.
Area V: Church Leadership Courses
RLGN 3510 Christian Education in the Local Church. (3)
A study of issues confronting those participating in a local church setting. Required of all students in the Internship.
Prerequisite: A religion core course
RLGN 3520 Christian Worship. (3)
The study and practice of Christian worship in its historical and contemporary contexts. Topics include the theology of worship, sacraments, liturgy, and the place of music in worship.
Prerequisite: A religion core course
RLGN 3540 Youth Ministry. (3) Fall 2012
The study and practice of ministry to persons from adolescence through young adulthood.
Prerequisite: A religion core course
RLGN 3560 Transformational Leadership. (3)
The study of the leadership styles and skills necessary for leadership of an institution. Topics may include institutional dynamics, leading institutional change, working with volunteers, avoiding burnout, and racial and gender issues in leadership.
Prerequisite: A religion core course
RLGN 3550 Internship. (1-6) Scheduled individually on demand
Supervised participation in the local church setting. May be repeated for credit up to 6 hours.
Prerequisite: Two courses from Area V
Area VI: Capstone and Other Courses
RLGN 4610 Selected Topics in Religion. (3)
A seminar course on a major subject of concern based on individual research and assigned readings.
Prerequisite: Permission of professor
RLGN 4620 Senior Thesis or Project. (3)
A directed study normally taken in the fall of the senior year. The student should choose a project director from within the Religion & Philosophy faculty and work with this director to refine a topic in the semester prior to which the student enrolls for the course. Thus, most students should select a director and topic by the end of the spring semester of the junior year.
Prerequisite: Application to Religion and Philosophy Program Coordinator
Majors and Minors
Major Minor
Minor in Philosophy B.A. in Religion and Philosophy with a Concentration in Church Leadership Minor in Church Leadership B.A. in Religion and Philosophy Minor in Religion B.A. in Religion and Philosophy with a Concentration in Global Missions and Service