In the words of one contemporary interpreter, "religion is a means of ultimate transformation, that is, a fundamental change from being caught up in the troubles of common existence to living in such a way that one can cope at the deepest level with these troubles." -- Frederick J. Streng
One of the reasons I chose to study religion (at Trinity) was that it seemed to be the discipline that would allow me the greatest breadth and depth of intellectual pursuit. Absolutely nothing is alien to the study of religion; law, science, the family, politics, mass movements, art, dance, medicine, human sexuality, baseball. If you do study religion you will study the human in all its most intimate and challenging moments. -- Robert Orsi '75, Ph.D., Yale University, religion professor
The study of religion is as much a process of transformation as an education. As a student of Religion at Trinity, you learn to develop and exercise a respectful and open attitude toward a variety of beliefs and practices among the peoples of the world. You are challenged to learn critical thinking in order to separate the "wheat from the chaff," the substance from the superficial, not only in the discipline itself, but in all of life's endeavors. You study many religious persuasions; Tibetan Buddhists, Swiss Calvinists, French Catholics, Irani Muslims, while maintaining an enlightened balance between understanding and acceptance.
For example, as religious fundamentalism in so many forms occupies an increasingly larger role in geopolitics, understanding its spiritual bases may open doors to communication, enabling a tolerance and peaceful coexistence. As a Religion major at Trinity, you learn to expect the unexpected, to think unaccustomed thoughts, and to state them with precision and sensitivity.
Religion as a major engages you in studies of history, literature, philosophy, science and economics. It teaches you how to think clearly and analytically. It demands that you learn to articulate your thoughts both orally and in writing. It has its pragmatic side, offering a framework in which to examine moral values in different societies and the ways in which these societies resolve their moral conflicts. Religion offers the student a broader tablet, a chance to develop powers of perception more profoundly than in narrowly defined disciplines.
The study of religion at Trinity allows you to engage in "the process of exploring numerous metaphysical and ethical questions in the context of different cultures and times. The ability to analyze and understand the meanings of these questions, to explore the root of a society, the root of a culture, gives one an important perspective on human experience." -- Carolyn Pelzel '74, associate director of development programs, Harvard University Development Office
The study of Religion at Trinity is distinguished by the diversity that is the mark of the liberal arts education. There is no limitation on the specific religious traditions or disciplines you may explore. Student faculty interaction is both close and productive, offering working relationships that enrich and inspire. The diversity of the faculty and their individual academic specialties reflect the diversity of this venerable, distinguished college and its enduring commitment to the liberal arts. Trinity College offers an intellectual environment in which you are encouraged to explore, to test yourself, and to challenge the spiritual and pragmatic implications of religion in the context of the emerging world order, an environment in which the subject matter comes alive.
A degree in Religion from Trinity is excellent preparation for graduate work in one of the many sub-disciplines in the field of religious study. Trinity students have gone on to advanced degrees at some of the most prestigious institutions in the country, including Yale, Harvard, the University of Pennsylvania, Princeton, and the University of Chicago, among others.
At the same time, the academic and intellectual preparation achieved at Trinity opens doors to a range of professional schools, from divinity to social work, law and medical schools. It has also opened the way to challenging and rewarding careers, from business management to the media to public policy positions. The degree in Religion brings the student to an understanding of the human condition and the intellectual flexibility of a first-rate education relevant to many sectors of the society. Faced with the ethical challenges that they encounter daily, many organizations in both the public and private sectors have shown an appreciation for the unique perspective and understanding the Religion major can bring to the table. No matter what the initial goal or ultimate result, the Religion major leaves Trinity with limitless opportunities for success.
Susannah Heschel, a Religion major at Trinity, went on to earn her Ph.D. in Religion (Jewish Studies) at the University of Pennsylvania, becoming one of the first female rabbis and prominent women Jewish theologians. The granddaughter of one of Judaism's foremost theologians, Abraham Heschel, she is now a faculty member in the religion department of Case Western Reserve University.
The following is a selection of the postgraduate scholarly activities and careers of some Religion majors at Trinity:
Trinity's location in the capital city of Connecticut has special advantages for students in many disciplines, including Religion. Strategically situated between the population centers and cultural meccas of New York and Boston, Hartford offers access to an exceptional breadth of opportunity. Networking possibilities allow students to connect with a wide variety of religious institutions, denominations and organizations, many of which can be explored through the Trinity internship program.
Through the College's electronic networking, every dorm room is wired for direct computer access, offering links to other students and faculty, to the CTW library system (a multi-million-volume network encompassing Trinity, Connecticut College and Wesleyan University), as well as to the campus-wide Local Area Network, and, through the College's subscription, to the Internet and the World Wide Web. You can engage in networking with other institutions, organizations or individuals, and explore the literature available on the "net'' as it relates to your specific area of interest.
At Trinity, internships represent an important opportunity to students, offering abundant opportunities for personal growth and career testing. More than half of all students at the College choose to pursue an internship during the course of their undergraduate years. You have many options for gaining hands-on, real-life exposure to institutions and organizations, both religious and secular, which define religion in all its aspects for the state and its citizens. The College's internship program lists hundreds of established positions with regulatory, civic, nonprofit and special-interest groups, where you can become both observer and player in the life of our society. There are central offices of denominations doing research and studies. On the secular side, there are charities, support groups, the Red Cross, consumer groups each presenting the student with a chance to see firsthand how Religion affects and is affected by different structures in our society.
As Religion majors, you may choose to include as part of your program off-campus study in areas and subjects related to your own special interest. There is no substitute for real-world experience in the study of the religions of the world and their role in our daily lives. An appropriate and enriching foreign study program may be designed with the help of your faculty adviser and the Office of International Programs and Educational Services. Trinity has its own campus in Rome and consortial study program in Spain, as well as established informal relationships with a number of other American colleges and universities offering accredited programs in over 20 locations, including Argentina, China, the Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Italy, India, Israel, Japan, Nepal, and Russia.
One foreign study opportunity that may be of particular interest to a Religion major is Trinity's participation in the summer excavations at Caesarea Maritima in Israel, providing a unique glimpse into the past in the cradle of many of the world's great religions.
The Religion major at Trinity is designed to provide a thorough acquaintance with at least two significant religious traditions, to explore through the Junior Seminar a theme or problem common to different religious traditions, and to bring to fruition in the Senior Thesis the skills and knowledge acquired throughout the course of the major.
A person majoring in Religion is required to complete ten courses with a grade of C- or better. Three of these courses must be in a primary religious tradition, two courses in a secondary religious tradition, a junior seminar, a senior thesis and three elective courses.
The traditions available for study on a regular basis are Buddhism, Christianity, folk religions, Hinduism, Islam, and Judaism. Those interested in other religious traditions may discuss, through special arrangements, their interests with the Department Chairperson prior to acceptance into the major.
The Religion major is built around two distinct tracks Tradition and Theme. The first track is "Tradition." In addition to the three departmental courses satisfying the primary tradition, you must take three non-departmental courses covering at least two fields. The "Theme" track allows you to select, in collaboration with Department members, a central theme integrating three or four non-departmental courses with your major work.
A sampling of the diverse course selection available to the Religion major at Trinity includes the following:
As a Religion major, you are encouraged to include modern language as an element in your overall curriculum, both as an intellectual exercise and as a very real avenue to the study of primary religious texts in their own language. Examples of such languages available through the Modern Languages Department include Arabic, Aramaic, Chinese, Greek, Hebrew, Japanese, Latin, and Sanskrit.