This program guides students to develop skills in analytic thought and expertise in one of the following disciplines: philosophy of religion, systematic theology, comparative religious thought, and religious ethics. Specialized research programs within this track include: (i) historical study of religious thought in one of these disciplines, (ii) constructive development of interpretations of religious subject matters within the domain of religious ideas, and (iii) the interdisciplinary study of religious thought in relation to cognate fields in the humanities, literary studies, fine arts, and social sciences.
Track Specific Admission Prerequisite:
Students entering the Religious Thought track should show transcript evidence of knowledge of the religious thought of at least two distinct traditions. Students should also demonstrate a strong background in one or more of the following areas: philosophy, theology, or ethics. Further background in the humanities, literary studies, fine arts, social sciences, or natural sciences is strongly encouraged, and required where relevant to a student’s proposed program of research.
Please note that this prerequisite is in addition to those outlined in the Admissions section of our website.
Affiliated Faculty
John Berthrong
David Eckel
Ray Hart
Diana Lobel
Bob Neville
Alan Olson
Mary Elizabeth Moore
Shelly Rambo
Bryan Stone
Kirk Wegter-McNelly
Wesley Wildman
Claire Wolfteich
Michael Zank
Track Specific Course Requirements:
Post-master's PhD students:
Students in the Religious Thought track are required to take Philosophical and
Theological Approaches to Religion (RN 797). Students in the Religious Thought track
are required to take Core Texts and Motifs of World
Religions (RN 723-724) or suitable alternatives in order to demonstrate broad religious
literacy.
Track Specific Language & Research Competence Requirements:
Post-master's PhD students:
Beyond two modern foreign languages, students in the Religious Thought track who are working with primary written sources in foreign
language(s) will need to demonstrate a thorough knowledge of grammar, syntax, and vocabulary in these language(s), at a level of expertise appropriate to the particular area of specialization. Normally, this expertise will be evaluated directly by Division faculty,
during the stage of Qualifying Examinations.
Track Specific Basic Stucture of Qualifying Examinations:
Post-master's PhD students:
Students will normally take four comprehensive
examinations. The first examination will cover the field of religious thought,
broadly speaking, including major themes in philosophy of religion, theology, and
religious ethics. The second exam will treat core literature and methodological
debates within the particular disciplinary tradition(s) in which each student is
specializing. The third exam will treat the literature related to each student’s
research specialty, testing both competence in a specialized area of research and
the ability to articulate the relevance of that specialized area to the broader
horizons of religious thought and religious and theological studies. For some
students a fourth exam will test the student’s competence in the primary source
language(s) most relevant for the chosen area of study. For other students the
fourth exam may serve as supplement to the second, as described above.
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