RELIGION MAJORS at Reed explore religion as the ground

on which people have sought to answer profound and practical

questions about ultimate reality, legitimacy of power, purpose of

existence, and social identities and obligations. The curriculum is

intentionally interdisciplinary and cross-cultural to help students

empathetically understand and critically explain the dynamic

role religions have in shaping identities, economies, politics, built

spaces, laws, culture, and public health. It introduces students to

the various religious traditions of the world—Judaism, Christianity,

Islam, Hinduism, and Buddhism, for example—and acquaints

them with a variety of social scientific, literary, philosophical, and

historical methodologies used to study religion.

By examining various religions globally, relationally, and in

terms of their plurality of lived expressions, the discipline of

religion works to develop analytical concepts and cross-cultural

methodologies for exploring the diverse ways humans have

understood their worlds and explained themselves through

gods, prayers, devotional objects, divinations, acts of worship,

scriptures, images, and storytelling.

Religion majors are well-prepared for advanced study in the

field, as well as for study in fields reliant on sharp, critical

thinking, cultural and religious literacy, and problem solving,

such as law, medicine, public health, politics, and foreign

service. Many religion majors also go on to successful careers

in law, business, ministry, and social work.

“Through the religion

department, I have

learned to employ an

interdisciplinary and

self-reflective approach,

not only in my studies

but in how I engage with

the world around me.

Moreover, the department

has become a home for

me at Reed; it’s a tight-knit

community of supportive

and passionate scholars—

both professors and peers.”

NATALYA HILL ’22

reed.edu/religion

Learn more about

RELIGION

Pema McLaughlin ’16PHD STUDENT IN RELIGIOUS STUDIES NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY

Pema’s reasons for majoring in religion are essential to the cultures and traditions of Reed: they were drawn to the rigor and generosity of the faculty, the community of committed students, and the high ethical stakes and theoretical challenges integral to the field. After studying Chinese and Tibetan languages and undertaking a summer research project on Islam in America, Pema wrote their senior thesis on how the category of religion has shaped Buddhism in the United States.

Pema’s time at Reed was also defined by serving as a peer tutor, working many late nights at the library circulation desk, living in a science fiction and fantasy theme dorm, and the richness of the trans and queer community on campus. Pema won a Rhodes Scholarship upon graduation, and went on to earn a masters degree in Buddhist Studies from the University of Oxford. They are currently a PhD student in Religious Studies at Northwestern University, with ongoing research interests in Buddhism in America and the ritual processes of internalizing Buddhist ethics in 19th and 20th century Tibet.

SELECT RECENT THESES

• “Sharing with Mortals: The Goddess Athena, Gender, and Power in 5th century Athenian Religion” by Maria Carpenter ’18

• “I and I: An Analysis of the Ritualized Use of Haile Selassie in Rastafari” by Ateha Bailly ’19

• “The Borders of Universalism: Islam and Public Discourse in France” by Chiara Boisserée ’19

• “Castles in the Sky: The Role of Architecture in Built Religious Space” by Castle Cordoba ’19

• “Religion, Land Use, and Zoning Laws: Islamic Institutions in Oregon” by Tehniyat Naveed ’19

• “Religious Foundations: Interfaith Organizations and Affordable Housing” by Delainey Myers ’20

• “A Light on the Margins: A Study in the Inter-religious Life of Shlomo Ibn Gabirol” by Tom Sullivan ’20

• “The Transnational Eco-Religiosity of Hayao Miyazaki” by Aleena Ortiz ’21

SELECT COURSES

• Ascesis in the Benedictine and Orthodox Monastic Tradition

• Buddhist Ethics

• South Asian Religious Nationalisms

• Christian Mysticism: Foundations

• Introduction to Shinto through Anime

• Islam in America

• Modern Jewish Thought

• Death and the Afterlife in East Asian Religions

• Religion and Media

• Semantics of Love in Sufism

• The Rise and Formation of Islam

• Theories and Methods in the Study of Religion

RELIGION

reed.edu/religion3203 SE Woodstock Blvd., Portland, OR 97202-8199

PhD Candidate Harvard University Briana Foley ’16

Architectural Historian & Cultural Resources Planner Page & Turnbull Hannah Simonson ’11

Information Architect Microsoft Dana Bublitz ’09

Pastor Faith Lutheran Church, Chico, CA Ben Colahan ’07

Vice Consul, US Department of State Monterrey, Mexico Geoff Finger-Thomas ’07

Staff Attorney Nevada Supreme Court Evan Brewer ’06

What do alumni do?