Bachelor of Arts - Religious Studies

Program Description

Religious studies examines the various religious traditions of the world in their historical and contemporary contexts. It explores the many ways in which religion shapes culture and history, forms values, and authorizes human action. The study of religion deals with the deepest and most basic questions of human existence: the meaning and purpose of life, relations with a divine presence and power, interpersonal relations and ultimate human destiny.

Mount Allison’s religious studies program does not advocate or promote any particular religion. Instead, it adopts a scholarly and analytical approach to the study of religious traditions – as such, it is open to students from all backgrounds, secular and religious.

Courses in religious studies at Mount Allison are divided into three streams:

• Eastern traditions – Hinduism, Buddhism, East Asian religions
• Western traditions – Judaism, Christianity, Islam
• Religion and culture

In religious studies students will examine important texts, practices, cultural phenomena, and ideas, looking at them from the perspective of history, literature, philosophy, and culture.