Comparative Religion

Brian C. Wilson, Chair
Main Office: 2004 Moore Hall
Telephone: (269) 387-4367

Blain Auer
Stephen G. Covell
Jue Guo
Rudolf Siebert
Kevin Wanner

Religion courses are designed to give students (1) an understanding of the nature and role of religion in human societies, both past and present, both non-Western and Western, (2) a grasp of the various methods used by scholars to describe and explain religion, to assess achievements of these methods, and to develop new methods for increasing their knowledge of religious thought and practice, and (3) an opportunity for raising questions about the present and future significance of religious thought and practice.

Many courses in the department are approved for General Education, and students can extend their general education to include knowledge of religious thought and practice and to relate their knowledge of religion to their knowledge derived from other disciplines in the University.

The departmental major and minor are a good preparation for graduate study in religion and for a vocation associated with religion.

Recognizing the growing demand for graduates with cross-cultural experiences and second language abilities, the Department of Comparative Religion strongly encourages students majoring and minoring in Comparative Religion to participate in Western’s semester or year long study abroad program. Interested students should contact the chairperson of Comparative Religion and the Office of International Affairs as early as possible upon their arrival at Western Michigan University.

Baccalaureate Writing Requirement

Students who have chosen the Religion major will satisfy the Baccalaureate Writing Requirement by successfully completing REL 3000 Writing About Religion.