• <a href="/live/image/gid/82/width/650/86495_Religious_Studies_main_image.jpg" class="lw_preview_image lw_disable_preview" tabindex="-1"><picture class="lw_image lw_image86495"> <source type="image/jpeg" media="(max-width: 500px)" srcset="/live/image/gid/82/width/500/height/479/crop/1/86495_Religious_Studies_main_image.rev.1607650766.jpg 1x, /live/image/scale/2x/gid/82/width/500/height/479/crop/1/86495_Religious_Studies_main_image.rev.1607650766.jpg 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/82/width/500/height/479/crop/1/86495_Religious_Studies_main_image.rev.1607650766.jpg 3x"/> <source type="image/jpeg" media="(min-width: 501px)" srcset="/live/image/gid/82/width/720/height/690/crop/1/86495_Religious_Studies_main_image.rev.1607650766.jpg 1x, /live/image/scale/2x/gid/82/width/720/height/690/crop/1/86495_Religious_Studies_main_image.rev.1607650766.jpg 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/82/width/720/height/690/crop/1/86495_Religious_Studies_main_image.rev.1607650766.jpg 3x"/> <img src="/live/image/gid/82/width/720/height/690/crop/1/86495_Religious_Studies_main_image.rev.1607650766.jpg" alt="Yes, the department hosts an annual cake-off competition! " width="720" height="690" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/82/width/720/height/690/crop/1/86495_Religious_Studies_main_image.rev.1607650766.jpg 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/82/width/720/height/690/crop/1/86495_Religious_Studies_main_image.rev.1607650766.jpg 3x" data-max-w="3200" data-max-h="3066" loading="lazy"/> </picture> </a><div class="hero-split_image_caption collapsable-caption"> Yes, the department hosts an annual cake-off competition! </div>

We offer students an opportunity to explore one of the most pervasive, complex, and easily misunderstood aspects of human societies: the study of religion is a lens onto human history and culture, social grouping and grappling, gender roles and relations, and human motivations for good, ill, and everything in between. Our curriculum immerses students in the details of beliefs and practices in many different religious traditions, in historical and current theories and methods for analyzing religion, and in the self-reflective project of exploring the very frames of reference we use to understand the world around us. Our rigorous and supportive faculty work closely with each student to hone their skills in careful and critical thinking, reading, writing, and speaking, and offer ample opportunities for faculty-guided original research into pressing historical and contemporary questions. Religious studies is necessarily an interdisciplinary venture, connecting students to the many intellectual streams of a liberal arts education and preparing them for a complicated—and highly religious—world beyond college.


  • Lewis & Clark has changed me in a lot of ways. I am passionate about what I am learning and the professors have made me a more inquisitive and curious person.

    Brett Wilson BA ’19
    Encinitas, California
    More about Brett
  • My involvement with LEAP and Mixed LC not only challenged my leadership abilities, but has also helped me grow as a student, as a mentor, and as an individual.

    Jennifer Anderson BA ’19
    Kailua Kona, Hawai‘i
    More about Jennifer

Past Events

April 21, 2023

Soka Gakkai From the Ground Up: A Look Within Japan’s Most Politically Influential Religion

A presentation by Levi McLaughlin of North Carolina State University.

April 11, 2023

“Dark Gods in the Age of Light” by Jason Ānanda Josephson Storm

Join us for an event featuring Jason Ānanda Josephson Storm of Williams College.

March 8, 2023

Holi Festival Celebration

Join the Office of Inclusion & Multicultural Engagement (IME), Office of Equity & Inclusion (OEI), Office of Spiritual Life as we celebrate the Holi festival!

Event details:
Date and time of event: Wednesday, March 8th from 4:00-5:30pm
Location: Great Plat Lawn
Who: Students, staff and faculty are welcome to attend!

More News and Events →