Religions make crucial contributions to the human worlds in which we live. They affect our pasts and presents, ideas and convictions, emotions and desires, actions and values, associations and antagonisms, artistic, literary, and musical creations. Courses in religious studies aim to provide students with knowledge and skills that will enable them to understand religions and their contributions, both positive and negative, and so to live intelligently and humanely. They do not presume any religious commitment on the part of the student, nor do they endorse, promote, or condemn any particular religion, set of religions, or religion in general. Instead, they examine religions as subjects of academic inquiry, and they use a variety of methods to do so, humanistic, social scientific, at times even natural scientific.

Some courses in Religious Studies may help students develop a better and more critical understanding of their own traditions or of
traditions they encounter, whether those traditions are Jewish, Buddhist, Christian, or something else. Other courses invite students to engage critically and creatively with religious worlds of thought and various modes of ethical reflection. Many courses address a number of different religious traditions. Students may find these courses helpful in broadening their perspectives not only on religion but also on the world. Indeed, some students choose a major or minor in Religious Studies to broaden or globalize their primary major.

The Baltimore-Washington area is home to a particularly rich variety of religions. In addition to sponsoring films, speakers, and other cultural events on campus, the Department regularly supplements course work with visits to religious institutions in the area.