Introduction to Religious Studies

With the current influx of international transactions and media coverage regarding activities of different religions, people across the world have become more focused and keen on learning about religion and comparative religion. The exponential growth of students in this particular field alone can be determined by the increase of students in missionary schools, class room attendance of comparative religion classes in colleges and universities across the globe and the significant number of new channels that have come on air locally and internationally communicating to the masses their specific religious messages and teachings. The knowledge of religion has now become a mandatory practice. The international market requires people to be up to date regarding Islamic thinking of women, Jewish perspective regarding Israel and Christianity view of Armageddon.  

Theology Schools

Theology schools are practical solutions for students who are highly interested in being parted with religious studies in either one specific discipline or a simply interested in a comprehensive understanding of other religions. Though the term “theology” refers to a generic term regarding “the field of study and analysis that treats of God and of God's attributes and relations to the universe; study of divine things or religious truth; divinity”, it is typically used for Christian and Jewish institutions.

The Christian theology schools have been focused on not only imparting religious education but also providing the tools, experience and mindset for hundreds of students to graduate as pastors, chaplains, religious educators, deacons, assistant ministers, music leaders, spiritual healers, missionaries and even administrative staff of churches. There are hundreds of reputable Christian theology schools that have been adding to the religious fabric of society and have played their part in improving and expanding the religion as a whole.

Predominantly, theology schools cover an in-depth analysis of religion and its fundamental impact on life and people as a whole. Theology instruction covers the reasoning behind religion, spirituality, and God. Undertaking a Theology education gives students the opportunity to analyze rationally, argue and interpret the various religious beliefs found across the globe. It is imperative that the theology schools imbed the type of knowledge that can be convincing and enticing for non-religious believers.

One of the key benefits of the theology schools is that there is a plethora of education diplomas and certifications available to choose from. Each diploma or certification can range from a few weeks to several months. Specific and graduation level courses are also available. Certain theology schools offer associates, bachelors, masters and even doctor degrees. Moody Bible School in Chicago is one such organization that is supporting research in Christianity and its impact on society. For the students that do sign up for theology majors, the education and experience itself is fascinating and offers a broad field of study in that particular discipline. Serious students will relish the many opportunities to exchange religious ideas and theories with fellow students and lecturers. Not all the diplomas and certifications are recognized by the higher education boards or even with the specific affiliated churches and religious institutions. A good amount of diplomas and certificates are non-credited and will not be of any use for achieving and completing associate or other higher degrees.

Jewish theology schools are not as dispersed in the United States as compared to the Christian theology schools. The practical approach of the Jewish theology schools are on the same lines as the Christian theology schools in perspective of adding value to their religion and contributing to the expansion of the Jewish cultural heritage in the world. The theology schools of the Jewish community thrive in imparting Hebrew language and ensure that the students are well versed in the Jewish history and can easily narrate the occurances and happening belonging to the Jewish religion. Some of the most elite Jewish theology schools around the world even have a waiting list for students to enter the institution and become a part of the institution and its progress.

Jewish theology schools play an important part in generating funds and establishing buildings in jewish populated areas to become a central point for all jewish functions and spiritual gatherings.

Islamic Institutions

Islam on the other hand does not label its institutions as a theology school but references itself as educational institutions and uses the mosques and prayer buildings as a building block for imparting religious knowledge and fostering love among the religious community. The Islamic institutions have different degrees of excellence. Hundreds of religious institutions are open in United States alone that provide prayer space and Islamic school that imparts basic education courses as well as Islamic values. Other Islamic institutions offer diplomas and certifications in different arenas of the religion. The diplomas and certifications provide an opportunity for the students to learn about the different schools of thought available, doctrine principles, Sufism, saints and the principles of Islamic ideology.

For students interested in a degree in Islamic religion, one has to go and visit the western hemisphere and take admission in the thousands of universities and colleges available in the different Islamic countries of the world. Islamic universities and colleges exist in turkey, Pakistan, iran, iraq, sudan, kingdom of Saudi Arabia and other muslim countries. The key goal is providing an in-depth understanding of the religion in different perspective.
Clerical and Islamic teachers have to go to similar foundation courses from different Islamic schools to become preachers and religion specialists.

University and College Level Programs

Hundreds of universities and colleges are available that provide different courses of religion and comparative religion. University of Colorado, Syracuse University, Indiana State University and many others provide an extensive list of educational courses on different religions that are not only accredited but can be used for degrees not even related to religion alone. Different colleges and universities are giving the students the opportunities to choose their own religion and social classes. Other colleges have made comparative religion as mandatory classes and the syllabus is standard and does not go into the debating segments but provides at a high level the principles and the theologies that divide religion on social and emotional grounds.