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Bible and Religion
Fast Facts:
- Graduates represent a variety of Christian denominations and religious traditions.
- In the last 30 years, approximately two-thirds of the graduates of this program have attended graduate school in religion, pastoral ministry, history, law, social work, education or peace studies.
- About 30 percent of Bible and religion graduates from the last 15 years are currently serving in pastoral positions or church service programs.
- More Bethel Fast Facts…
The Bible and religion department offers general education courses, a major or minor in Bible and Religion, a minor in Peace, Justice and Conflict Studies, and a certificate in Youth Ministry. The major reflects faculty strengths in the study of Scripture, the emphasis on peace and justice in theology and ethics and the study of the rich traditions in Christian history.
One of the functions of religion is to enable people to make sense of their world and to place their life experience and understanding within a framework of ultimate meaning and significance. Bethel’s liberal arts education provides a solid foundation in the social and natural sciences and in the humanities, which enables students to make connections between these dimensions of life and religious questions and traditions. Students of religion are constantly studying ancient and contemporary texts, looking at the history of traditions, exploring doctrines and philosophy, discussing the ethical implications of social and medical issues and exploring the artistic and dramatic dimensions of religious themes.
As a student of Bethel’s Bible and religion department, you will acquire a broad introduction to the multiple fields of religious studies (biblical study, theology, ethics, world religions, philosophical background, peace studies, practical ministry) in an efficient major of 32 hours. There is also a high degree of choice within the major, so you can emphasize a particular interest (for example, world religions, ethics or Bible). A strength of Bethel’s Bible and religion program is its emphasis on peace, justice and conflict studies, as well as the Jerusalem Seminar travel course offered every other year.