About the Centre for Studies in Religion and Theology
The Centre for Studies in Religion and Theology was established by the Faculty of Arts in 1991 in order to:
- advance interdisciplinary scholarship in the fields of religion and theology by drawing on existing strengths in the faculty anduniversity;
- provide coherent undergraduate programs of study in religious studies, within the limited resources of the centre by coordinating existing faculty resources;
- provide graduate courses and opportunities to pursue higher degrees by research in the area of religious studies and theology by offering a range of postgraduate subjects, coordinating individual graduate supervision, and calling attention to relevant subjects offered within faculty;
- promote interdisciplinary research, interchange and collaboration focused on religion and theology among staff at Monash and in the wider community through seminars, conferences and papers. One of the means of pursuing this objective involves on-going discussions with the major providers of theological education in Melbourne.
Educational objectives
Students normally begin their minor and major sequences with introductory studies in Judaism and Christianity. Students who successfully complete a minor or major sequence in religion and theology will have:
- been introduced to the major world religions and to several perspectives through which religious variation and change are understood including the disciplines of history, sociology, philosophy, cultural studies and literature;
- developed advanced understanding of the place of religion in their own society and in other societies, explored in detail one or more religions at particular points in history, and developed skills in dealing with the sacred literature and beliefs of several religions