Why Study Religion

Why Study Religion at UF?

Religion is arguably the most powerful and pervasive force in the world. Majoring in religious studies can help you understand the complex and sometimes volatile relationships between religion and politics, […]

Religion prof explains the backstory to The Overstory and its “dark green religion”

During an interview in the Los Angeles Review of Books, Richard Powers indicated that in The Overstory, his Pulitzer Prize-winning arboreal novel, there is a lot of what University of Florida […]

New Mellon-funded program led by UF Religion faculty, graduate students

The University of Florida (UF) Center for the Humanities and the Public Sphere launched its Intersections Research-Into-Teaching Grants earlier this year, made possible with $400,000 in funding from The Andrew […]

Student awards go to top performers

Each year the Department of Religion at the University of Florida awards the top undergraduate and graduate student performers in Religious Studies. The 2018 Russell Jaberg Award, which recognizes outstanding […]

Religion in the News: April 27, 2018

Religion news is a beat in its own right. At the same time, religion as a category is not independent or sui generis. It is implicated in politics, society, science, culture, and […]

Lies, Lies, and Other Religion News: April 20, 2018

Lies, lies, and other religious news. Religion news isn’t all bad. Nor is it all good. This week’s news tends to lean toward the more scandalous, investigative, and questionable side […]

Give us news from ALL the religions: April 13, 2018

Religion is a diverse object of study. Some people even argue that religion is not an object of study. At the very least, if there is a thing to the thing […]

A Televangelist Plot & The Americanization of Coptic Christianity: April 6, 2018

It’s not the sort of thing you hear everyday — the government was working with a televangelist to discredit Martin Luther King Jr. It maybe sounds a bit crazy… But […]

Satanic Ice Cream & Sanctuary Churches: March 30, 2018

The study of religion can take you anywhere. This week’s news goes to show it. Some Christians are boycotting what they see as “satanic ice cream.” Other Christians are shielding […]

Hipstering Religion…Hard: March 23, 2018

Hipster — a person who follows the latest trends and fashions, especially those regarded as being outside the cultural mainstream; can often be seen wearing alternative and ironic clothing, sipping […]

Scholars from U.S., Mexico, Discuss Religion and Power at Conference

The Religion Graduate Students hosted an incredible conference this past weekend that focused on the theme of Religion & Power. Scholars from across the U.S. — and Mexico — as […]

Religion and Power in the News: March 16, 2018

Religion and power. That’s the theme for our 3rd annual RGSA Conference this weekend at UF. It’s also the theme of religion and the news this week. From the way […]

Of Muslims, Octopuses, & Latin American Saints – Religion in the News: March 9, 2018

The canonization of Latin American Catholic hero Oscar Romero is a big deal and for those who study religions of Latin America (like we do!) it’s a significant moment to take note […]

Hope & Despair, Death & Life – Religion in the News: March 2, 2018

Hope and despair, death and life. Religion explores, navigates, and brings both to its practitioners, observers, and students. This week’s RELIGION IN THE NEWS testifies to the full range of […]

Religion in the News: February 23, 2018

The graduate program in the Department of Religion at the University of Florida (#UFReligion) is designed to prepare students for careers in academia, public service, non-governmental organizations, and various forms […]

Religion in the News: February 16, 2018

Religion unites. Religion divides. Religion takes part in peace. Religion plays a part in violence. Religion is neither wholly positive, despite the prognostications of some evangelists. Nor is religion wholly […]

Religion in the News: February 9, 2018

Religion news isn’t confined to the U.S. It’s a global phenomenon with impact in places across the continents. You’ll see that clearly in this week’s religion news round-up. You’ll also […]

Religion in the News: February 2, 2018

It no longer seems surprising that religion rears its head in politics — on both the right and the left — and especially in the United States. But you may […]

Religion in the News: January 26, 2018

Despite the overblown claims of some, religion is powerful and persistent, and it shows no signs of disappearing. It provokes heartfelt commitment, eloquent expression, forthright action, and intense debate. For […]

Religion in the News: January 12, 2018

New year, new stories…many centering on religion and many more with religion angles. Get ready, because we are kicking off this year’s “Religion in the News” post with a whole […]

Religion in the News: November 17, 2017

Remember that ole’ “secularization thesis?” You know the one, that idea that traditional religions would go by the wayside in the industrialised world? Well, anyone who still reckons that’s the case […]

Religious literacy, tolerance, and secondary outreach: an interview with Dr. Gayle Lasater Pagnoni

Dr. Gayle Lasater Pagnoni is the Program Director at the Boniuk Institute for Religious Tolerance at Rice University. She is also a Gator, with a doctorate from #UFReligion. Her background […]

Religion in the News: November 3, 2017

This week’s Religion in the News stories focus on the 500th Anniversary of the Protestant Reformation. Don’t know exactly what that is? Check out the stories below. We also have […]

Religion in the News: September 29, 2017

Religion has always been with us. And it isn’t going away. Throughout history, it has expressed the deepest questions human beings can ask, and it has taken a central place in […]

Religion in the News: September 22, 2017

Religion has always been with us. And it isn’t going away. Throughout history, it has expressed the deepest questions human beings can ask, and it has taken a central place in […]

Religion