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DEPARTMENT OF

RELIGIOUS STUDIES

The Department of Religious Studies at UT promotes the critical and comparative study of religion, and does not favor one religious tradition at the expense of others. Drawing upon a range of perspectives – historical, anthropological, textual, and theoretical – the Department highlights both the variety and complexity of religious beliefs, practices, communities, and institutions. The faculty’s expertise is wide-ranging. Their research and teaching interests span religious traditions such as Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, and indigenous traditions; geographic regions such as the Americas, Africa, the Ancient Mediterranean, and Asia; and thematic topics such as the relationship of religion to politics, gender, violence, sports, media, and the arts.

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Undergraduate Concentrations

The Department of Religious Studies offers concentrations in Religion and Nonprofit Leadership and Religion, Race, & Ethnicity.

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Faculty & Research

The faculty and students of the Department of Religious Studies at University of Tennessee, Knoxville engage is a wide range of research. We specialize not just in a diversity of geographical areas and historical religious traditions, but also a variety methods and approaches.

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Events & Programs

The faculty and students of the Department of Religious Studies at University of Tennessee, Knoxville engage is a wide range of research. We specialize not just in a diversity of geographical areas and historical religious traditions, but also a variety methods and approaches.

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Charles H. Reynolds Distinguished Alumnus/a Award

Charles H. Reynolds served as department head from 1980 – 2001. In the wake of his passing on January 25, 2017 [TN Today | Knoxville News-Sentinel] the Department decided to create an award in his honor. Because he stayed connected to many of his former students, we decided to honor a distinguished alumnus or alumna each year. The award is handed out at the Graduation and Awards Ceremony in the spring.

Our 2024 winner is Rev. Larry J. Sykes, Jr., an alumni from the class of 2009.

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Religious Studies in the News

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  Michael Naparstek in ‘The Conversation’: A video game based on the Chinese novel ‘Journey to the West’ is the most recent example of innovative retelling of this popular storySeptember 23, 2024
  Gaming enthusiasts at the 2023 Gamescom gaming fair on Aug. 23, 2023, in Cologne, Germany. Sascha Schuermann/Getty Images Michael Naparstek, University of Tennessee The recent launch of the video game… Read more: Michael Naparstek in ‘The Conversation’: A video game based on the Chinese novel ‘Journey to the West’ is the most recent example of innovative retelling of this popular story
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  Rev. Larry Sykes Jr. Named Religious Studies Distinguished AlumnusSeptember 18, 2024
  The Reverend Larry Sykes Jr. (’09) has become an honored church and social justice leader in Kentucky, and in spring 2024 the Department of Religious Studies recognized him with the Charles H. Reynolds Distinguished Alumnus Award.
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  Dual Major in Classics, Religious Studies Creates Multifaceted EducationSeptember 18, 2024
  When Evan Shannon was in middle school, two social studies units made a lasting impression: religion and the ancient world. This spring he’s on track to graduate from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, with dual bachelor’s degrees in religious studies and classics, with a concentration in Greek.

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