Undergraduate Concentrations
The Department of Religious Studies offers concentrations in Religion and Nonprofit Leadership and Religion, Race, & Ethnicity.
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.
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.
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 2023 winner is Steven Trotter, an alumni from the class of 1976.
Religious Studies in the News
- Michael Naparstek Published in ‘The Conversation’
How sacred images in many Asian cultures incorporate divine presence and make them come ‘alive’ A gilded statue of the Buddha at Wat Phanan Choeng Temple in Thailand. Kittipong Chararoj/ iStock… Read more: Michael Naparstek Published in ‘The Conversation’ - Megan Bryson Published in The Conversation
Happy birthday, Buddha! Why the founder of Buddhism has so many different birthdays around the world Megan Bryson, University of Tennessee When Siddhartha Gautama was born, he was clearly no ordinary… Read more: Megan Bryson Published in <em>The Conversation</em> - Shepardson on Turkey’s historic city of Antakya
Turkey’s historic city of Antakya, known in Roman and medieval times as Antioch, has been flattened by powerful earthquakes in the past – and rebuilt itself Christine Shepardson, University of Tennessee… Read more: Shepardson on Turkey’s historic city of Antakya
Upcoming Events
Podcasts
- The Atrocity of Hunger
- Interview with Melissa Wilcox on Queer Religiosities
- Spirit Guide: African Islam, Social Justice, and the Rub of Modernity
- Spirit Guide: Tracy Pintchman on the Goddess Without Boundaries
- Kline Interview with Adam Kotsko: What is Political Theology
- Interview with Marla Frederick on Religion, Race, and Education