Religious Studies: A Global View

fundamental human problems and possibilities. It is the introduction of

the scientific study of religion into the system of higher education in

Thailand, and is based on the belief that religion, like other human

experiences, can be studied, analyzed and criticized. The program is

intended to serve two important factors. In the first place, it would help

encourage and promote greater interest in the discipline of religious studies

that has the same relation to religion as sociology has to the structure and

dynamics of social life. Secondly, it would serve to acquaint students who

are preparing for particular professions such as law, teaching and medicine

with the insights and resources of the great religious traditions. The

contents [sic] of the courses are intended to enrich and broaden the

students’ knowledge concerning both their own beliefs and the faiths of

the others. It is also hoped that these contents [sic] would be of great value

to the students as they struggle to find the kind of purposes [sic] and

meanings in life and enable them to use their technical knowledge and

teaching in more creative & socially productive ways.

(www.sh.mahidol.ac.th/humanities/page5.htm)

This could well serve as a model persuasive argument for initiating and

establishing religious studies programs in other universities in the region. The

medium of instruction here is both Thai and English; the maximum time for

completion of the degree is five years, which requires a defense of the thesis

together with thirty modular credits from course work. A total of thirty-six

courses, both required and elective, have been formulated. Some examples

include ‘Comparative Religion 1’, ‘History of Religion 2’, ‘Psychology of

Buddhism’, ‘Christian Theology’, ‘Islamic Theology and Philosophy’, ‘Tibetan

Buddhism’, ‘Theravada and Mahayana Buddhism’, and ‘Islamic Mysticism:

Sufism’.

Finally, there is the National University of Singapore (NUS), which intro-

duced a minor in Religious Studies only in July 2005. At present, this new

program consists of six modules, is multidisciplinary in approach, studies

critically an important human phenomenon, and brings together scholars

in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences interested in the academic study of

religion. The formalization of this field is embedded in the recognition that

‘religious studies’ constitutes a legitimate and independent sphere of study in

leading universities around the world. As of now, students have to take only

two essential modules, ‘Introduction to World Religions’ and ‘Approaches to

the Study of Religion’, together with four others from a cluster of religion-

related modules taught in departments and programs across the faculty. The

purpose of the religious studies minor is phrased thus:

The Religious Studies minor prepares students to better understand

the role of religion in the world and to understand the similarities and

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ROWENA ROBINSON AND VINEETA SINHA