The study of Philosophy and Religion is vital to developing mature and independent values. It will help you to evaluate the conflicting claims of various groups and to build a solid foundation for your own reasoning and faith. At Bridgewater, the Department of Philosophy and Religion covers both academic disciplines because of the Department's faculty's training and because of the fact that the subjects have been closely related historically.

In philosophy, you'll learn about the history of Western thought. You'll study how the great classical and contemporary philosophers have addressed such questions as "What is real knowledge?" and "How should we conduct ourselves?" Philosophy is the study of the intellectual history of the globe (for example, Eastern traditions do not distinguish between "philosophy" and "religion"). The essential skill in philosophy is good argumentation. Learning to reason critically, have respect for evidence, and be able to express oneself well are major functions of all our courses.

Studying religion in Western culture begins with an understanding of history, the history of the peoples of God. For Western culture, you'll learn of the Christian church's ways of interpreting its Scriptures, of the Christian faith's attitudes toward the traditions that have shaped it, of the relationship of religion (including Judaism and Islam) to Western culture, and of the ideas of the most profound and influential contributors to religious thought. In addition, for world culture, you'll have the opportunity to learn of the history, nature, and dimension of the major religious traditions (including the indigenous religions of India, China, and Japan) that shape the lives and cultures of people worldwide.

Majoring in philosophy and religion is designed to appeal to students in several pre-professional programs. We require a minimum of ten courses in the Department with plenty of opportunity for elective courses in other departments or for a double major. We encourage students to take elective courses in the arts, humanities, social sciences, etc--depending on their special aptitudes or interests. This freedom to construct the major is distinctive and reflects the spirit of what a liberal arts education should be. It calls for students to examine who they are, how they hope to become fully educated persons, and to work closely with their advisors to tailor their study for maximum educational benefit.

You'll find that the special academic asset of the Philosophy and Religion Department is its faculty, viz. persons who are interested in helping students develop skills and commitments that will enable them to work and live effectively wherever they find lives of service. Please feel free to contact us with any questions or comments you might have.