Religious Studies

Finding light in dark times

Professors Deven Patel and Steven Weitzman in the School of Arts & Sciences discuss why Diwali and Hanukkah, both festivals of lights, can act as symbols of hope.

Michele W. Berger

The search for meaning

During the course Living Deliberately: Monks, Saints, and the Contemplative Life, taught by Justin McDaniel of the School of Arts & Sciences, students experiment with ascetic practices.

Kristina García

Faith in public life 

In a conversation sponsored by the School of Social Policy & Practice, Ben Jealous discussed religion’s potential to transform society with Charles ‘Chaz’ Howard and David Saperstein.

Kristina García



Media Contact


In the News


AP News

A court in China sentences a famed Uyghur scholar to life in prison, foundation says 

A former Penn lecturer specializing in the study of her people’s folklore and traditions has been sentenced to life in prison.

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CNBC

I lived like a monk for 48 hours, and it helped me break three of my worst habits—here’s how

Justin McDaniel of the School of Arts & Sciences explains the benefits of his class “Living Deliberately,” which requires students to observe a code of silence and abstain from using electronic communications.

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The Nation

Gospel of a new Christian left

Anthea Butler of the School of Arts & Sciences says that slaveholder Christianity was central to the postbellum mythology of the South, with the Klan a symbol of white Christian nationalism.

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The New York Times

Religious freedom arguments underpin wave of challenges to abortion bans

Marci Hamilton of the School of Arts & Sciences says that the Satanic Temple’s abortion-related lawsuits are helpful for countering the religious right with a faith whose rights are being violated.

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Politico.com

The sleeper legal strategy that could topple abortion bans

Marci Hamilton of the School of Arts & Sciences says that there’s a strong argument for religious exemptions from abortion bans because those bills were initially passed for religious reasons.

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CNBC

Ivy League professor of ultra-popular ‘monk class’: These three changes can make you more resilient than most

Justin McDaniel of the School of Arts & Sciences offers three suggestions to build emotional resilience and mindfulness.

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