Religious Studies
Understand the nature of religion and its significance for human culture.
The program is administered by a Joint Department of Religious Studies, comprised of each of the three departments of Religious Studies from the University of Sudbury, Huntington University and Thorneloe University, all situated on the Laurentian campus.
The Joint Department offers a broad overview of the discipline, while also providing those who wish to pursue more advanced studies with the necessary foundation.
The faculty are known for excellence in teaching and research.
Academic Advisor
Dr. Kornel Zathureczky
Telephone: 705-673-5661 X 152
Email: kzathureczky@usudbury.ca
Office: University of Sudbury / Université de Sudbury,
Senior Academic Department Secretary:
Suzanne Paquin
(705) 673-5661 x 315
The faculty for Religious Studies are drawn from the Religious Studies departments of the three Federated Universities : Thorneloe University, Huntington University, and University of Sudbury.
Relevant graduate study opportunities at Laurentian:
• Master of Arts in Humanities
Program Highlights:
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Three- or four-year programs lead to a Bachelor of Arts with concentration or specialization in Religious Studies.
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The program focuses on four main areas of study: Biblical Studies, World Religions, Western Religions, and Religion and Culture.
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Courses may include Christian thought, Buddhism, Indigenous tradition and culture, Eastern mysticism, the paranormal, bioethics, social issues, Western morality, Judaism, Hinduism, Apocalyptic and the Book of Revelation.
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Students who are not interested in completing a specialization in Religious Studies can decide to do a minor, or simply take elective courses in Religious Studies.
Ontario High School Applicants
1 grade 12 English U/M course
5 other grade 12 U/M courses
A minimum overall average of 70% in the 6 best grade 12 U/M courses
Additional information for applicants who have completed Advanced Placement courses.
Additional information for applicants who have completed the International Baccalaureate.
Applicants from outside an Ontario High School
Canadian High School Applicants from outside Ontario
For Current Students
The degree options listed below are for the upcoming academic year, not the current academic year. If you are a current student looking for which courses to take in order to complete your degree options from a previous academic year's curriculum, please consult with an academic advisor.
Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Religious Studies
Total 120 credits
Students must follow these regulations in order to meet graduation requirements for the BA or B.Sc.
Specialization in Religious Studies
All students entering a BA program as of September 2017 are required to take 6 credits each of linguistic awareness, scientific literacy and indigenous content as per the regulations.
Although the requirements have been slotted in first year in the description below, students may fulfill them at any time during their studies.
Eligible courses are available at the 1000, 2000, 3000 and 4000 levels and students should take them at the appropriate time in their studies.
Courses fulfilling these requirements may be taken as electives or as part of a minor, concentration, major or specialization.
First Year
6 credits from:
RLST 1005E What in the World is Religion?
RLST 1106E Religion for the New Generation I
RLST 1107E Religion for the New Generation II
RLST 1116E Ideas of Love I
RLST 1117E Ideas of Love II
6 elective credits of linguistic awareness (see regulations)
6 elective credits in the Sciences
6 elective credits in Indigenous content (starting 2017)
6 elective credits
Second and Third Years
6 RLST credits from three of the four areas (18 credits in all)
12 additional RLST credits at the 2000 or 3000 level*
30 elective credits
Fourth Year
12 RLST credits at the 4000 level
12 additional upper year RLST credits*
6 elective credits
* Students must complete at least 6 RLST credits at the 3000 level
Note: Students may not exceed 42 credits at the 1000 or 9100 level in their degree program.
Major in Religious Studies
6 credits from:
RLST 1005E What in the World is Religion?
RLST 1106E Religion for the New Generation I
RLST 1107E Religion for the New Generation II
RLST 1116E Ideas of Love I
RLST 1117E Ideas of Love II
6 RLST credits from three of the four areas (18 credits in all)
6 RLST credits at the 4000 level
12 additional upper year RLST credits
78 elective credits**
Note:
- Students may not exceed 42 credits at the 1000 or 9100 level in their degree program.
- In order to get a BA, students must include 6 credits in linguistic awareness, 6 credits of Indigenous content, and 6 credits in the Sciences if not part of the other minor or second major. Eligible courses are available at the 1000, 2000, 3000 and 4000 levels and students should take them at the appropriate time in their studies.
- Students must complete a minimum of a minor (24 credits) or a second major (42 credits) from among their elective credits.
Bachelor of Arts (General) in Religious Studies
Total 90 credits
Students must follow these regulations in order to meet graduation requirements for the BA or B.Sc.
Concentration in Religious Studies (ALSO OFFERED ONLINE)
All students entering a BA program as of September 2017 are required to take 6 credits each of linguistic awareness, scientific literacy and indigenous content as per the regulations.
Although the requirements have been slotted in first year in the description below, students may fulfill them at any time during their studies.
Eligible courses are available at the 1000, 2000, 3000 and 4000 levels and students should take them at the appropriate time in their studies.
Courses fulfilling these requirements may be taken as electives or as part of a minor, concentration, major or specialization.
First Year
6 credits from:
RLST 1005E What in the World is Religion?
RLST 1106E Religion for the New Generation I
RLST 1107E Religion for the New Generation II
RLST 1116E Ideas of Love I
RLST 1117E Ideas of Love II
6 elective credits of linguistic awareness (see regulations)
6 elective credits in the Sciences
6 elective credits in Indigenous content (starting 2017)
6 elective credits
Upper Years
6 RLST credits from three of the four areas (18 credits in all)
12 additional RLST credits at the 2000 or 3000 level
30 elective credits
Note: Students may not exceed 42 credits at the 1000 or 9100 level in their degree program.
Minor in Religious Studies (ALSO OFFERED ONLINE)
6 credits from:
RLST 1005E What in the World is Religion?
RLST 1106E Religion for the New Generation I
RLST 1107E Religion for the New Generation II
RLST 1116E Ideas of Love I
RLST 1117E Ideas of Love II
6 RLST credits at the 3000 level
12 additional upper year RLST credits
Minor in Islamic Studies
6 credits from:
RLST 1005E What in the World Is Religion?
RLST 2205E The World’s Living Religions
All 12 credits from:
RLST 2256E Islam: Origins and Development
RLST 3257E Islam in the Modern World
RLST 3146E The Qur'an
RLST 2707E The Life of Muhammed
3 credits from:
RLST 3706E Islamic Philosophy and Theology
RLST 3707E Islamic Law
3 credits from:
RLST 2706E Islamic Spirituality
RLST 2701E Islam in India
RLST 2702E Islamic Art
Minor in Asian Studies
6 credits from:
RLST 2256E Islam: Origins and Development
RLST 2276E Indian Buddhism
RLST 2286E Chinese Religions
RLST 2176E Hinduism: Origins and Development
6 credits from:
RLST 3257E Islam in the Modern World
RLST 3277E Modern Hinduism
RLST 3476E Global Buddhism
6 credits from:
RLST 2226E Sacred Texts of the Religions of the East
RLST 2266E Death and Immortality in the Religions of the East
RLST 2277E East Asian Buddhism
RLST 2701E Islam in India
RLST 2702E Islamic Art
RLST 3505E Intermediate Sanskrit
6 credits from:
ARBC 1005E Introductory Arabic
CHIN 1005N Introductory Chinese
RLST 2505E Introductory Sanskrit
Study Areas in Religious Studies
Area 1 - Biblical Studies
All courses in this area feature biblical and related ancient literature as the primary focus of study.
RLST 2105E Event and Meaning in the Bible
RLST 2106E The Bible in Context: Ancient Israel
RLST 2107E The Bible in Context: Christian Origins
RLST 2146E The Bible, Society and Politics
RLST 2186E Jesus in Historical Context
RLST 2187E Jesus in Literary Context
RLST 2196E The Fourth Gospel
RLST 3126E The Prophets of Israel
RLST 3127E The Pauline Letters
RLST 3136E Wisdom Literature
RLST 3137E Apocalyptic Literature and the Book of Revelation
RLST 3156E Exploring the Dead Sea Scrolls
RLST 3157E Secret Gospels: The Hidden Life and Teachings of Jesus
RLST 3166E Mark's Gospel
RLST 4116E Biblical Studies I: Reading the Text
RLST 4117E Biblical Studies II: Interpretive Methods
Area 2 - Western Religions
These courses focus on religious themes or traditions that been highly influential in shaping “western” intellectual traditions and institutions.
RLST 2115E The Development of Western Morality
RLST 2136E Christian Thought and Culture I
RLST 2137E Christian Thought and Culture II
RLST 2166E Evil and Sin: Perceptions of Reality
RLST 2167E Constructions of the Human Good
RLST 2227E Sacred Texts of the Religions of the West
RLST 2256E Islam: Origins and Development
RLST 2267E Death and Immortality in the Religions of the West
RLST 2297E Western Mysticism
RLST 2446E Dynamics of Interpersonal Communication, Part I
RLST 2447E Dynamics of Interpersonal Communication, Part II
RLST 2706E Islamic Spirituality
RLST 3106E Varieties of Early Christianity
RLST 3107E The Church and the Modern World
RLST 3176E Gender and Family in Early Christianity
RLST 3177E Christianity and the Celtic Experience
RLST 3196E The Human Prospect: Technology and the Individual Experience
RLST 3197E Technology and Social Experience
RLST 3235E Judaism
RLST 3286E C.S. Lewis and the Imagination
RLST 4135E Readings in Western Religions
Area 3 - World Religions
Courses in this area focus either on a single world religion, the comparative study of world religions, or on a theme studied comparatively across a spectrum of world religions.
RLST 2205E The World's Living Religions
RLST 2216E Religion and Violence
RLST 2226E Sacred Texts of the Religions of the East
RLST 2236E The Spiritual Life: Institutions and Practices
RLST 2237E The Chronicles of Narnia
RLST 2245E Women, Religion and Spirituality
RLST 2266E Death and Immortality in the Religions of the East
RLST 2276E Indian Buddhism
RLST 2277E East Asian Buddhism
RLST 2286E Chinese Religions
RLST 2296E Religion and Ecology
RLST 2296E Religion and Ecology
RLST 2395E Women, Religion & Spirituality
RLST 2702E Islamic Art
RLST 2707E The Life of Muhammad
RLST 3146E The Qur'an
RLST 3215E Religions and the Arts
RLST 3245E Health, Healing & Spirituality
RLST 2176E Hinduism: Origins and Development
RLST 3277E Hinduism: Modern Interpreters and Modern Movements
RLST 3315E Life Journeys: Transitions, Rites of Passage and Spirituality
RLST 3396E Inter-Faith Dialogue: The History
RLST 3397E Inter-Faith Dialogue: Present Day Issues and Methods
RLST 4225E Special Readings in Religions of the World
Area 4 - Religion and Culture
This area features courses that focus on the interactions between religion and culture, both historically and in the present day.
ENGL 2616E The Bible and Literature
RLST 3257E Islam in the Modern World
RLST 2285E North American Native People: Tradition and Culture
RLST 2316E Cults and New Religious Movements
RLST 2326E Dimensions of the Paranormal
RLST 2327E Jesus in Film
RLST 2336E Religious Themes in Literature I
RLST 2337E Religious Themes in Literature II
RLST 2345E Bioethics: Human Life Issues
RLST 2355E Leisure and the Spiritual Quest
RLST 2365E Religion in Film
RLST 2625E Childhood: A Religious Perspective
RLST 3131E Magic, Witccradf, and Divination in the Ancient Near East
RLST 3141E Spirituality & Sex
RLST 3306E Issues in Religion and Science
RLST 3316E Religion and the State in Canada
RLST 3326E Religion and the Elderly
RLST 3327E Ethical Issues for the Elderly
RLST 3336E Food, Ritual and Religion
RLST 3356E Sport as Spiritual Practice
RLST 3366E Religion and Future of Humanity
RLST 3386E Faith and Atheism
RLST 3615E Religion and the Person
RLST 3696E Religious and Ethical Perspectives on Mass Communication
RLST 4345E Special Readings in Religion and Culture
RLST 4365E Problems in the Study of Religion
List of Faculty Members
Alison Hood - Assistant Professor
Dr. Andrii Krawchuk - Full Professor
Dr. Jack Laughlin - Associate Professor
Dr. Jason Lepojärvi, Assistant Professor
Dr. Melchoir Mbonimpa - Professor
Dr. Mark Scott - Associate Professor
Dr. Kornel Zathureczky - Associate Professor
The program is administered by a Joint Department of Religious Studies, comprised of each of the three departments of Religious Studies from the University of Sudbury, Huntington University and Thorneloe University, all situated on the Laurentian campus. Faculty and sessionals will therefore come from these three universities.
To see the list of current sessionals from the University of Sudbury, click here.
To see the list of current sessionals from Huntington University, click here.
To see the list of current sessionals from Thorneloe University, click here.