"For much of the twentieth century, most American intellectuals dreamed of a public square empty of religious actors and religious arguments... But then came the deluge: the election of Jimmy Carter, the Iranian Revolution, the rise of the Moral Majority, the Reagan Revolution, 9/11, and the faith-based presidential election of 2004.... Evidence of the public power of religion is overwhelming, particuarly in the United States."
- Stephen Prothero, Religious Literacy (2007)
The Department of Religious Studies at the University of Pennsylvania offers a wide range of courses,
undergraduate Majors and Minors, and a renowned PhD program. 
With particular
strengths in the study of Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, and the
African-American religious experience, it emphasizes historical and critical approaches, as well as interdisciplinary exploration
within and beyond Religious Studies.
Department of Religious Studies
201 Cohen Hall
249 S. 36th Street
Philadelphia, PA 19104-6304
Telephone: (215) 898-7425
Chair of the Department: Jamal J. Elias
Graduate Chair: Anthea Butler
Undergraduate Chair: Justin McDaniel
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