Religious Studies and English Literature (MA)

Studying religion and literature prepares you to contribute to a society in which an understanding of texts of all kinds is crucially important. Students develop an understanding of the main phenomena of religion, such as belief systems, rituals, mythology, iconography and ethics, through a variety of methodologies as well as an understanding of the main genres and interpretive practices of English Literature. At the School of Divinity, the study of Religious Studies proceeds from a non-confessional perspective, based on the principle that religions influence most human endeavours for good or ill.

This programme is delivered together with the School of Literatures, Languages and Cultures.

• Religious Studies is an interdisciplinary field that studies a wide range of religious tradition, religious beliefs and practices and their relationships with the broader world.
• You will study the concepts and emotions which underpin religious belief and practice, and their function in culture and society, covering historical and contemporary material.
• English Literature introduces you to major texts and gives you the tools and critical skills to read works of literature written in English from around the world, understand and interpret them.
• You will gain the essential skills needed for the critical close reading of poetry, drama and prose, encounter different ideas about the nature and purpose of literary study using a range of methods to examine where religious ideas illuminate literature and where religion is mediated in texts.
• You will discover the links between religious questions and the production of literature. You can enhance your knowledge of specific religious traditions by taking language courses.
• You will not only acquire a profound knowledge of your subject but also gain a good understanding of research methodologies and develop a range of skills to prepare you for various employment opportunities and continued life-long learning.

The Religious Studies and English Literature MA programme has six main goals:

• To develop knowledge and understanding of the histories, practices and cultural expressions of religious traditions and literary traditions.
• To develop skills in collecting, analysing and interpreting a wide range of sources, including field studies, written texts, oral traditions and testimonies of adherents.
• To develop the ability to evaluate and critique work from a range of methods appropriate to Religious Studies and English Literature and also from adjacent disciplines such as Anthropology, Sociology, and Philosophy.
• To develop the ability to formulate research questions and develop arguments which represent different attitudes and positions fairly.
• To develop the ability to engage with views different from their own and to express ideas and arguments clearly, both orally, in writing and using electronic media.
• To develop the ability to prepare written texts for a range of audiences – peer, semi-formal, academic, and popular; skills in working with others with various backgrounds and knowledge.