Why to Study Comparative Religion?

It is difficult not to notice the high relevance of the study of religion for understanding contemporary reality in light of the past. In spite of science and modernity, many people and a wide spectrum of cultures still define themselves in relation to the religious tradition they belong to. Religions define human values, the nature of reality, morality and the value of human behavior, "us" and "them", and much more.

Comparative Religion stands as an important intersection for many fields of knowledge. Religion is connected with philosophy, but no less to sociology and anthropology, as it provides the basis of a social structure. The most of literature, philosophy, poetry and art throughout history was created with religious goals and motivations. Religion is central to human identity and to the way people find their place in the world, so that religious studies are also intertwined with Psychology.

Therefore, studies in Comparative Religion are an excellent way to prepare oneself for a wide range of professional options, as the stories of the department's alumni demonstrate. Whether in economics or government positions, or in different free professions, the studies we provide place our students in a situation where it is easier for them to understand the human reality before them and to choose how to act accordingly. Many alumni of the department have also continued in academic studies in the best institutions in Israel and abroad, making the department a wonderful beginning for academic careers.

Why to study Comparative Religion with us?

The Department of Comparative Religion at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem is one of the best places in the world to delve into such matters. It offers a challenging, multidisciplinary and versatile study program that engages students in scholarly as well as public-political debates. The department is one of the oldest at Hebrew University, and yet has a young and up to-date staff that teaches in Hebrew, English and offers opportunities to study courses in Arabic.

Our program approaches religious traditions, ideas and practices as transcultural phenomena that are deeply engrained into, e.g. political, economic or cultural phenomena. It offers a rich introduction to the central religious traditions of the world and introduces to central theoretical concerns and concepts of the study of religion. This connects to an in-depth focus on a specific religious tradition, depending on the student's choice. Besides, students choose to delve into central themes and existential questions that are part of religious traditions, e. g. death, afterlife or justice, or study specific yet comparable religious practices such as praying, fasting or the function of images. Integral part of the program is the exploration of Jerusalem and the diverse religious communities in the country in excursions and study tours.

A Short History of the Department

The Department of Comparative Religion at the Hebrew University was founded in 1959 by Prof. Zvi Werblowsky and Prof. David Flusser as an advanced studies department in the Faculty of Humanities. For over fifty years advanced courses for second and third degrees were at the center of the department's teaching, together with a division for the Study of the History of Christianity for BA students. In 2008 a B.A. study program was opened in the department, which concentrates on the different branches of Comparative Religion: theoretical and comparative studies alongside possibilities of specializing in Judaism, Christianity, Islam and Asian Religions. Today, the Department of Comparative Religion at the Hebrew University is the only department in Israel which offers a wide and versatile study program in Comparative Religion for BA and MA students. Since its foundation the department has been blessed with distinguished teachers and researchers, amongst whom are Israel Prize winners and members of the National Academy of Sciences, such as David Shulman, Guy Stroumsa or Ronit Ricci.

What is the relation to other disciplines and departments?