Why Studying Religion Matters in a Pluralistic Context
This brief primer explains why Christian students should study religion, how they should go about it, and why it is important in our contemporary, pluralistic context. Senior religion scholar Terry Muck introduces the discipline and explains how it can be approached by Christian students. He explores the contemporary significance of studying religion in a complex, multicultural world and concludes by addressing the skills students must bring to the study of religion in the twenty-first century. Written in accessible prose suitable for undergraduates, this introduction can be used to supplement any standard religion textbook.
Terry Muck (PhD, Northwestern University) is interim executive director of the Louisville Institute, a Lilly Endowment-funded program based at Louisville Seminary supporting those who lead and study American religious institutions. He formerly served as dean of the E. Stanley Jones School of World Mission and Evangelism at Asbury Theological Seminary. He is the author of nine books, including Ministry and Theology in Global Perspective: Contemporary Challenges for the Church.