Why religious diversity?

This blog is to be a window into a semester long study of religious diversity on Wofford College's campus and beyond. Before we dive into this study we'd like for you to know a little about ourselves and why we're doing it.

My name is Lindsey Lane and I will be typing in green. (hello Lindsey. From: Weath) I am a senior (scary!) biology major, religion minor at Wofford College. I am from metro-Atlanta, GA. I consider myself to be a Christian, though my views are somewhat contrary to those of typical "Bible belt" Christians. One of my favorite aspects of religious studies, and the reason I focused half of my studies at Wofford on religion, is that it ties everyone together (even if they don't want to admit it). Even someone who claims to have no beliefs, whether athiest or agnostic, still believes in nothing or chooses not to know. Just like biology, this is the language of everyone and it is something that we all have in common. I love to challenge things, expecially when people are very set in what they believe, so I play devil's advocate in every class where religion vs. biology is discussed. In the biology classroom, I bring the religious point of view to the table, and in the religion classroom, I bring the biology point of view. Needless to say, one department probably thinks I am an athiest, while the other thinks I am a religious fanatic! But I like it that way... All of that to say, that this semester, with my partner in crime, we will examine real life religious diversity; the diversity that no one thinks is really around us, but we are all a part of.


My name is Weatherly Meadors, blue obviously, and I am a junior biology major and religion minor. I am from Charleston, SC and love long walks on the beach, especially in the moonlight. Seriously though, I love the outdoors and spend as much time as possible on the water or hiking in the mountains. I have been interested in religion and the ways in which it affects people for some time now, since the mandatory religion classes we had to take each year at my Catholic high school. Upon coming to Wofford I took a new testament class my freshman year and found that I enjoyed looking at the Bible in that type of academic mindset. I took religions of the world the next semester and realized that I really didn't know anything about the major religions besides my own. The religion classes I have taken have enabled me to look at many things, including science, in a different light- when sitting in a genetics classroom I look at the topics not only as a scientist but also in terms of religion, God, and what it means for humanity. The opposite is also true in the religion classroom. This semester Lindsey and I wanted to take a class in which we could apply some of the things we have learned over the past few years and have a chance to go out into the community and talk with people about their beliefs. As this is often a touchy subject, this study is the perfect way to learn about faith with a slightly scientific approach. This study should be fun so keep reading to learn about diversity and all the adventures we will undoubtably have along the way! (We seem to attrach adventures of all kinds- usually the crazier the better!)

We wanted everyone to be as aware of what is going on as we are (which really is not that much but run with it...) so here is a brief description of what we will be doing throughout this semester. YOU are super lucky, because you get to read about it!! (GET EXCITED!)

After much conversation, turmoil, and debate, the Wofford Wonder Twins concluded that the courses offered in the Religion Department at Wofford College were sub par compared to what they could envision (except Dan of course). As a result, they met with the star religion professor known as “Dan”, and together they devised an amazing, extraordinary, groundbreaking, and quintessential study of religious diversity unlike anything done before. They knew that religious diversity existed, but to what extent?

Frequently, religious diversity is thought of in terms of official, organizational lines: Buddhism vs. Hinduism vs. Christianity, etc. Other times religious diversity is thought of in terms of the demographics of a particular religious group – for example, the racial diversity of a particular congregation. Rarely, however, is religious diversity considered from the perspective of individual, idiosyncratic conceptualizations of the divine or religious experience. The basic assumption of this independent study is that there is a myriad of ways that everyday people enact and experience religion, regardless of whether they have official religious affiliations or not.

This course is an independent study designed to explore the ways that religion is thought about and enacted by “normal,” everyday people who may or may not belong to different religions and/or denominations. We will start at Wofford College and will explore the contradictory and complementary ways that different Wofford students conceptualize religion. We will be asking generalized questions to various Wofford students – ones who attend religious services regularly, ones who do so infrequently, and ones who rarely do or do not at all. We will ask all of them about their central ideas about religion, about the divine, about religious practices and so forth. Based on what we find, and after receiving their permission, we will attend religious services with some of those with whom we have spoken. We will speak with other, non-Wofford people who attend those same services as well, asking them similar questions. We will explore with everyone their ideas about why they attend these services, what the worship experience consists of and what it accomplishes in their lives.

The basic goal of the project is to get a sense of the diverse ways that people think about religion. Because we will speak with people representing different religious traditions (Hindu, Jewish, Christian, etc), with people from different “denominations” within those traditions, and with those who are not religiously affiliated at all, we will have opportunity to compare ideas about the religious experience across a broad spectrum. All activities and discoveries will be recorded in this blog.

When Lindsey said "brief" discription, what she really meant was brief in terms of it not being research paper length. But thanks for sticking it out and reading it. I hope you will get to know each of us throughout this semester (being why we are writing in different colors)... I am the smart one. Or so you think... and we apologize in advance for all the times we will steal the computer from each other and do things like, well, this.

OH~ one more thing... you probably want to know what the general questions are for the interviews! (I knew you were on the edge of your seats!!) but remember... the questions are like the pirate's code... like guidelines matey! (Arrrr!!) (We like Pirates, esp. Capt. Jack... he's pretty much our bff)


What is your understanding of the religious experience?
What is your understanding about the divine?
What happens during religious worship?
What is the purpose of life?
What are your beliefs on the creation of the world?
Do you believe in the afterlife? If so, describe your beliefs.
How do you view the ideas of good and evil?
What are your views about proselytization?
Tell your version of the Gospel story. (for Christians only)
How much do you know about other world religions?

If anyone gets really into this and wants to know more, we've also listed the three books we will be reading under our profile section, along with our email address. Questions and comments are welcome!