Introduction

Religion has always played a vital role in the shaping of societies, cultures, and politics. At Lancaster University we examine this role from a global perspective. As such, you will be introduced, not only to the study of religions from around the world, but also to major global issues that are impacting societies. For example, you will examine war, decolonisation, development, gender, sexuality, state and government, violence, peace, protest, and race.

You will learn to navigate the religious dimensions of these and other issues in a global context, including the Middle East, South Asia, Africa, Europe, and the United Kingdom. In addition to studying global religions such as Islam, Christianity, Buddhism and Hinduism, you will also be introduced to a range of new religions, indigenous traditions, and contemporary spiritualities. Moreover, these will be examined using a number of methods drawn from anthropology, sociology, philosophy, politics, and history.