Why I Became a Religion Major 

I did not choose to be a religion major; religion grasped me. Through classes at PLU, I became acquainted with Lutheran theology, especially [the theology of] Paul Tillich.

I am interested in how and why religious views develop the way they do. Although I would not consider myself religious, the existential questions I have encountered in the PLU religion department are questions I consider not only academically, but also personally.

Now that I have, and am still learning, to consider questions of meaning and purpose in the classroom, I cannot go back to ignoring them outside of my classes. I intend to continue my study of religion in graduate school and eventually return to the classroom as a professor of religion. -Nicolette Paso

I reluctantly registered to take a Religion course in my first semester at PLU in order to get it out of the way. The course turned out to be the best decision I’ve made in my academic life … The course opened my eyes to the possibility of discussing religion not only in a critical way, but in constructive and redemptive ways as well. I now find that one of the most evocative aspects of the study of Religion is this: the religious motives which inform political action thereby shaping a cultural epoch. This simple and yet complex subject is one that can be studied from countless historic angles that all point directly toward the present. -Sam Porter

Since taking my first religion class, I have encountered many ideas and questions I had never considered in my studies of religion before. I tended to take things at face value and not ask questions, but doing that misses what is one of the best things about studying religion. One thing I have learned is this: there is no clear, straight-forward answer; asking questions is the only way to study religion. -Emily Nolte