Minor: Religion in the Modern World

Are you interested in religion and the way it influences our society, culture and politics? Would you like to know more about this phenomenon, which influences the daily lives of billions of people all over the world? Choose the Religion in the Modern World Minor at the Faculty of Religion, Culture and Society!

Religions are dynamic, continually subject to discussion, lead to conflicts and are internally contradictory. In short, religions are practised by concrete people in concrete societies. Through people, religions form part of our culture and our views of the world. So what is religion exactly?

In this Minor you will research primarily how religion is experienced. In other words, it will concentrate more on religious practices than on doctrines. The question ‘what do people do’ is central, not just the question ‘what do they believe’. The starting point is that religions are not isolated phenomena, but have to be studied in their historical and cultural contexts. When you follow this contextual approach, many preconceptions vanish – preconceptions that are the result of approaching ‘religion’ as an isolated object.

Key to this Minor are the approaches of socio-cultural anthropology and religious studies. We offer two kinds of courses that complement each other in each block: a) more theoretical modules that focus on particular approaches in the study of religion and b) courses introducing particular religious traditions. However, all courses combine theoretical questions with the discussion of particular cases. It will enable you to get acquainted with the general debates and the big questions in the study of religion and culture and to gain insights of particular religious life-worlds that you may hitherto have not yet explored.

At the end of the Minor you will be able to better understand one of the strongest driving forces in humanity.

After completing, this minor is also the perfect start for enrolment in one of the English taught Master's programmes of the Faculty of Religion, Culture and Society for further specialisation. When you have completed the minor, you have direct access to these MA's, without the need of taking a pre-master's programme first.

Courses and Study Scheme

Programme options

30 ECTS or 15 ECTS

Please note: select the correct academic year at the top of the page on the timetable website.

More information and contact

If you have any questions about the minor, please contact Prof. dr. Erin Wilson, coordinator of the minor Religion in the Modern World. And please visit the University of Groningen minor page for more information about the information events, registration procedure and frequently asked questions.

Are you a student from either another university or a university of applied sciences (hbo)?

Please contact the Study Advisor for more information.