It is painful to watch as every person wears time on their wrist, counting down and wasting away the seconds in a world where we as humans have falsely created boundaries to meet our own political needs.
The striking thing about religion is it tears away those boundaries and screams, “Hey! There’s more to this world than a map!”
For anyone who pays attention to the news as much as I do, it is nearly impossible to avoid being sucked into debates about the religious and ethical perspectives of medicine, sex, violence, large and small-scale war, capital punishment, and every other issue that fiercely divides the public in both the United States and all over the world.
Human differences are what make us beautiful and what make us hate each other. The solid foundation of these differences is religion, and I want to bask in it.
I want to stay up late researching the world until my eyes physically can’t stay open anymore and sleep consumes me. I want to learn from the best and the worst of professors, to disagree and agree with strangers, and to not only explore the world but to completely understand exactly why I have to.
I can’t imagine any career where studying theology wouldn’t have immense value, considering it is the basis of our culture, ethics, and day to day lives (even if we don’t know it). Weather it’s public policy, working in nonprofit leadership, art, history, journalism, law, human rights, or social work, a degree in comparative religion is the way to go.
Across the globe, religion has fueled conflict and acts of terrorism. Sometimes these actions completely displace populations and destroy economies, and yet, religion is also a source of bringing many people together, creating hope for love and peace. It has laid the foundation for human rights, social justice, and international peace.
Stop asking what my back up plan is. We “arts and science” students know what we are doing, sometimes even more that business, engineering, or nursing students. Our interests are stronger and our passions are deeper than waking up every day to just any nine to five job. We are searching for an education and ultimately a career that will help us evolve as a people and think independently, not just make money.
The most beautiful things on earth can be as simple and hidden. I want to find those things, and with a degree in arts and sciences, I know I can.
