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The University of Chicago Graham School offers courses exploring a wide array of religious texts, and also frequently features one-day sessions focused on a single topic. In either format, lifelong learners of any faith as well as those without religious beliefs have the space to talk openly about spiritual ideas and the cultural influence of religion.
Led by faculty members and instructors with expertise in religious studies, the curriculum delves into belief systems and the influence that faith-based ideas have on society, culture, art, and literature. Students may read about the gods of ancient mythology, accounts of Native American sacred practices, and the major texts of Christianity, Hinduism, Buddhism, Islam, Judaism, and other religions. Members of the Graham School learning community come to every class with open minds, ready to engage in discussion while maintaining a respectful atmosphere.
Spotlight Programs
Grow as a Thinker and Leader
Elevate your critical thinking and leadership through advanced study in the liberal arts.
All Religion Courses
Basic Program Year 1 Winter
Cynthia Rutz, Simon Friedland & 5 more
The End(s) of Humanity 2 – Radical Evil – Nuclear War
Amy Thomas Elder & Charles Elder
Religion from a Liberal Arts Perspective
In liberal arts religion courses, students read primary texts with a focus on analysis. Instructors provide a perspective on these works in their historical and cultural context, but the approach is humanistic, distinct from the experience of reading these works from within their religious traditions.
Courses draw on disciplines such as history, literary analysis, sociology, and psychology to fuel open, respectful discussions. Graham students examine the literary dimensions of sacred texts and gain a deeper understanding of how various religious traditions have inspired both remarkable achievements and conflicts.
Religion Instructors
Noah Chafets
Cyril O. Houle Chair of the Basic Program
Amy Thomas Elder
Claudia Traudt Distinguished Instructor in the Basic Program
Charles Elder
Basic Program Instructor
Simon Friedland
Basic Program Instructor
Richard Hoskins
Basic Program Instructor
Clare Pearson
Basic Program Instructor
Cynthia Rutz
Basic Program Instructor
Kendall Sharp
Basic Program Instructor
Jacqueline Victor
Basic Program Instructor
Rigorous inquiry is the spine of the University of Chicago […] You come to the table, without fear, without equivocation, with nothing but an earnest desire to ask the most important questions and learn about them in a truly Socratic way. You are on your way to finding the answers.
Shadi Bartsch-Zimmer Helen A. Regenstein Distinguished Service Professor of Classics
Frequently Asked Questions
Learn more about the Graham School’s religion offerings.
Are religion courses welcoming to people of any religious background?
In religion courses from the Graham School, we encourage open, respectful dialogue among people who come from any religious background or who have no religious affiliation. You should enter classes with an open mind about reading texts that come from multiple traditions with fellow students who are striving to understand a variety of belief systems. We explore religion from an intellectual perspective, not a faith perspective; students should come to class prepared to examine multiple perspectives and have their ideas challenged.
How can studying faith help you better understand the world?
Religion shapes the core beliefs, cultural identities, and life choices of people around the world. The number of Americans who identify as religious has been on the decline in the 21st century, but data from the Pew Research Center showed that 71% of the population were affiliated with a religion as of 2021. Since population growth is higher in very religious countries than in more secular nations, Pew projected that in 2050 the vast majority of the global population will align themselves with a faith, and six in 10 will identify as either Christian or Muslim.
UChicago has a reputation for academic rigor. Will I be able to meaningfully participate in the classroom discussions?
Yes. These non-credit courses are built for adults who have life experience and want to learn. Our instructors create an inclusive learning environment by encouraging all students to participate, regardless of their previous background in religious studies.
What’s it like to take a course in a Socratic seminar format?
You’ll attend each session prepared to engage in lively, respectful discussions about the assigned reading. With a small group of peers and your instructor, you’ll explore fundamental questions about religious texts and belief systems.
Are these offerings online or in person?
The Graham School offers both online and in-person class experiences. The description for each course specifies whether it will be offered online through Canvas or in person at the Gleacher Center in downtown Chicago.
Do I have to complete an application?
No application is required for the Basic Program and open enrollment courses. There is a required application for the Master of Liberal Arts.
Religion News
How Technology Shapes Ideas
How has information technology shaped the ideas of civilization over the last 2500 years? Watch our conversation with historian and Graham School instructor Fred Beuttler to explore how IT has impacted the philosophical and spiritual ideas in Western culture. Together, we revisit the struggle between the “Ancients” and the “Moderns,” and look at the relationship……