Studies in Religion

The Studies in Religion (SiR) discipline seeks to explore how humans have ordered and made sense of their world from ancient times to the present with reference to religious and spiritual thought. Along with critically examining the past, our goal is to adopt a forward-looking, academic approach to understanding religions, belief systems as well as spiritualities, by relating them to contemporary issues. This involves exploring, from a secular perspective, how religious and spiritual issues continue to be at the centre of important modern debates about our place in the world and the shape of our futures. We provide excellent teaching, world-class research, and active community engagement. We offer a critical, multi-disciplinary approach to a range of religious traditions and spiritual experiences. We have a commitment to high-quality teaching through our courses and the supervision of students, enabling them to undertake independent research and immerse themselves in texts and sources relating to their area of interest.

Australia is one of the world’s most culturally diverse nations. Studies in Religion is an interdisciplinary academic field that reflects this diversity, drawing together the Humanities, Arts, and the Social Sciences (HASS) to analyse beliefs, religious practices and communities, along with their impacts on Australia and the wider world. Studies in Religion takes a secular approach to its subjects that draws upon methods from history, philosophy, anthropology, sociology, psychology, and textual studies in its research and in communicating the ongoing importance of religion, past, present, and future.

Studies in Religion provides students with crucial leadership skills to analyse, problem solve, and make informed judgements in diverse, complex, post-industrial modern societies.

Research

The scholars in the Studies in Religion group use qualitative, quantitative, textual, and integrative (correlating Christian theology and human scientific/philosophical work) methods in their research.

Our current major research projects consist of the following. First, there is exegetical work being conducted on ancient Sanskrit texts, especially the Mahābhārata and related works, along with analysis of their social, cultural, and political impact throughout the history of India. Others in the group take sociological and anthropological approaches to address issues such as persuasion strategies used by antagonists in the religion and science interaction, spirituality/religion and media persuasion in the anti-vaccination movement in Australia, and well-being and belonging among Muslims in Europe and Australia. Lastly, there is research being carried out on both ecclesial practices (e.g., worship and preaching, counselling) and public ones (healthcare, management of organisations) with the aim of improving these practices. A new initiative driven by the group, in collaboration with colleagues in History and Anthropology, is an investigation into the historical and contemporary diversity of religion in Queensland (the Queensland Atlas of Religion).

The research strengths in the group are Sanskrit textual study, the sociology and anthropology of religion, and practical theology.

Featured projects

  • Power II You: Freedom and Trust in Organizational Leadership

    July 2020
    Leadership studies have blossomed in recent decades. Many researchers take developments in science, economics, medicine, or politics as their guide when advancing theories in leadership. Others seek insights from great leaders of yesteryear, presidents and prime ministers, coaches, or titans of industry today. Some mine sacred scripture.
  • Vaccine Uptake Challenges and Mass Persuasion

    May 2020
    Tom Aechtner, Senior Lecturer in Studies in Religion, recently discussed vaccine uptake challenges among a panel of experts exploring: Precedents for the Unprecedented: COVID-19 Historical Perspectives. Tom Aechtner has recently published on book that examines why the religion-science skirmishes known as the Evolution Wars have persisted into the 21st century, considering the influences of mass media in relation to decision-making.

  • Associate Professor Adam Bowles

    Associate Professor in Asian Religions, Deputy Head of School, Director of Research and Studies in Religion Discipline Convenor
  • Dr Ryan Williams

    Senior Lecturer in Studies in Religion, Director of Teaching and Learning and Honours Advisor in Studies in Religion
  • Associate Professor Tom Aechtner

    Associate Professor in Religion and Science, Discipline Convenor for Studies in Religion
  • Dr James A.T. Lancaster

    Lecturer in Studies in Western Religious Traditions
    School of Historical and Philosophical Inquiry