The objectives of the religious studies major are best attained in the context of a liberal arts education. The curriculum helps students develop the capacity for scholarship and disciplined thought on the subject of religion. But more than this, our program encourages students to utilize the study of religion as a means for enriching their own quest for meaning, the consideration of values, and pondering the questions that have captivated religious people across the millennia. The program avoids dogmatism as well as unquestioning faith or belief. We approach this area of human inquiry with the same objectivity demanded elsewhere in the humanities. We require fairness with regard to evidence, respect for reasonable differences in points of view, and the avoidance of any attempts to proselytize.<br><br>The religious studies program at Humboldt places emphasis on understanding religion in tradition, both in the major traditions of the world (e.g., Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism), but also in important, but less well understood dimensions (e.g., Goddess worship and shamanism). Special emphasis is given to the study of sacred texts (e.g., Bible, Quran, Sutras). Focus is also provided for the consideration of comparative categories (e.g., mysticism and psychology) and popular culture.