Making the switch over to be a Religious Studies/Theology major was huge change for me; I was originally a biology and secondary education major. I was not happy nor could I see myself doing anything in the biology field, so I started looking into other majors/career options and Religious Studies/Theology kept popping into my mind as an option, even though I had never considered it before. So I decided to take a Religious Studies course during second semester at Loras and so I took the Jesus and the Gospels class to see what course work would be like in this major and absolutely loved it. Then this past summer I taught in a Catholic summer catechetical program called Totus Tuus which just affirmed my decision to major in Religious Studies/Theology.
I would ultimately like to teach theology or work for the Church one day in some capacity. I hope as a Religious Studies/Theology major to gain a deeper knowledge and understanding of not only Catholic theology, but a thorough understanding of other denominations’ and religions’ theology. I also hope to learn how to relate theology in an attainable and engaging way to other people. The classes I am currently taking are doing a great job of helping me not only understand Catholic views and theology but also many other views as well. One of the classes I am currently taking is Introduction to Religious Studies and Theology. This class in particular has been great for examining other religions and denominations and also being able to compare and contrast them. For example, we recently discussed the differences and similarities in how Thomas Aquinas and Martin Luther approach theological epistemology. It was very interesting to look at both of their approaches from a more objective viewpoint in this class, instead of just the “Catholic” perspective from which I grew up with. Another class that I am taking at the moment is called Wisdom of the Prophets. In this class we look at the Prophetic books of the Old Testament. One of the books we use to help supplement the readings to the Bible is written by a Jewish man called The Prophets, by Abraham Heschel. This class is fantastic to have because it gives me an understanding of how Judaism interprets the Old Testament and helps me to see the similarities and differences between how they understand the prophetic books and how Catholicism understands them. Then, in my Catholic Heritage course, I get a deeper knowledge and love for the beauty and Truth of the Catholic faith. We have done things that have increased my knowledge of both the rich history and tradition of the faith. We have read Saints’ reflections on the Eucharist and watched and experienced the beautiful tradition of a Tridentine Mass. Overall, I am very excited about being a Religious Studies/Theology major. I expect to continue to learn more about the Catholic faith as well as other faith traditions. I also hope get opportunities to teach others about the faith and continually be affirmed in my decision to switch majors.
