Welcome to Religious Studies

Religion is expressed in many forms throughout the world and therefore the academic study of religion requires an interdisciplinary perspective. Students of religion should know the historical development of religious traditions, understand and critically engage the ethical and intellectual teachings of various religions, and comprehend the roles that religion plays in different cultures and societies. The Religious Studies Program is an interdisciplinary minor that enables students to explore the complex interplay of culture, society, historical traditions, and ideas.

Falling in Love With Nature: The Values of Latinx Catholic Environmentalism

On October 20, 2025, 4:00-5:15 PM, in GEAR 104, Amanda Baugh will speak about her recent research on Latinx Catholic Environmentalism. Baugh is Professor of Religious Studies and Director of MA Program in Sustainability at California State University, Northridge. Through a focus on Spanish-speaking Catholics, Amanda Baugh will shed light on environmental actors who have been hidden in plain sight. Drawing from ethnographic research conducted across Los Angeles, Baugh demonstrates that minority communities are not merely victims of environmental problems. Instead, many Spanish-speaking Catholics embrace what Baugh calls “la tierra environmentalism,” an embodied ethic of living lightly on the earth that is rooted in a sense of love and respect for God, fellow humans, and the rest of God’s creation. A focus on la tierra environmentalism challenges scholars and activists to rethink who can count as an environmental leader and what can count as environmentalism.

This event is co-sponsored by the programs in Religious Studies and Latin American & Latino Studies, and The Tyson Center for Faith-Friendly Workplaces in the Sam M. Walton College of Business.