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September
19, 2005 
VOL.
43, NO. 16Oakland,
CA
Religion majors increase among college students
The American
Academy of Religion reports that the number of religion majors among college
students increased 26 percent from 1996 through 2000, and that total enrollment
in religion classes rose 15 percent.
At Rutgers’ University, for example, there are more than 35 religion
majors in the Class of 2006. That class is expected to have the largest
number of religion majors in the religion department’s history,
three times more than it did a decade ago.
An updated national survey is due next year, and anecdotal evidence suggests
it will show more large increases, said Kyle Cole, president of the academy.
Professors cite three main reasons for the increases: 9/11 spurred many
students to learn about Islam and their own religions; recent immigration
has made Americans more curious about their new neighbors’ faiths;
and Christian evangelical students seem more comfortable studying religion
on campus.
“Since 9/11, it’s been very obvious that religion is a big
player in the world and national events,” Cole said. “The
more people understand religion, the better off our society and culture
will be.”
