Religion matters more than ever today, inspiring individuals both to make peace and to commit unspeakable violence. It transforms cultures and societies and is transformed by them. The Department of Religion at BU explores religion in its many manifestations, offering undergraduate students opportunities for broad-based study of religious traditions including Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism, and the religions of Africa, China, and Japan; related literatures; and theoretical and philosophical problems in the study of religion. The department’s Division of Religious & Theological Studies offers MA and PhD programs in twelve areas of specialization in three subject areas: Religious Texts and Traditions; Religion, Philosophy, and Ethics; and Religion, Culture, and Society.