In 2025, students complete their studies in the Religious Studies bachelor's program at a public Spanish university.
The Complutense University of Madrid, with its rich history steeped in theological and philosophical studies, has broken new ground by introducing Spain's first non-denominational Bachelor's Degree in Religious Studies. This innovative programme, four years in the making, is set to graduate its inaugural class this year.
The degree's coordinator, a scholar with a background in Philosophy, was proposed for the role by the dean of the Faculty of Philosophy. The management of the degree, however, is complex due to its interdisciplinary nature, involving 19 departments from various faculties.
To study this religious phenomenon, tools from different disciplines such as history, sociology, anthropology, psychology, and philosophy are employed. The coordinator's research and beliefs are separate entities, and the argument of contingency is a strong argument for the existence of God that the coordinator finds compelling.
The aim of Religious Studies is to analyze questions such as 'why do religions exist?', 'how does religion influence politics, the morals of a society, the worldview?', or 'how do religious beliefs evolve over time?'. The coordinator believes that studying Religious Studies is important for understanding the role of religion in society.
In Spain, there has never been a tradition of studying Religious Studies; Spanish history has wiped out anything other than Catholicism, and other religions are studied seriously in the Science of religions. However, the coordinator encourages both Christians and non-Christians to study Religious Studies for personal growth, understanding of religious traditions, and preparation for a globalized and pluralistic world.
Studies in Religious Studies do not lead directly to a job, but they provide competences and skills that are transversal and useful for various job opportunities such as trade issues, social services, public roles, religious tourism industry, mediator, cultural manager, management in town councils, civil servant, teacher, or researcher.
The coordinator advocates for the importance of academic dialogue with different worldviews, and there is a very important difference between Religious Studies and theology; Religious Studies seeks an understanding, as objectively as possible and from a comparative point of view, of religious traditions. The perception of Religious Studies has not significantly changed since the degree began four years ago.
The Complutense University of Madrid, founded in 1293 as *El Estudio de Escuelas Generales* in Alcalá de Henares, has a rich history rooted in theological and philosophical studies. By offering this groundbreaking degree, the university continues to uphold its tradition of academic excellence and commitment to philosophical and theological scholarship.
For detailed information on the current Religious Studies degree program, it would be best to consult the university's official website or contact their admissions office directly.
The scholar with a background in Philosophy, overseeing Spain's first non-denominational Bachelor's Degree in Religious Studies, believes that the program's interdisciplinary nature requires complex management, involving 19 departments from various faculties. This program aims to analyze questions related to education-and-self-development through learning, such as the evolution of religious beliefs, the role of religion in society, and understanding various religious traditions.
