Religious Studies & Philosophy

In Religious Studies and Philosophy courses, Hill students consider the great questions of human life and meaning-making alongside the existential claims those questions make on world citizens today.

In interdisciplinary courses on topics like ethics and the problem of evil, world religions, epistemology and truth, and religion in art and literature, our students explore the inner and outer worlds of human experience through critical endeavors that are rigorous, thoughtful, humble, and curious.

As they study key texts and ideas from diverse religious and philosophical traditions, students become practiced and powerful critical readers, writers, and thinkers. They analyze and evaluate complex texts and arguments, they engage in sophisticated discussions and other collaborative endeavors, and they construct cogent written and oral arguments. These transferable skills serve our students well during their time at The Hill School, and they prepare them for continued success in college and beyond.

As an academic department, the Religious Studies and Philosophy Department has no connection with The Hill School’s Spiritual Life Program. Successful students in our courses may be highly devout or may possess no religious commitments at all.

For more information, please contact Dr. Matthew Rinkevich, Chair of the Religious Studies & Philosophy Department, at mrinkevich@thehill.org.

Advanced Topics in Religious Studies and Philosophy

After completing our one-course graduation requirement, many students choose to pursue additional coursework, especially by enrolling in Advanced Topics in Religious Studies and Philosophy. This seminar challenges students to build upon their foundational work in the department and to engage in rigorous college-level study.

Although Advanced Topics in Religious Studies and Philosophy is a yearlong course, each term focuses on a different topic and is taught by a different instructor. For example, students have recently investigated death, dying, and the afterlife with The Rev. Anne Confer Martens; monsters and monstrosity in religion and culture with Dr. Matthew Rinkevich; cults and new religious movements with Dr. David Shefferman; and modernist epistemology with Dr. Jason VonWachenfeldt.