The importance of religion in world affairs has become very clear over the past few years. The world is changing, and religious passion is at the heart of many of these changes. Tensions in the United States, Middle East, the Balkans, Africa, and Northern Ireland all have religion as a vital component, and religious understanding and dialogue will play a key role in the resolution of these conflicts. Government and business leaders are beginning to appreciate the importance of religious studies to understanding global affairs. College graduates with strong backgrounds in religious studies will be called upon to provide national and international leadership in the years ahead.

Religious Studies also contributes directly to personal development. The key questions of being human – Who am I? Why am I here? In what kind of world do I live? How am I to live in this world, and do I have any assistance/help to live that way? Where are things going? These are questions at the very center of religious studies.

Graduating with a Religious Studies major or minor is an excellent preparation for a wide variety of vocations. Many Religious Studies students move toward careers as pastors, religious educators, counselors, and journalists. Some undertake graduate studies in preparation for teaching religion at the high school, college, or seminary level. Religious Studies majors or minors have sometimes combined their study with other academic areas, such as English, Political Science, Education, Sociology, Psychology, Biology, and History.

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Religious Life at Franklin College

The Religious Life program seeks to:

• Promote the active engagement of the community and the world utilizing the religious values shared among the Franklin College community.
   
• Provide opportunities for students to express, investigate, and grow in their own religious faith.
   
• Encourage the members of the Franklin College community to learn about the religious beliefs of others.

Franklin College seeks to meet the diverse religious traditions present on campus through five main areas of emphasis: Education, Faith Development, Outreach and Service, Pastoral Presence, and Worship.

Religious Life Teams

• Faith Development
• Worship
• Education
• Outreach and Service

Pastoral Presence

The Religious Life program of Franklin College is overseen by the campus minister, Rev. David Mark Weatherspoon, an ordained Baptist minister. Weatherspoon completed his Bachelor of Arts at Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee, and he finished his Master of Divinity at McAfee School of Theology at Mercer University in Atlanta, Georgia. Before coming to Franklin, he completed his clinical pastoral education residency at Grady Hospital in Atlanta.

The Religious Life program of Franklin College seeks to provide a variety of opportunities to encourage spiritual development, dialogue, and growth opportunities for all students, faculty, and staff. Interfaith dialogues, Scriptural studies, and Mission opportunities are a few of the ways that the campus ministry of Franklin College seeks to engage its community.

Franklin College maintains a strong connection to its American Baptist tradition with involvement of area churches. However, other denominational backgrounds are an active part of the religious life of the campus. A Catholic Mass is offered at the chapel on the first Sunday evening of each month at 5:00 pm.

Currently, there are two religious organizations active on campus: Fellowship of Christian Athletes and Intervarsity. These two groups have merged to form FLOW—fellowship, learning, outreach, and worship. Together, FLOW has become very active on campus and in the local community.

Campus Ministries

There are two religious organizations active on campus: Fellowship of Christian Athletes and Intervarsity. These two groups have merged to form FLOW - fellowship, learning, outreach, and worship. Together, FLOW has become very active on campus and in the local community.

Internships

Recent internships in the field of religious studies have included:

• Johnson Co. Museum of History
• Youth Connections
• Wishard Hospital (Chaplaincy)
• Numerous churches in the area