By Jeff B. Pool, Ph.D.
Eli Lilly Chair in Religion and Culture Professor of Religion
Chairperson, Department for Studies of Religions and Spirituality

Introduction

In this essay, I offer an answer to the following question: “Why should one study religions and spirituality or religious and spiritual phenomena?” Several important reasons recommend the neutral, non-religious, descriptive, or phenomenological academic exploration, examination, and analysis of religions, religious communities, or religious traditions, specifically, and human spirituality, more generally. Many scholars and numerous academic departments that dedicate themselves to this field of studies have identified the same or similar reasons and factors as well.1 Although the discussion that follows most certainly contains many if not most of the major reasons and factors that strongly encourage a neutral, non-religious, descriptive, or phenomenological academic exploration, examination, and analysis of religions and human spirituality, I do not claim to present an exhaustive list. I offer eighteen reasons, however, that strongly recommend studies of religions and spirituality or religious and spiritual phenomena.