Pitzer College Adds Secular Studies Program As Part Of Growing Trend

[SecularMotion]

(RNS) Almost every major college and university offers a degree in religious studies. But secularism? Nary a one -- until now.

Starting this fall, Pitzer College, a small liberal arts school in Southern California, will offer a bachelor's degree in secular studies. The degree is the first of its kind in the United States, according to the Institute for the Study of Secularism in Society and Culture at Trinity College.

Though the program is a first, it may not stand alone for long. Scholars say there is a growing interest in secularism -- the rejection of religion in public, and sometimes private, life -- both in the U.S. and around the world.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/08/04/pitzer-college-secular-studies_n_918948.html

[trotsky]

1. I would disagree that secularism is the "rejection" of religion.

It's more like refusing to promote one religious stance over another.

[Humanist_Activist]

2. OK, honestly, I don't get it, Secular Studies, don't we already have that?

My physics textbook doesn't reference any religions, its secular by default, so are many other things, unlike Religious studies, which do deal with religions, secularism covers everything else outside of religion.

[darkstar3]

3. I tend to agree with you.

[cleanhippie]

4. I would think that ANY subject that is not religious in nature would qualify as "secular."