Phillips Exeter Academy
Phillips Exeter Academy
Phillips Exeter Academy
Phillips Exeter Academy

Religion, Ethics & Philosophy

Hebrew Bible / Old Testament
Religion, Ethics & Philosophy

“In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. . . .” So begins one of the most influential books in human history. From ancient times until the present, Jews, Christians and Muslims have grappled with the cosmic questions, universal...

The New Testament
Religion, Ethics & Philosophy

The New Testament, which has been called “the most widely read, quoted, debated, maligned, and believed book in Western civilization,” will be the focus of this course. We will read and explore the New Testament, study the life of Jesus, the...

Religious Traditions in America
Religion, Ethics & Philosophy

America has always been a mix of various peoples and faiths. This course examines the religious traditions that make up the American religious and cultural landscape, focusing on Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Buddhism and Hinduism. The distinctive ethos and...

Religion and Popular Culture
Religion, Ethics & Philosophy

Images, ideas, stereotypes and symbol systems of religion surround us in popular culture, whether in movies, television shows, sports, fashion, the internet, music or literature. From Disney to Harry Potter, “The Simpsons” to “House,...

Faith and Doubt
Religion, Ethics & Philosophy

This course invites students to an exploration through fiction and personal narrative of the depth and complexity of religious experience in its many forms from traditional belief through skepticism. The texts we will read range from some classics in this...

Islam
Religion, Ethics & Philosophy

Islam is the religion of over one billion people and has adherents across the world from Mecca to Brooklyn. Through readings in history, scripture, theology, law, and spirituality, as well as more contemporary memoir and artistic works, this course introduces...

Judaism
Religion, Ethics & Philosophy

This course focuses on the development of Judaism from the biblical period to the present, exploring the historical evolution of Jewish holidays, life-cycle rituals and Jewish law. Students will read materials from the Hebrew Bible, rabbinic writings such as...

Christianities
Religion, Ethics & Philosophy

What does it mean to be a Christian? Why are there so many different Christian groups (including Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Protestant and dozens more)? Is every group that calls itself Christian really Christian? This course will explore various...

Hinduism and Buddhism
Religion, Ethics & Philosophy

Hinduism and Buddhism are having a profound impact on 21st-century culture, through practices such as yoga and meditation; in the study of modern psychology; and in films, television and other contemporary media. This course will introduce students to the...

Social Ethics: Values in America
Religion, Ethics & Philosophy

Look at the front page of a daily newspaper, watch the news on television or check the crawl on your computer screen, and you will see people disagreeing about how to resolve some of our society’s more basic conflicts. In this course, students examine...