Religious Scholarships
Diversity and Deep Belief Drive College Funding
Religion is a prominent part of society. Most individuals align themselves, even loosely, with a religious faith, denomination or church. And the major religions are arguably quite powerful, both politically and economically. Religion is the root of civilization’s greatest celebrations and its greatest wars.
Between Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Buddhism and Hinduism, a potpourri of scholarship opportunities provides funds for tomorrow’s church leaders, politicians, activists, academics, teachers, writers and artists. Religion inspires all people in all walks of life.
Religion has also inspired movements and belief systems unrelated to a god or system of prophets.
Preacher, Minister, Rabbinical Scholarships
Religious organizations are as committed to the education, development and recruitment of the next generation of "church" leaders as are secular organizations with leadership hierarchies. To these ends you will find that almost all faiths offer some sort of scholarship program. The shortage of Catholic priests may present itself in seminary scholarships. Judaism must have an ongoing pool of rabbinical leaders. Pentecostals prefer church leaders with charismatic "fire" and a flare for marketing and advertising, especially those pursuing televangelism.
General Theological Scholarships
General theological scholarships fall outside a particular church or belief. Religion is not exclusive to a priestly homily. Ancient and modern histories and comparative curriculums, in toto, deliver insight into civilization’s most perplexing questions. Academics, business leaders, politicians and many other individuals craft careers built on theological degrees. Denominational colleges and universities often provide theological scholarships for their religion majors, some targeted specifically to students with an eye for ministry. Secular colleges and universities with a strong religion and theological department may offer academic-based scholarships.
Religion of Non-Religion
Atheists and Agnostics are among a growing population of critical thinkers in support of their own scholarship, in the larger sense of the word. Wired magazine ran a cover story that underscored the movement. Non-religious sects are growing by leaps and bounds. More and more disenfranchised folks, even those mired in secularism, doubt what they consider to be increasingly medieval tenets.
Besides Atheists and Agnostics, other ancient movements include Wiccans and Pagans. These "earth children" subscribe to a more naturalist-inspired belief system. Regardless of the diversity of sects and potential for divergent traditions in this realm, Pagan and Wiccan students will still find modest scholarships.
