Teaching Religion With Data

Abstract

The humanities in general and religious studies in particular are currently seeking new ways to address the learning needs of today’s students. This article discusses one approach whereby humanities students are taught the analysis of data using a variety of web based technology. Using the class we taught as our primary example we discuss the challenges and successes we had trying to bring data analytics to humanities/religious studies majors. In the end we show how humanities students can gain a new understanding of how to answer religious studies questions at the same time gaining skills valued in the contemporary marketplace.