Religion Student Profile
Alex Thompson
Pawnee, Illinois
For most students, the night before final exams is a stressful time. For Alex Thompson it's different. He stays relaxed and calm due to the annual prayer and worship service in Neu Chapel. "The midnight service is one of the best kept secrets on campus. The setting is beautiful and the experience helps me keep everything in focus."
When he first came to UE, Alex was nervous letting others know that he was majoring in both religion and archaeology. He thought most people would view religious studies as a waste of time. "Now I realize that studying religion encompasses a broad range of disciplines including linguistics, ancient history, and archaeology. It's practical as well since religion has an impact on politics, economics, art, literature, and most important, every human's pursuit to lead a meaningful life."
Spending the semester at Harlaxton College, UE's campus in Grantham, England, was a wonderful educational experience for Alex. "Study abroad allowed me to place my Christian faith within the context of history. I realized how deep the roots of this tradition go by visiting churches that are hundreds of years old as well as visiting the Aeropagus where Paul preached to the Athenians."
For those interested in majoring in religion at the University of Evansville, Alex shares that the professors care and want you to grow, so they challenge as well as question you. "The professors want you to know what you believe and why you believe it. This give and take allows for tremendous growth and maturity. The study of religion is an academic field that great minds have traveled for centuries. People like Martin Luther, Mahatma Gandhi, and John Wesley are testaments to the truth that studying religion can bring."
