Whether you have found a new way to define religion or prefer to explore a particular region, person, or ideology that has had a tremendous impact on religious thought and practice in the world, finding something new to say on such a deeply explored area of study is imperative. Religion has been written upon since the development of writing instruments and finding something that hasn’t been pondered on paper repeatedly is not easy, but it’s the first step to a successful religion thesis.
Some religion thesis topics include:
It is your task to look within the topic that you choose for your religion thesis and find that one area of interest that has not been exploited into irrelevancy. Perhaps it is a new person or development on the African religious front or a rarely noted aspect of Islamic culture that intrigues you. You want to find a balance, something which has been explored enough to give you some research to work with but not so much that your particular religion thesis question has already been answered.
Once you’ve chosen your topic and narrowed it down enough to create a strong religion thesis statement, check it out with your advisor. You don’t want to get involved with a topic only to find out that it doesn’t suit the needs of the department or their specified thesis expectations. Look over the interests of the faculty as well. Either listed on the website or in literature about the department, you may find a kindred spirit on the faculty and someone who may guide you toward resources that you may not have found alone.
When you’ve gotten your topic approved, it’s time to write a thorough proposal or prospectus. It should be between 3 and 5 pages long, depending on the department requirements. This is not to be dashed off in an hour. Take your time. Do your research. A really well done proposal can be used as a guide and an outline for the actual religion thesis writing.
Next, be sure that you understand the expectations and requirements of the religion thesis as stipulated by the department. Keep that next to you as you do your research. Be sure that you include enough sections to cover everything that they want.
When it’s time to research, fit it in between the other obligations of your life. In other words, don’t put it off or try to designate one day to get it all done. If you stop by the library and make copies of everything you read as you come across it every day for an hour or two in between classes and work, you will amass a great amount of research relatively painlessly within a month or two.
When it’s time for writing the religion thesis, however, your best work will be done in large chunks of time. Take off from work, turn off the phone, pull the shade and surround yourself with the research you’ve done as well as the proposal and department requirements. Write your first draft all the way through, section by section, before you show it to anyone. Before you know it, you’ll have a finished religion thesis and you’ll be well on your way to graduation.