Religion is a distinct area of study from Divinity, and focuses on explaining the origin and function of religion and not on evaluating the truth of the beliefs of religion. As such it considers practices as much as beliefs. Specialism include Theories of Religion and religions of the ancient world.
Click the tabs below for more information on what Aberdeen has to offer by way of research expertise and doctoral supervision, how to apply, and what students can expect when studying with us.
- Aspects of Religion in Aberdeen
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There is a wonderful opportunity to work with world leading experts in Religion. Expertise and supervision include the following research areas:
- Ancient religions and culture of Anatolia
- Greek religion and culture
- Religions and culture of the Roman Empire
- Theories of myth
- Theories of religion
- Ritual theory
- Death and hereafter in the ancient world
- Cosmos and creation: comparative studies
- Disability in the ancient world
Prospective students may also be interested in interdisciplinary possibilities alongside related specializations, including:
- Archaeology
- Biblical studies
- Religious Studies
- Comparative literature
- Reception
- Philosophy
- Staff
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We are interested in hearing from students wishing to undertake postgraduate level work in Religion at the doctoral level.
For initial discussion, Dr Sam Newington would be delighted to hear from you and discuss research interests and application support.
- Publications
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Divinity colleagues have a range of world leading research expertise. Further details concerning the department may be located here.
Further details about Dr. Newington's publications may be found here.
- Links and Resources
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Here are some useful links and resources:
- The Society for the Promotion of Hellenic Studies
- Society for the Promotion of Roman Studies
- British School at Athens: An institute for Advanced Research
- British School at Rome
- British Institute at Ankara
- Classical Association
- Classical Association of Scotland
- American Academy of Religion
- British Association for the Study of Religions
- Conferences and Workshops
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It is our absolute pleasure to invite you to the conference, Trauma, Tragedy and Redemption in the Ancient World and Modern Reception, held between the 6th–9th September 2026 at the Exedra Mediterranean Center in Ortigia, Siracusa. The conference will be an interdisciplinary endeavour, drawing from the academic expertise of a variety of fields and orientated around interrelated themes pertaining to the central consideration of how traumatic experience was articulated in antiquity. The conference will further aim to address how such representation has evolved through a wealth of classical reception.
We are currently inviting contributors for this international and interdisciplinary conference with submissions of abstracts of 300–500 words to be received by the 30th April 2026. We warmly welcome expressions of interest from, though not limited to, Classicists, Ancient Historians, Biblicists, Art Historians, Artists, Philosophers, Medical Practitioners, Historians and Archaeologists. The conference aims to be enriched by discussions drawing upon a wide range of themes, with examples as follows:
- Salvatory archetypes
- Warfare and conflict
- Visualising trauma
- Gender
- Tragic performances
- Myth: the tragic hero / heroine
- Athletic contests
- Ancient magic and expressions of empowerment
- Creation narratives
- Notions of the soul and what it means to be human
- Grief and bereavement
- Mystery religion and sensory experience
- Ancient medicine, trauma and salvation
- Theological explorations of sin and redemption
The conference proposes to explore the themes of tragedy, trauma and redemption in how they have been richly addressed throughout antiquity through the articulation of areas such as warfare, gender-based violence, marginalisation, philosophy and performance, and how these areas have been treated, adapted and appropriated in terms of various iterations over time and place. The conference focus is subsequently situated across the chronological stretch of the ancient world up to its modern reception.
Whilst we appreciate the broad nature of the above remit, this position of breadth has been assumed so as to draw constructively upon a range of academic interests and research in related fields, which may come together not only just for this conference but also provide valuable opportunity for future collaborations with other contributors.
We very much look forward to receiving your abstract submissions.
Sam Newington (s.newington@abdn.ac.uk)