BYU Harold B. Lee Library

The Department of Theology and Philosophy of Religion was a religious department which served to educate students in principles, ideas, and teachings of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It was established in 1940 following the division of the earlier Department of Religious Education. In 1959 the college curriculum was reorganized and the department became part of two new departments, the Department of L.D.S. Theology, Church Organization and Administration and the Department of History and Philosophy of Religion. The following individuals served as chairmen or acting chairmen: James Wyley Sessions (1941-1948), Sidney B. Sperry (1948-1950), David H. Yarn (1951-1957), Chauncey C. Riddle (1957-1958), and Truman G. Madsen (1958-1959).

Variant names

Brigham Young University. Division of Religion. Dept. of Theology and Philosophy

Brigham Young University. Division of Religion. Dept. of Theology and Religious Philosophy

Description

Established: 1940

Abolished: 1959

Location: Provo, Utah (1940-1959)

Functions

This department helped the university to realize its goal of having students well versed in both secular and religious knowledge. Among those courses taught in the Dept. of Theology and Philosophy were Social and Religious Teachings of Jesus, Mormonism in Thought and Practice, and the Principles of Genealogy and Temple Work.

Assets and Administrative Structure

The Dept. of Theology and Philosophy functioned under the administration of a chairman under the direct supervision of the President of the University.

Associated Units

Superior unit: Brigham Young University. Division of Religion (1940-1959)

Earlier unit: Brigham Young University. Dept. of Religious Education (1940)

Later unit: Brigham Young University. Dept. of L.D.S. Theology, Church Organization and Administration (1959)

Later unit: Brigham Young University. Dept. of History and Philosophy of Religion (1959)

Sources

Brigham Young University Annual Catalog 1940-1941: p. 202 (chairman unknown; Dept. of Theology and Religious Philosophy, variant name)

Brigham Young University Annual Catalog 1941-1942: p. 228-229 (James Wyley Sessions, chairman; example courses: Social and Religious Teachings of Jesus, Mormonism in Thought and Practice, and the Principles of Genealogy and Temple Work)

Brigham Young University Annual Catalog 1942-1943: p. 235 (James Wyley Sessions, chairman; division under immediate direction of the President of the University)

Brigham Young University Annual Catalog 1948-1949: p. 274 (Sidney B. Sperry, acting chairman)

Brigham Young University Annual Catalog 1950-1951: p. 291 (chairman unknown)

Brigham Young University Annual Catalog 1951-1952: p. 10 (David H. Yarn, chairman)

Brigham Young University Annual Catalog 1957-1958: p. 14 (Chauncey C. Riddle, chairman)

Brigham Young University Annual Catalog 1958-1959: p. 11 (Truman G. Madsen, chairman)

Maintenance Information

Record ID: EAC-2009-00328

Creator: CEM