# Masters in Divinity vs. Masters in Religion

**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/masters-in-divinity-vs-masters-in-religion/287939
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [February 2, 2005, 4:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/masters-in-divinity-vs-masters-in-religion/287939 "2005-02-02T04:12:13Z")
**Posts on this page:** 2
**Page:** 1

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### Author: ![WeRSauron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f19dbf/32.png) [@WeRSauron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WeRSauron)
#### Post date: [February 2, 2005, 4:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/masters-in-divinity-vs-masters-in-religion/287939/1 "2005-02-02T04:12:13Z")

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What’s the difference between a Masters in Divinity and Masters in Religion? A Doctorate in Divinity and a Doctorate in Religion? I understand the Divinity areas focus on ministry subjects, but what other differences are there?

WRS

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### Author: ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)
#### Post date: [February 2, 2005, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/masters-in-divinity-vs-masters-in-religion/287939/2 "2005-02-02T14:36:41Z")

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A degree in Religion is oriented toward the objective study of religious phenomena, not advocacy of a specific tradition. It is possible for an atheist or an agnostic to have a degree in religion. Usually at the graduate level there is a specific focus or field involved – psychology of religion, sociology of religion, comparative religion, ethics, etc.

twicks, M.Phil, Ph.D, sociology of religion