Religion, faith and spirituality at U of I

Students come to University of Idaho from across the United States and from dozens of countries around the world. They bring with them an array of religious traditions, spiritual practices and personal values.

As a public university, U of I has a policy of nondiscrimination on the basis of religion. Our campus welcomes students of all faiths and no faith, and students from many backgrounds can find spiritual community through a campus club or local or regional faith organization.

Spirituality and Religion Clubs

Find Current Clubs: U of I is home to more than 200 student organizations, including more than a dozen that are focused on spirituality or religion. Many are connected with local faith groups, and others are part of nationwide ministries.

Start a Club: If you don’t find a club that fits your faith, don’t worry — you can start your own! All you need to begin your journey is you, three other student members, and a faculty or staff member to serve as advisor.

Explore Clubs and Activities: One of the best ways for new students to connect with faith groups is Palousafest, our premier welcome-back event that draws thousands of students and community members. Campus clubs set up tables with information and invite students to learn more through conversation. Many faith groups from Moscow and the surrounding area have tables, too.

Study religion at U of I

U of I offers an interdisciplinary minor in religious studies, which students can add to any major. “Religious studies courses do not encourage or discourage belief; rather, they engage in academic study of religion as a crucial element of human culture,” according to the website.

Religious studies students use a variety of academic lenses to examine religious traditions around the world. The program draws together expert faculty from departments across the College of Letters, Arts and Social Sciences.

Students choose from courses in anthropology, history, philosophy, sociology, art, psychology and more. Students must take a mix of classes in Asian, Pacific and Indigenous Religious Traditions, Western Religious Traditions, and Religion and Culture.

Religious Buildings Adjacent to Campus

Three religious organizations have locations right next to campus. Their long and interesting histories date back to the university’s rapid growth in the mid-20th century.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Institute of Religion is on Deakin Street, among the fraternities and sororities of Old Greek Row. The Latter-day Saints, widely known as the Mormons, have thousands of similar institutes around the world, but Moscow’s was the first, according to the Deseret News. The original Tudor-Gothic building was constructed in 1926. The original institute was torn down in 1967 to make room for the current larger building, which was dedicated in 1968.

St. Augustine’s Catholic Center is on Deakin Street across from the Bruce M. Pitman Center. Land for the center was purchased in the 1950s, according to the Vandal Catholic website. In 1965, a U of I architecture student, Dick Owen, won a design contest with his plans for the distinctive conical chapel, which was completed in 1967. The adjacent building now includes Monica’s Coffee Bar.

The Center, previously known as the Campus Christian Center, was founded in the 1930s as the Idaho Institute for Christian Education, according to the Lewiston Tribune. It stands on the corner of Elm Street and University Avenue, among Old Greek Row and across from Hello Walk. The Center is sponsored by several local Christian denominations: United Methodists, United Church of Christ, the Presbyterian Church (USA), the Episcopal Church, the Evangelical Lutheran Church, the Disciples Of Christ, and the American Baptist Church. The upper floor of the building Is now home to the Moscow Food Co-op’s campus location.

Learn More About Religion on the Palouse

Library Resources: The University of Idaho Library contains a wealth of resources for students and community members who are interested in religion. This Library Guide contains an overview of print and digital materials to help researchers get started.

Psychiana Digital Collection: The U of I Library is also home to a unique collection of materials about Psychiana, a religion founded in Moscow in 1929 By Frank B. Robinson. At its peak, Psychiana employed nearly one hundred people and was reported to be the seventh-largest religious organization in the world.

Regional Religion News: News and perspectives about events and trends among faith groups in the region can be found at FāVS News, a non-sectarian, non-profit news organization that covers faith and values across the Inland Northwest, including the Palouse.