February 9, 2007

Requiring the Study of Religion

To the Editor:

Harvard University's Task Force on General Education has made a serious error in recommending a religion-free curriculum for the venerable institution ("Harvard Drops Religion Requirement," The Chronicle, January 5). To begin with, Harvard has deep religious roots. ... Without a basic understanding of religion, Harvard graduates cannot understand the nature of their alma mater.

More important, by adopting the latest recommendation of the task force and dropping