The importance of religious studies and philosophy at Northfield Mount Hermon hails from the progressive educational vision of NMH founder D.L. Moody, one of the most prominent Christian preachers of the late 19th century. We have a long tradition of asking students to examine their inner lives and to explore the role of religion in history, art, politics, and culture.
As the school evolved, we continued to value Moody’s legacy of social justice. This is encompassed in our school’s mission, which states “Northfield Mount Hermon engages the intellect, compassion, and talents of our students, empowering them to act with humanity and purpose.” We want our students to become effective contributors to their local and global communities. In order to accomplish this, they need both the nuts-and-bolts knowledge of religious traditions and the sophistication to understand complex ethical and moral dilemmas.