i certainly dont think an academic religious studies program implies the faculty is religious or in anyway doctrinal. I would expect that at an institution training clergy for ordination, where there is certainly overlap with academic religious studies, but not at secular Universities. A case in point may also be Harvard Divinity School which I think started out as a theological seminary but over the years has transformed into a non denominational center for academic studies.
Be that as it may....ive also read misquoting Jesus. Although as of late my biblical interests have been more "returning to my roots" and old testament academics...and in that field i can say safely, that you certainly dont have to be religious or a believer to appreciate bible studies. but the one thing which is absolutly mandatory and necessary in that field is to understand Hebrew. No translation in the world gives one the nuances and melodious sound the original invokes. I imagine the same is true to some degree for NT, so get your greek and hebrew textbooks out and start learning, No English translation could ever truly manage to convey the essence.
as Ive said many times, imagine shakespeare translated into some non indo-european language, Korean or Bantu. you may get the story line, macbeth kills the king, but thats about it.
