hes a really good person, but the topics are inane and you will either fall asleep or eagerly burp back his self-contradicting inane theories. youll get an A though, and he wont tell you to write a paper about how much you love jesus, like some do.

Okay, I think all you Problem of God people are missing the point. Ruf is on an entirely different level. He's a theology professor for philosophy buffs. You will never look at the interpretation of religion in culture the same way again.

I'm shocked to see all the negative reviews. This was absolutely my favorite class this semester, and I think Ruf is amazing. It's not a very work-intensive c lass, but I got more out of it than ANY other class I've taken. Fantastic prof, fantastic class, fair grading.

you guys have it all wrong. ruf loves an interesting conversation; far from discouraging independent thought, ruf loves a challenging idea. he's helpful, he's fun, he's witty, he's an all around awesome professor. that is, you'll find him awesome if you're not dense.

Easy class, specifically chose readings he thought we would be interesting, nice guy, doesn't assign a lot of reading, tries to make class engaging, if you participate in class discussions and take good notes, you'll do fine.

Not a difficult class--tries to engage and challenge you. Tends to drage the material out for a bit, but that just means you have more time to do the reading. Minimal effort required to do well. Just read, PARTICIPATE in class, and take good class notes.

This class is the best class I have taken while at Georgetown so far. It is hard-he doesn't give out many As, but well worth it. This coming from someone who normally doesn't like Theology. Class discussions are fun, and there is not much homework. I would highly recommend it.

Great Prof, Hard grader.

Great teacher

Awesome class that required a LOT of thinking and never made me sleep. A bit of a tough grader, but fair.

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I remember Dr. Ruf as challenging, intellectual, helpful, and NEVER inappropriate. I am sure that his authentic, official evaluations reflect this.

I liked this class, but I also know people who thought it was mostly BS. The readings were few and short because he likes discussing them in depth. He did seem to allow some pointless discussion - i.e. people making comments for the sake of making comments. But I thought overall the assignments were good and the class was interesting.

Professor Ruf is an interesting professor. You feel like you aren't learning anything, only to realize that you actually learned a lot. He keeps class interesting and always welcomes different opinions. A great professor for Problem of G-d.

Very enthusiastic. Really liked his class. Lenient on grading and goes through readings in depth in class so don't really need to do all the readings. Makes class interesting. Funny too. Srongly recommend Prof.Ruf

I really liked Prof. Ruf. Truly a gentleman and the most helpful proffesor I've had so far. Has a great reputation on campus among students, faculty and staff.

Interesting professor. His classes are pretty boring but overall he is a nice guy. First test is pretty easy but the papers are graded harshly. Filled with stupid annoying SFS kids who control the discussion. Good professor to take POG with, cant get lower than a B i would say.

Interesting professor. Very willing to listen to what students have to say. Class is a discussion, not him telling you what's right. Papers were graded quite easily I think. No need to read, just be able to say relevant things in class. Talk often and you should be safe with a good grade.

took Prof Ruf's "Existentialism & Religion"- absolutely loved it. A previous poster said Prof Ruf is a theology professor for philosophy buffs - true! - & for anthropology & sociology buffs, too. as prof ruf will say at beginning of class, "everything - everything - can be otherwise. we need to ask why it is as it is." one of my favorite classes

Great professor

The class is generally pretty interesting. But if you don't like discussion, it's not for you. Really hard to take notes and study because the classes are kind of all over the place. But he is very nice and helpful during office hours if you don't understand something. You have to go to class though, it's a major part of the grade.

ruf is the best problem of god teacher, from what i have heard. i loved his class. and you should probably know he teaches about religion in a really sociological way - it's more a study of how/why people interact with religion. really interesting, and i had thought i would hate the class.

Ruf's examines religion through an anthropologic lens. Emphasizes "Theology" is a misnomer for his department b/c of the outsider perspective he has. Good lecture voice & pace. Not a lot of reading, rarely took notes, if you put work into your papers you will be fine. Friendly guy, eager to help. The arrogant kid in my class sometimes made it suck.

The perfect college class- learning goes on in the classroom and the reading is minimal. He outlines the important points in class and explains abstract/complex theories REALLY well. The midterm exam was totaly fair, midterm paper required us to watch a strange but classic movie and in general I am loving this professor/class. Recommend it 100%!

Hands down best POG professor.

Professor Ruf is fantastic! Really knows what he's talking about, receptive to new ideas, always willing to help. I loved this class.

My favorite class this semester. I've never really liked philosophy etc. but Professor Ruf's class kind of made me change my mind! Discussion was always super-interesting and the readings were always applicable. Final is 50% of your grade...kind of daunting but follow his instructions and you'll be fine. Very approachable professor, GREAT class.

Really good for a POG professor. Not a lot of reading, he says what's important in class, midterm was so easy I did nothing and got an A. Love him.

I have no interest in theology, but this was by far my favorite class this semester. The discusions were interesting and really relaxed. Barley any homework and all the reading that was assigned was really easy. Its really easy to get an A-, but kind of hard to get an A. Definitely a good course to fulfill the requirement

Prof Ruf is my favorite at Georgetown! I took his POG class and his Existentialism class too JUST because of him. Dry sense of humor, extremely helpful during office hours (some theo convo's turned into life convo's), wrote me a rec.. learned ALOT! TAKE HIM.

Fantastic

I love Professor Ruf. He is encouraging, approachable, very funny, and I love his outlook on life. He fosters a great discussion atmosphere and never puts down students. Not a difficult class but you will learn so much. BEST FOR POG!

He is the best teacher I ever had.

After 4 years, one of my favorite professors yet. If you are looking for a traditional institutionalized perspective on theology, then Ruf is not the place to go. Ruf presents a great argument for the need for of a theology that orients us in a modern world. Discussions are interesting and papers are great exercises in cross-disciplinary thinking.

Though he already clearly knew the material inside-and-out, he genuinely seemed to take our interpretations into consideration. Ultimately, by going out of his way to be enthusiastic about the course and encouraging any/all student input, Professor Ruf really did a fantastic job at making a potentially bland subject actually quite stimulating.

AWESOME. this is definitely one of my favorite classes i've taken at gtown. I loved the class. mostly discussion based & lots of participation, which I think is what made it a lot better than most lectures. TAKE HIM!

Prof. Ruf is a great professor and his class is extremely interesting. Our readings were not easy at all (Emerson, Woolf, Nietzsche!), but somehow we all ended up loving our philosophers as well as our professor.

I like the class, do not LOVE it. It iz an interesting take on POG. If you want to look at the experience of religion and not particular religions itself then take him.

Highly Recommend for POG. Very interesting readings and class materials. It's a great class if you don't want to study specific religions or discuss whether God exists or not. It really looks at the religious experience and how the religious men perceive the world. Lots of depth and thought required to get an A. Two essays a midterm and a fnal

Great professor. I did not find the material all that interesting or relatable, but he did a great job discussing the books and making them clear. Class was open for discussion, but he did tend to cut people off quite quickly, rather than let the students continue the conversation. Despite all this, would still recommend taking.

One of my favorite profs this semester. I'm an atheist, so I didn't expect to enjoy Problem of God (except maybe if the course title was a literal description of the course), but Ruf made it interesting. It's mostly about the effect of religion on people and then applying that to Santeria. Fairly easy grader; 2 papers, 1 midterm, 1 final. Great!

Amazing professor, will challenge you to rethink theology.

I'm sitting in his class right now. Three definite units- Eliade, Tillich, and Orsi. Concepts are confusing but he is very clear in helping. First 2 months of course are absolute breeze, then the two 5-page papers are kind of annoying, but really not that bad. You can get by parroting the text, but you can get a lot out of this class if you try.

Took his Existentialism class and it was awesome. It was pretty much just Nietzsche (he LOVES Nietzsche) but he holds class like a discussion and it was always engaging and interesting. He's absolutely brilliant, super funny, and very likable. Not a hard class at all but worth it.

Amazing lecturer and makes the readings, which can be hard to understand, much clearer. 2 papers, 1 midterm, and 1 final, all of which can be aced by regurgitating the text and his lectures, so go to class and take notes. Participation grade starts at a B- and you have to earn your way up, which is annoying, but only a small part of your grade

2 midterms, 1 final 10-12 pg paper. Really good professor who is passionate about the material. I took this as my second theology, and it was a really good choice. The reading was really interesting, and we were allowed to use computers. As long as you listen, pay attention, and take notes (and agree with everything he says), it's an easy A.

The final grade is based off of two papers, a midterm, a final, and participation. The two papers are only five pages, but he really wants you to home into thorough detail. He is a tough grader relative to accuracy and detail. However, he puts the material into perspective extremely well and had very intriguing lectures.

Prof. Ruf always gives extremely interesting lectures and encourages class discussion. He focuses on the theories about religion. He assigns 2 5-page papers and gives a midterm and final exam. I really enjoyed the class, but Ruf does not give out As easily. He makes you work for it.

I quite enjoyed this class. As mentioned below, don't expect to learn about actual pilgrimages and their facts, but rather the theory of why people escape and choose to travel or go on pilgrimages. I thought the class had many good opportunities for discussion, although it could get a bit dull at times. Overall I would recommend it.

Professor Ruf makes some of the worst literature around fascinating. he is an awesome professor but the quality of the class is dependent on your classmates as the discussion is key. Because he's a nice guy, if you have people who dominate the discussion, it can be rough.

I love Prof Ruf! His class was my favorite in my first semester

8/10 would do it again... really nice, friendly guy who knows his stuff and is open to ideas. Needs to be more clear about his specifications for papers though. Tests aren't bad (haven't done the final yet, heard its basically like the midterm). The material was OK for me but I can see how its not peoples cup of tea. Participating is fun: do it!

Prof Ruf is the bomb - favorite class this semester! The theology stuff he focuses on is really engaging and his lectures on it make it even more so. He's cool and relatable and makes sure everyone has their say during class. A great choice for the required POG class! Probably going to take another class with him he was so great

Probably the most interesting class and professor I've ever had.

Professor Ruf is super nice and wants all his students to do well. Work load is minimal: readings are short, there's only two papers and two tests. Participate at least once a class, put effort into papers, and go through readings before tests and there's no reason you shouldn't get an A. Only negative is that class/lecture/material can be boring.

I hate theology but Professor Ruf made the class a lot better. He has a good sense of humor. I did not open my mouth once in the class but ended up getting a B in participation. Show up to class and go to office hours for help with papers. Class consists of a midterm, two 5 page papers, and a final.

Super interesting philosophical/sociological approach to PoG. Papers aren't bad as long as you show some original thinking while also understanding the texts. Tests are easy if you use the whole time to write. He's a fantastic lecturer, and you'll get participation points if you talk which should be easy as he makes the material super engaging.

Prof. Ruf is an interesting lecturer, cares about his students, and really knows what he is talking about. I also liked that this class was not really religious at all. It was so interesting to examine the value of travel. Ruf was great, definitely take this class! grading was based on two tests and a final paper.

Professor Ruf was the best POG professor ever! He was truly brilliant. I am so happy that I took his class! His approach is very much about looking at the study of religion rather than straight Catholicism or Buddhism, etc... Very fascinating and would recommend in a heartbeat! Definitely makes your work for your grade, but 100% loved him.

Professor Ruf is a really nice guy with a lot of great ideas. Attendance is taken, but he makes lectures interesting. However, he expects a lot for a mandatory core requirement. Don't take this class unless you are ready to work for it, or get ready to be jealous of your friends that skated by in another POG class that's an easy A.

Interesting class, and not super focused on the mainstream definition of religion, so good for athiests/agnostic people! Ruf is funny, engaging, and available outside of class. 2 5-page essays, midterm, and a written final. Assignments can be hard but grading is not too bad. Not the easiest A, but you can def. do well, esp. with office hours.

Great professor, really cares about the class, and a fair grader in my opinion. Can be really funny as well. Enjoyed his class so much I would consider taking even more Theology classes.

Professor Ruf is super kind and very understanding. He assigns interesting readings and gives you ample time to discuss them in class before assessments (2 essay tests). He is very accommodating of meeting with students outside of class and of extenuating circumstances for turning in assignments. Loved this class and professor.

Took a theology Gen Ed that could have been mind-numbingly boring and turned it into an interesting, fun class. Very chill, with little reading and only 2 relatively easy essay projects. Take him for Problem of God, you won't regret it!

Professor Ruf's lectures are insightful and exciting. Take him!

Great professor.

BEST prof. ever!!! I am so appreciative <3 Take him. You won't regret it.

The best professor!! Professor Ruf is compassionate (esp. about COVID-19 conditions) and insightful (connects class to real life). The class (Problem of God) is highly discussion-based and he clearly listens to students/makes effort to engage them. Really can't say enough great things-- everyone, especially first years, should take his class!

I absolutely adore Prof Ruf. He's such a gem. The class wasn't easy, but it was totally manageable. This may have been my favorite class this semester.

Existentialism & Religion, taken freshman fall. By content, likely the most interesting choice for the second theology requirement. Do the work and you'll end up with not only a reasonable grade, but also some serious soul searching. Ruf is also so insightful and will help you understand complex ideas.

Professor Ruf was a great Problem of God Professor. He pushes you to get to the essence of the readings, but it's really on you to absorb the meaning of (often pretty obscure) works. He really cares about students and was great to interact with. Would 100% recommend.

Ruf made my semester. Our POG focused on the general religious person's experience instead of just specific religions themselves. He cared about every one of us and was happy to just chat in office hours. Right before finals week he told us if we were satisfied with our grades the paper was optional. A whole king.

Prof Ruf is great. He really works to make sure everyone enjoys the class. The readings aren't too bad and he brings the best out of them. Ruf will challenge you to think but is never shy to offer his own answers. Pretty generous grader, just make sure you participate (25% of grade). Highly recommended!

Prof. Ruf is a bro. He really is a great guy and he shows that he cares. The one thing I'd have to say is you are going to have a really hard time if you don't pay attention in class. It almost felt as though listening and participating is half the class.

Professor Ruf is so sweet. I didn't intend to take his section but I'm so glad I did! Readings aren't too heavy. He's great at engaging people during discussions (which are the bulk of the class) and genuinely funny (loved his attendance polls). The class itself was very interesting, and the only assignments were a few straightforward writings.

I loved prof. Ruf! Very accessible and super flexible during pandemic distance learning. He participated in our Ratatouille day and made the material very engaging. I would definitely recommend him for Problem of God!

I had such a great experience with Ruf. He is hilarious but simultaneously knows a ton about the topics discussed. There were a lot of readings, but he gave out potential exam questions in advance of the exam and was so accommodating when I was sick during the semester. This class was a breath of fresh air for me, I'll miss it. Definitely take Ruf.

I've never had a professor inspire me more. Great readings and fun discussions. This class felt like time to be yourself, share ideas, and have them appreciated. Ruf is clear with his assignments and makes dense readings understandable. He's not religious, so you can approach his classes from any religious background (I'm not religious). Don't miss

Would definitely take his class again. Made learning feel easy and was very accessible via office hours. He hinted at the questions on exams during office hours so I would recommend going.

Prof Ruf is a great choice for POG. Classes can be tedious, but you don't need to put in a lot of effort to get an A, and some of the readings can be really interesting. His exams are very straightforward, and you get a lot of freedom in the papers. He is really caring and he really likes to get to know his students.

Professor Ruf is smart, passionate about theology, and very accessible/helpful outside of class. Readings are light and they connect to each other, which establishes clear themes throughout the semester. Class discussions are fine, but not too exciting. If you do the readings and go to office hours, you'll do well. Solid choice for Problem of God.

Prof. Ruf is a solid choice for POG. He is really friendly and caring, and the material is not that boring (coming from someone with no interest whatsoever in the subject). 2 tests, 2 essays, participation, and no final.

He is so funny and chill. This class is great if you are not a religious person at all. Readings can be confusing but he explains it a funny and super easy to understand way. Participation is really important but class discussions are usually v engaging. 2 essays, 2 tests, no final. so chill i loved this class

Professor Ruf is an engaging lecturer and there's great discussion in class. Participation and attendance are really important (20% of grade). The material was interesting, but he's a hard grader, especially on papers. There are definitely easier POG classes out there. That said, if you're willing to put in the work, it's a fascinating class.

Professor Ruf is a funny and passionate lecturer. The class discussions are interesting, though the content is very theoretical. For religious school people who have taken a THEO class before, you will find this very different. In the end, you're graded on a few things each 20% (Participation, 2 Essays, 2 Tests).There are easier POGs out there.

Great lecturer. Participation is key to being successful in his class. You must raise your hand in class multiple times AND go to his office hours in order to ensure an A in participation. Do the readings and study with a group. Tough grader when it comes to essays(which makes participation all the more important). A-/B+ is solid in his class.

Interesting class and a nice professor. Approachable at office hours or after class. Annoying for problem of god though because he is looking for specific things in papers/tests, which you wouldn't know until after.

His lectures could get a little convoluted, but overall he's a good professor and a nice guy. Paper's and tests aren't too bad if you pay attention in class. He's pretty harsh on participation grading though and frequently ignores raised hands for a long time, making it hard to participate.

Honestly godly. If you don't like theology, take his class for upper-level, because he didn't mention religion once. His lectures are entertaining because he's funny and very passionate about everything on the syllabus-- it's infectious. Pretends he's a scary grader at the beginning; it's a lie, he's not.

Professor Ruf brings a fresh take to THEO001. Though the content can be dense, his engaging lectures and interesting discussions make it an enjoyable experience. Supplement studying with unstuck ai and you'll do well in this class.

Huge fan of Professor Ruf. Aside from his dry wit (which I came to love), Professor Ruf is an engaging lecturer who truly wants his students to succeed and derive meaning from his courses. I'd take him again if I could!