Why Religion Matters: Religious Literacy, Culture and Diversity

Who is the course for?

This course is for anyone who may interact with a religiously diverse public in their personal or professional lives. This includes police, civil servants, teachers, journalists, council workers and parents.

What topics will you cover?

WEEK 1: Why religion matters – Religious literacy is important

· Why does religion matter?

· What is religious literacy?

· Why religious literacy matters

· Internal diversity in religion

WEEK 2: Change and choice in religion

· Dynamic and changing religions

· Religious resources for change

· Religious identity and choice

WEEK 3: Religion/culture and religious violence

· Religion/culture – All aspects of being human

· Religion and violence

WEEK 4: Engaging with confidence

· When different worlds collide

· Principles of interaction

· What would you do?

What will you achieve?

By the end of the course, you‘ll be able to…

Identify and describe the the principles of ‘religious literacy’

Reflect on the boundaries between religion and culture

Evaluate the extent to which religion inspires ways of life including ethics, social activism and extremism

Apply the principles of ‘religious literacy’ to case studies

Develop confidence in interacting with those who have different beliefs and practices