The Free School

The Faces of Faiths: A Journey through World Religions

Mondays 6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
10/20, 10/27, 11/3, 11/10
Location details will be shared with registrants closer to the first session. Registration has closed.

Get ready to embark on a fascinating journey through the beliefs, rituals, and philosophies that have shaped civilizations across time. This year, The Free School is back with a bold new theme: The Faces of Faiths: A Journey through World Religions. In the fall, we’ll kick off by zooming out—exploring the tools, methods, and mindsets that help us understand religion. What is religion? How do scholars study it? What makes a belief system sacred? Then, in the spring, we’ll zoom in—spotlighting several major world religions, uncovering their core teachings, cultural impact, and enduring wisdom. From ancient texts to modern movements, we’ll explore what these traditions offer to the world today.

10/20: Definitions of religion: We begin with the big question: What do we mean by “religion(s)”? In this session, we consider definitions, debates, and the diverse ways people across cultures have made sense of the sacred.

10/27: Dimensions of religion: Religion isn’t just belief—it’s ritual, experience, art, ethics, and more. We’ll unpack the key dimensions that shape religious life and practice.

11/3: Approaches to religion I: How do scholars study religion? From anthropology to ecology, we’ll dive into the major academic lenses used to interpret religious phenomena.

11/10: Approaches to religion II: Building on the previous week, we’ll explore additional methods—like psychology, sociology, and comparative studies—and how they reveal new insights into faith and spirituality.