Resources for Teaching American Religious Diversity
The conventional "world religions" curriculum introduces students to the basic facts, dates, and doctrines of major religious traditions, but this introduction is simply not enough. Our students also need to explore the social lives of contemporary religious communities, and to guide them in this exploration their teachers need to understand the academic study of religion. The resources assembled here will help both you and your students develop a richer understanding of both religious diversity and the study of religion. Follow the links on this page for:
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Downloadable lesson plans, curriculum units, and community-based education programs created by our 2012 summer scholars. These resources can be adapted for use in a wide range of courses, and inspire your teaching on religious diversity.
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Selections from our summer scholars' original research in the Sacred Gotham fieldwork project, along with resources and guidelines for developing student-driven field research projects.
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A wide range of on-line resources, including downloadable teachers' guides and links to other organizations supporting K-12 religious studies pedagogy. You'll be pleased to learn that there's a community of educators working to support your teaching on religious diversity!
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An hour-long webinar on lived religion pedagogy, with theoretical reflections and practical suggestions for teaching about contemporary religious diversity from institute director Henry Goldschmidt and 2012 summer scholar Stephen Arbogast.
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A bibliography of academic research and primary source collections on American religious diversity, lived religion, and religious practice. These sources will help you teach about the everyday lives of diverse religious communities.
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A bibliography of academic research and policy debates about the role of religion in America's public and private schools, including discussions of K-12 religious studies pedagogy, as well as broader debates about school prayer, holiday observance, and other important First Amendment issues.
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A bibliography of research on the religious diversity of New York City, so you can explore the religious worlds of New York from the comfort of your own home -- though we do hope you'll join us to explore them in person!
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A bibliography and filmography of novels and feature films set in diverse American religious communities, as well as a filmography of documentaries exploring aspects of American religious life. These sources can help you bring the lived experience of religious diversity into your classroom.
We hope these resources will enrich the professional lives of K-12 teachers, the intellectual lives of their students, and the civic life of our multicultural democracy. And we are open to suggestions for additional resource lists -- what would help you teach more effectively about the everyday life of American religious diversity? Please let us know!
