Skip main navigation

New offer! Get 30% off one whole year of Unlimited learning. Subscribe for just £249.99 £174.99. New subscribers only. T&Cs apply

Find out more

Why does religion matter to you?

Religion shapes our individual identity and it influences legal systems across the globe.
A group of 3 women and 2 men standing in a row, facing forward in a thoughtful pose with question marks hovering above their heads.
© metamorworks / iStock / Getty Images Plus

Religion matters

Religion shapes our individual identity and it influences legal systems across the globe. Our communities have been shaped by religious beliefs and practices. Religions are implicated in some of the worst of human violence. Religion inspires some of the highest ethical ideals and behaviour. In an increasingly interconnected, global world, understanding religion – and how to interact with it – is more critical than ever.

A practical approach

This course is designed for those who interact with a diverse range of people. It is also intended for those who want to understand religion and its impact on the contemporary world in more depth. We want to give you the tools and understanding to enable you to interact more confidently with those who believe and practise very different things to you.

Introduce yourself

There will be plenty of opportunities to communicate with other learners on this course, so please join in. You can make comments at any point in the course – just click on the pink plus symbol (+) to open the comments section. Why not introduce yourself now by posting a comment to answer the following question: Why are you interested in becoming more ‘religiously literate’?

© The Open University
This article is from the free online

Why Religion Matters: Religious Literacy, Culture and Diversity

Created by
FutureLearn - Learning For Life

Reach your personal and professional goals

Unlock access to hundreds of expert online courses and degrees from top universities and educators to gain accredited qualifications and professional CV-building certificates.

Join over 18 million learners to launch, switch or build upon your career, all at your own pace, across a wide range of topic areas.

Start Learning now