This class will introduce students to a variety of religions from around the world. Each week will focus on understanding the beliefs and histories of the religion. They will learn about the origins, its interaction with other religions and with countries, and will learn about how the religion has changed since its beginning. This class will provide an in-depth look at these religions beyond just the basics of what they are. It will look at their histories, beliefs, and interactions with other groups. This class is great for homeschooling styles unschooling, unit learning, and eclectic education.

Week 1- The first week will introduce the concept of religion itself, secularism, and other important terminologies students will encounter in this class. Students will share their backgrounds, what they hope to learn in this class, and what they think they already know about various religions in the world.

Weeks 2 and 3- These weeks will focus on the basics three largest religions in the world: Judaism, Christianity and Islam. It will introduce their origins and beliefs and histories.

Week 4- This week will focus on one of the most religiously diverse countries in the world, historically, India. It will introduce the country, some of its diversity, and focus on Hinduism.

Week 5- This week will continue with India and the influence of Hinduism and promoted pluralism. It will introduce Jainism and Sikhs. In the discussion of India, students will also learn about other religions within the country and that have interacted in this region with these religions.

Week 6- This week will focus on one of the oldest still practiced religions in the world, Zoroastrianism. It will introduce its history and beliefs leading up to understanding it in modernity. This week will also cover Bah'ai, and Ancient Greek and Roman religious beliefs.

Week 7- This week will focus on Buddhism and its many varieties. This will include origins, the Buddhas, Indian vs. Chinese Buddhism and its mythologies. We will also touch on how Buddhism is being used in other religions in the Western world today.

Week 8- This week will focus on religions and belief systems in China, Korea and Japan. These include Confucianism, Daoism, and Shintoism. We will also touch on animism with Shintoism and some Native North American beliefs (particularly the Haudenosanee) to discuss how they are often homogenized due to colonial history.

Week 9- This week will cover modern Wicca and other Pagan religious revivals in modern times. This will also be the chance for students to look at new religions in the last few centuries, such as Scientology, Santeria, and Mormonism.

Week 10- This week students will draw on elements from religions they learned about in the class to create their own religion. They will look at an example of a made-up religion as an idea. We will discuss the elements that make up most religions (belief in deities versus non-theism, tenants of faith, rituals) and use them in this culminating project.