Module 5 — Faith and Belief Perspectives on ForB (II): Islam, Dharmic Traditions, Baháʼí, ATR & Humanism

Week 5 of the Certificate Programme in Freedom of Religion or Belief · 15 notional learning hours.

Extends the same respectful, sources-based approach to Islam, Hinduism and Buddhism, the Baháʼí Faith, African Traditional Religion, and non-religious or humanist worldviews.

Learning outcomes

By the end of this module you will be able to:

• Summarise how Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, the Baháʼí Faith and African Traditional Religion understand religious freedom
• Articulate humanist and secular arguments for ForB
• Identify scriptural, philosophical and customary sources in each tradition
• Appreciate the distinctive contribution of African Traditional Religion to a culture of coexistence

Key topics

• Islam: “No compulsion in religion” (Qurʼan 2:256; 18:29); maqasid al-shariʻa; apostasy and minority rights debates; the Marrakesh Declaration
• Hinduism: pluralism; dharma, ahimsa; Gandhi’s sarva-dharma-sama-bhava
• Buddhism: non-harm, right speech, compassion and coexistence
• Baháʼí: unity of religion and humanity; independent investigation of truth
• African Traditional Religion: communal harmony, ancestral continuity, hospitality, indigenous reconciliation
• Humanist / secular: freedom of conscience for believers and non-believers alike

How this course is delivered

• A live session (90–120 minutes) on Zoom, Google Meet or Microsoft Teams, with a subject lead
• An interfaith panel addressing the theme from several traditions
• Recorded micro-lectures, readings and resources you can download (low-bandwidth friendly)
• A practical assessment activity

You can take this module on its own, or follow all eight modules through the full Certificate Programme.