Interfaith Engagement Microcredential

A survey of major religious and spiritual practices that influence global cross-cultural interactions. Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Taoism, Confucianism, Hinduism, Buddhism, Orisha Religions, and American Indian Spirituality are examined through historical and sociocultural lenses. This course will increase student understanding and appreciation of the contributions and complications of religion in human experience through the consideration of ethical case studies in world religions.

This course will examine the historical and contemporary cultural expressions of the religions of Black diaspora communities in the Americas. The nature of Africana Religions, their adaptation and expression in North America, South America, and the Caribbean will be discussed. African-American conjure traditions, the emergence and role of African-American led churches and African-American expressions of Islam from the time of enslavement to today will be explored. The course will also examine historical contemporary manifestations of Black spirituality in popular culture and the Deaf community, as part of our practice of listening and learning from Black voices.

Exploration of issues of religion that are unique to the American experience, including: historical and contemporary religious pluralism; uniquely American sects such as the Shaker, Amish, and Mormon traditions; and the rise of secular humanism, atheism, and ''spiritual but not religious'' in American society. This course will also give attention to the ethical evaluation of the contributions and complications of religious and spiritual groups.

Religious, spiritual, and non-religious diversity is a fact, but cooperation between people of different orientations to the idea of religion requires work to achieve. This class challenges you to develop better intersectional awareness of interfaith understanding in relation to other social justice issues in our world. This is achieved through reading, discussions, and interaction with resources in the DC community, as well as reflective and analytical writing and ASL expression. You will also learn the leading theories of how to build understanding and cooperation and become a change maker in your community.

This course examines various forms of oppression by looking across different cultures and communities, then examines possible parallels occurring within the deaf community.