INTF 1101 Interfaith Foundations for Emerging Leaders
July 17, 2022
Interfaith America is a non-profit organization that inspires, equips, and connects leaders and institutions to unlock the potential of America’s religious diversity.
Interfaith America’s Emerging Leaders Network inspires, equips, and connects members of our network and the institutions they serve. We equip our leaders to make an impact with grants and learning resources. We inspire by sharing stories of Emerging Leaders creating change in their communities. Finally, we connect our leaders with each other through convenings and fellowships.
There are two options for completing this course:
Option 1: Complete only the “Join the Emerging Leaders Network” part of the course. By the end of this 1.5-hour asynchronous learning experience, you’ll have a strong foundation for your interfaith leadership AND you’ll qualify to join Interfaith America’s Emerging Leaders Network.
Option 2: After completing the first part of the course, continue on to complete the rest of the asynchronous coursework (six additional modules) required to earn a Certificate In Interfaith Leadership. These six additional modules entail approximately 3.5 hours of additional study. A learner who has completed all lessons of this course AND who has attended either 1) an Interfaith Leadership Summit (formerly known as Interfaith Leadership Institute) or 2) Foundations of Interfaith Leadership LIVE earns a Certificate in Interfaith Leadership. (Questions about how to earn your Certificate? Reach out via Live Chat at the bottom-right of your screen.)
By the end of the first part of this course, learners will be able to:
- Name the three components of interfaith leadership;
- Describe Interfaith America’s definition of “interfaith” and “interfaith cooperation”;
- Articulate their religious, spiritual, ethical, or philosophical identity and various influences on it;
- Differentiate bridged vs. bonded social capital;
- Name at least two civic goods that result from interfaith cooperation;
- Recognize unique opportunities and challenges that come with living in a religiously diverse democracy, such as the United States; and
- Recognize how folks across society cast the vision of interfaith cooperation.
If they continue on to complete the second part of this course, learners will also be able to:
- Identify at least one source of inspiration from their religious or non-religious worldview that inspires them to engage in interfaith leadership;
- List one or two moments in America’s history of interfaith cooperation;
- Describe the three parts of the Interfaith Triangle, how they relate to each other, and how the Triangle can serve as a roadmap for interfaith leadership;
- Describe what is meant by “Ethic or Theology of Interfaith Cooperation”;
- Define “shared values” within the context of interfaith cooperation;
- Describe six key skills of interfaith leadership; and
- List some accurate and positive knowledge about a few religious worldviews other than their own.
Syllabus
I. Join the Emerging Leaders Network
College, Graduate, Professional Development
Civic Education for a Common Good
We apply the U.S. Department of Education’s Consensus Statements about Constitutional Approaches for Teaching about Religion
▸ Our approach to religion is academic, not devotional;
▸ We strive for student awareness of religions, but do not press for student acceptance of any religion;
▸ We sponsor the study about religion, not the practice of religion;
▸ We expose students to a diversity of religious views, but may not impose any particular view;
▸ We educate about all religions, we do not promote or denigrate any religion;
▸ We inform students about religious beliefs and practices, it does not seek to conform students to any particular belief or practice.
We apply the American Academy of Religion’s “Religious Literacy Guidelines”
▸ “Religious Literacy Guidelines for College Students.” American Academy of Religion, 2019.
▸ “Teaching About Religion: AAR Guidelines for K-12 Public Schools.” American Academy of Religion, April 2010.
We apply the National Council for the Social Studies C3 Frameworks for Religious Studies
▸ College, Career, and Civic Life (C3) Framework for Social Studies State Standards, “Religious Studies Companion Document for the C3 Framework.” Silver Spring, MD: National Council for the Social Studies, 2017.
