Outreach and Schools

Religious Studies at The Open University has an active program of outreach with schools and FE colleges, and more broadly in promoting religious literacy.

With our interest in religion and global challenges of focusing on contemporary religion as it is lived, but with keen eye on the broader historical perspective, we are committed to communicating the importance of religion in understanding today's world.

We have a wide range of expertise and have colleagues spread out across the UK, so it you would like to organise a classroom visit, in person or online, drop us an email at FASS-ReligiousStudies-Enquiries [at] open.ac.uk

Schools

We have a wide range of materials, which can be used in classroom settings to support your teaching. Visit our Religion, Belief and Worldviews Hub for free sources such as animations, documentaries, podcasts and activities introducing on religion in the modern world.

Religious Literacy

We believe that a good understanding of religious traditions and identities - and what people actually think and believe rather than what we assume they do - is important to the flourishing of society. This kind of religious literacy has significant social capital, is relevant to specific professions - teaching, health and social care, or journalism and many others. We promote religious literacy to a range of audiences through our Religion, Belief and Worldviews Hub.

If you want to start exploring the ways in which religion affects personal and political decision-making, you can sign up for our MOOC Why Religion Matters: Religious Literacy, Culture and Diversity.

Several members of our department are involved with managing the independent charity Inform, which provides information about minority religions and sects which is as accurate, up-to-date and as evidence-based as possible. Inform exists prevent harm based on misinformation by bringing the insights and methods of academic research into the public domain. Inform acts as a unique bridge between academic expertise and practical application and can provide bespoke reports and speakers for the media, professionals and schools on a wide variety of topics relating to minority religious (and non-religious) groups.

Try some podcasts from the Religious Studies Project with these introductory playlists on religion and gender, non-religion, new religious movements, the sociology of religion, and more. 

Discover more about what we do via our departmental blog and on social media: Bluesky (@religiousstudiesou.bsky.social), X (@religion_ou), Facebook (@religionou), and Instagram (@ou_religious_studies).