This training course is designed for individuals seeking to develop their skills and knowledge of religious literacy for public engagement. The program is for tour guides, public history professionals (in museums, historical sites, etc.), and other educators who wish to effectively educate public audiences on religious diversity and democracy. This course explores the distinctive experiences of Philadelphia’s religious landscape during the colonial, revolutionary, and early national periods.

In this course, you will…

• Gain basic literacy about the early history and cultures of ethnically and racially diverse Catholics, Jews, Freethinkers, Deists, Muslims, and an array of Protestants, including Quakers, Methodists, Presbyterians, and many more.

• Better understand the varied ways that religion shaped responses to slavery, the American Revolution, immigration, and other aspects of civic life.

• Acquire best practices for engaging with the public about religious diversity and facilitating conversations about sensitive historical topics.

• Gain a deeper understanding of the role that diversity played in shaping the nation’s founding commitments to religious freedom.

• Receive mentoring from experienced public history professionals and knowledgeable faculty.

The eight-week, self-guided, asynchronous course begins March 5, 2026, and concludes in late March with a Zoom training and two in-person practical sessions. The course will require approximately 25-30 hours, and a certificate will be granted upon successful completion.

Have questions? Contact us via email at tours@dialogueinstitute.org.