This training course is designed for individuals seeking to develop their skills and knowledge of religious literacy for public engagement through guided tours and other public history venues. The program is for tour guides, public history professionals, and other educators who wish to effectively engage public audiences around the topics of 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…

• Learn basic information on the early history and culture of Catholics, Jews, Freethinkers, Deists, Muslims, and an array of Protestants, including Quakers, Methodists, Presbyterians, and more.

• 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 guides and knowledgeable faculty.

The six-week, self-guided, asynchronous course begins February 16, 2026, and concludes in late March with a Zoom training and two in-person practical sessions.

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