IARF Free Religion Institute
Our Vision
The Free Religion Institute aspires to become a platform for education and research in liberal religion. Our mission is to provide easily accessible, free educational resources to IARF Members and the entire liberal religious community, catering to various levels of advancement, from hobby enthusiasts to graduate-level scholars.
We aim to create a vibrant, inclusive community of learners, scholars, and practitioners, drawing from the rich tapestry of wisdom and expertise within our diverse membership. By fostering a deep understanding of liberal religious traditions, we hope to promote interfaith dialogue, critical thinking, and spiritual growth.
E-Learning Excellence
We plan to offer a range of self-paced and live e-learning courses and refine our platform to provide flexibility for instructors and students.
Digital Library
We aim to build a digital library of liberal religious texts, providing a valuable resource for research and study.
Community
Our e-learning platform will be integrated with IARF's community network, fostering collaboration and knowledge sharing among members.
Key Focus Areas
- History and evolution of liberal religious movements
- Intersection of liberal religion and human rights
- Spiritual practices and their contemporary applications
- Comparative studies of liberal traditions worldwide
- Critical interpretation of religious texts
- Community-building and interfaith dialogue
- Liberal religious perspectives on science and ethics
- Environmental stewardship and sustainability
Community Platform Integration
The Free Religion Institute's e-learning platform will be seamlessly integrated with IARF's community network (https://iarf.net/register). This integration is designed to offer numerous benefits to our learners:
- Single sign-on for easy access to all resources
- Engaging discussion forums for each course
- Easy sharing of resources and ideas
- Networking opportunities with fellow learners and experts
- Access to a global community of liberal religious thinkers
- Updates on upcoming courses and events
The Director
Prof. George M. Williams
Prof. George M. Williams, a retired historian of religions, brings a wealth of experience and expertise to his role as the director of the Free Religion Institute. His lifelong dedication to studying religions that liberate makes him uniquely qualified to lead this innovative educational initiative.
Throughout his distinguished career, Prof. Williams has made significant contributions to the field of religious studies. He has authored works on the Hindu Renaissance, religion in modern Japan, and religion in Hawaii. His expertise has been recognized with honorary doctorates from Starr King School for the Ministry and the United Protestant Theological School of Cluj, Romania.