Free Religion Institute
About the Author
The educational project of the IARF.
Courses and events
-
Course
Consciousness
In this four-part series, we will discuss various aspects of human consciousness as seen through two distinct lenses: the religious and philosophical traditions of humanity, and the more recent scientific studies of consciousness. We will seek to understand how science confirm...
View in LMS -
Course
Buddhism and Free Religion
Rev. Maruta explores Buddhism as a free religion in relation to freedom, liberation, suffering and the ego.
View in LMS -
Self-paced course
Imaoka Shin’ichirō and Free Religion
This course explores the extraordinary life and thought of Imaoka Shin’ichirō (1881-1988), whose 106-year journey through multiple religious traditions led to a profound vision of “jiyū shūkyō” (free-religion). Rather than a new denomination or an attempt to unite existing rel...
View in LMS -
Webinar
Religious Freedom of the Other - A Sikh Perspective
To mark Interfaith Week the British Chapter of the International Association for Religious Freedom presents: Religious Freedom of the Other - A Sikh perspective with Charanjit Singh. On 25th November 2025, the Sikhs across the world are commemorating the 350th anniversary of t...
View in LMS -
Webinar
The Science of Consciousness
How do the billions of neurons in your head, looking like tangled rice noodles, give rise to consciousness? Can we even define consciousness? We may not agree on a precise definition, but scientists can now measure brain activity during experiences that we think of as
View in LMS -
Webinar
How Do We Become Human(e)?
This question - How Do We Become Human(e) - has been growing in importance as so much changes in the world: in culture, politics, mentality, relationships… Together with the participants, Esther will explore it, inspired by the thought of Fritz Buri.Fritz Buri (1907-1995) was a
View in LMS -
Webinar
Svami Vivekananda’s Gift of the Four Spiritual Paths
Because Svāmī Vivekānanda popularized the 4 spiritual practices (yogas) and paths (margas) in the West, we must thank him. Yet, IARF also must thank Raja Rammohan Roy, Shin’ichirō Imaoka, and Ralph Waldo Emerson. This class will honor their contribution as we see these Four Sp...
View in LMS -
Webinar
Vivekānanda’s Dilemma: Spiritual or Religious Hierarchies and the Four Spiritual Paths
We continue exploring interfaith dialogue practices as we see that even the understanding obtained in studying the Four Spiritual Paths involves both dangers and misunderstandings. It can be imagined as the religious puzzle of the Ladder or the Wheel – discovering how we may p...
View in LMS -
Webinar
Imaoka Sensei, Interfaith Dialogue and Unconscious Pitfalls
Beginning with such promise, how could liberal, rational religion all but disappear as Yuniterian faith and practice? What lessons can be learned, if any lessons can be learned from an honest history?
View in LMS -
Webinar
Brahmo Samaj, the Unitarian Union of the Khasi Hills, and the Chennai Unitarians
The flame of liberal religion, often called the Hindu Renaissance, is flickering in the face of global nationalistic use of religion. Are liberative voices still being heard in India today?
View in LMS -
Webinar
Zen and the Middle Path
The first webinar on Zen and the Middle Path by Rev. Ming Po, held on 22 October 2025.
View in LMS -
Course
Presuppositions and Principles of Historical Criticism
Why are there fundamentalist as well as liberal interpretations of the Bible and the Koran? The answer has to do with hermeneutics or the way we interpret holy texts. Most fundamentalist believers read their Bible and their Koran in a literalistic way, while most liberal
View in LMS -
Course
Free Religion – History and Evolution to the Present Day
This lecture series explores the history and evolution of Free Religion (Freireligiöse Bewegung) in Germany – a movement born from the ideals of the Enlightenment, rationalism, and the rejection of religious dogma. From its roots in the German Catholic Movement of the 1840s to...
View in LMS -
Discussion series
A Look at the Concept of Freedom From Different Religious Perspectives
For the past few years BEYOND has met once a month to discuss topics of interest from different religious perspectives. In this new series we will explore the topic of freedom.Cantor Leah Frey-Rabine opened the series from the Jewish perspective. Discussions from other religio...
View in LMS -
Webinar
From Diversity to Dialogue: Religion and Community in Socio-Economic Contexts
In an increasingly pluralistic world, how can religious diversity serve as a resource for stronger, more inclusive communities? This webinar explores how religious pluralism can be actively mobilized to foster community engagement across diverse socio-economic environments.We...
View in LMS -
Course
The Bektashi Spiritual Path
History, Wisdom, Art and Contemporary WitnessThis four-session course offers an accessible introduction to Bektashism: a mystical Sufi path within Islam known for its openness, poetry, humanism, hospitality and commitment to peace among people of different faiths and cultures....
View in LMS -
Course
Rabbi Abraham Isaac Kuk: The Mysticism of the Transparency of Existence and the Unification of Partial Visions
A three-session exploration of the thought of Rabbi Abraham Isaac Kuk, one of the most influential Jewish religious thinkers of the modern era. Rabbi Bob Carroll introduces Kuk as a mystic and Kabbalist before examining how his mystical worldview shaped his approaches to toler...
View in LMS -
Webinar
Christian Nationalism: The Rise of Religious Bigotry in the United States
John has researched, written, and taught about the machinations, manipulations, and ambitions of religious fanaticism in its US context. His book Steeplejacking: How the Christian Right is Hijacking Mainstream Religion was a critical work in this emerging field two decades ago...
View in LMS -
Discussion series
Free-Religion Colloquium
The Free-Religion Colloquium is a monthly programme exploring the concept, process and practice of Free-Religion. Free-Religion may be thought of as the creative and liberative force within our various religious traditions.Through presentations and discussions, the Colloquium...
View in LMS -
Webinar
Mujerista Theology and the Divine Epistemologies of the Everyday
This webinar will discuss the theological contribution of the late Ada María Isasi-Díaz, originator of mujerista theology. The presentation will situate her work's origins in broader Latin American liberation theology movements, highlight important points of departure and theo...
View in LMS -
Webinar
Jesus and Slavery: Reading Between the Lines of the Gospels
What was the relationship between Jesus and slavery? What can we know about the lives of enslaved people in his world, and why are their voices largely absent from the Gospel narratives? This webinar explores the social realities of freedom and unfreedom in the first-century
View in LMS