Governing Religion: European Challenges and Asian Approaches from FutureLearn

1 – Introduction And Welcome – Why is religion and religious diversity often seen as a problem today? 2 – What are the dominant models for governing religion in Europe today? What are their strengths and weaknesses? 3 – How are state-religion relationships regulated in the MENA region (middle East and North Africa)? 4 – How is religion and religious diversity governed in south and southeast Asia? 5 – What do we learn from the European and Asian experiences in dealing with religious diversity? How can we learn from one another? Most FutureLearn courses run multiple times. Every run of a course has a set start date but you can join it and work through it after it starts. Find out more This course is for undergraduate and graduates studying sociology, political science or anthropology. It might also be useful for civil society activists, journalists and anyone with an interest in religious diversity and the relationship between government and religion. This course is part of the research project GREASE : Radicalisation Secularism and the Governance of Religious Diversity: Bringing together European and Asian Perspectives funded by the European Commission, Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement number 770640. The content of this MOOC represents only the views of the GREASE consortium and is its sole responsibility. The European Commission does not accept any responsibility for use that may be made of the information it contains.

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Reviews summary

Comparative governance of religion

According to students, this course offers an incredibly insightful and well-structured exploration into religious governance. Learners particularly praise its unique comparative approach, examining European and Asian models, and the academic rigor that deepens understanding. The expert lecturers are consistently highlighted for their clarity and passion. However, some learners, especially those seeking direct policy application, found the course very theory-heavy and wished for more practical examples. While generally highly regarded, a few mentioned the pace could be slow, and forum engagement limited.

Features knowledgeable and engaging lecturers.

"The lecturers were experts and presented complex topics clearly."

"The instructors were knowledgeable."

"The lecturers were passionate and articulate."

Provides thorough and intellectually stimulating exploration.

"An incredibly insightful and well-structured course!"

"The content is rich and covers a wide geographical area, which is commendable. I appreciated the academic rigor."

"Explored the historical context and contemporary challenges in depth."

Offers unique, valuable comparison of governance models.

"The comparative approach between European and Asian models was eye-opening."

"The European and Asian comparison was particularly valuable."

"Provides a comprehensive understanding of religious governance across different continents."

A few older materials could benefit from revision.

"Some of the older material could use an update, but the core principles remain relevant."

Pace can be slow; forum discussions may be limited.

"Sometimes, the pace felt a bit slow, and some discussions in the forum could have been more facilitated."

"The forum was a bit quiet, but I found the peer interactions useful when they happened."

Primarily academic, potentially lacking practical application.

"I found it to be very theory-heavy. As someone looking for more practical policy applications, I felt a bit lost at times."

"I enrolled hoping for practical insights for my work as a journalist, but it was too academic and theoretical."

"It's more of a high-level theoretical discussion. If you're looking for actionable strategies in religious policy, this isn't it."

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Learners who complete Governing Religion: European Challenges and Asian Approaches will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Governing Religion

European Challenges and Asian Approaches

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Comparative governance of religion

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