Description
The Neighboring Faiths curriculum acquaints students with the diversity of faiths worshipped in the United States. Teachers talk with students about the foundations of such faiths, as well as take the class on field trips, usually once a month, to neighboring places of worship.

The curricula divides the church-year into 11 units, where the first and last lessons focus on creating and finishing a plan with which to explore local area faiths. Nine prepared units span: Judaism; Orthodox Christianity (Roman Catholic, Episcopal, Eastern Orthodox, and Russian Orthodox); Protestant Christianity (Presbyterian, Lutheran, Methodist, and United Church of Christ); Islam; "Ethical" Religions (Quaker, Religious Humanists, UU); Black Churches (Baptist and African-American Methodist/Episcopal); Earth-Centered Religions (Native American Traditions, Goddess Worship, Creation Spirituality); Hinduism and Buddhism; and Fundamentalism and Cults. The curriculum encourages the class to modify, and augment, these prepared units to capture the religions practiced in the local area and to encompass the specific interests of the students. [Parents are also invited to attend during the first unit to help create the church-year plan.]