What, exactly, is religion? This series of courses provides you with a remarkable exploration of religion's complex and multidimensional nature, giving you a solid grasp of the key ideas of major religions—and how different faiths address the same core issues in parallel and divergent ways.
Assemble complex philosophical and theological ideas into a seamless, comprehensible, and unfailingly interesting whole with three fundamental courses that introduce you to the diverse views of various religions.
- Cultural Literacy for Religion: Everything the Well-Educated Person Should Know
Experience the historical, theological, and cultural components of the world's religions as an award-winning Professor takes you on a tour of our world and its religious cultures. - Sacred Texts of the World
Delve deeply into the sacred writings that have shaped the identities, beliefs, and actions of large segments of humanity—texts that still exert influence in today’s world. - Confucius, Buddha, Jesus, and Muhammad
An award-winning professor takes you deep into the life stories and legacies of four iconic figures in world religion.
Get to know Christianity as a world religion by choosing three courses that examine Christianity from a variety of perspectives—including where it came from and where it is going.
- The History of Christianity: From the Disciples to the Dawn of the Reformation
Discover the phenomenal story of Christianity’s first 1,500 years, with all its remarkable diversity and complex dimensions, as one of the most popular Great Courses professors examines Christianity’s origins, rise, and civilization-shaping… - The History of Christianity II: From the Reformation to the Modern Megachurch
Examine the last 500 years of history through the lens of Christianity with an esteemed professor. - History of the Bible: The Making of the New Testament Canon
Delve into a thorough introduction to key issues in the development of Christianity in this course designed by an award-winning professor. - Story of the Bible
Led by a renowned scholar, trace the development of biblical texts across millennia. You’ll get invaluable insight into the remarkable and complicated process by which the Bible came into being. - The Old Testament
Engage more fully with the Old Testament with this course that teaches you how to apply a variety of forms of interpretation to better understand this treasured work. - The New Testament
Discover how historical research can illuminate the New Testament in this riveting course that combines biblical scholarship, archaeology, and literary analysis. - The Historical Jesus
Examine historical evidence and discover what we really know about Jesus in this eye-opening course by Professor Bart Ehrman, a New York Times best-selling author. - How Jesus Became God
Uncover the extraordinary story behind an idea that has shaped our civilization: the Christian belief that Jesus of Nazareth was none other than God the Almighty. - Jesus and His Jewish Influences
Embark upon an in-depth investigation of the ancient world that Jesus was born into, and discover what effect it had upon his life and ministry in this course taught by an award-winning professor. - Lost Christianities: Christian Scriptures and the Battles over Authentication
Discover myriad works of early Christianity that failed to make the official canon and become part of the Bible in this course by best-selling author and Professor Bart D. Ehrman. - The Apocryphal Jesus
Gain a new perspective on early Christian life and history through non-canonical Christian literature led by an award-winning professor.
Widen your understanding of belief systems and traditions on a global scale by picking three courses that examine religious faiths and practices around the world.
- Gnosticism: From Nag Hammadi to the Gospel of Judas
Discover the mysteries of Gnosticism—its worldview, rituals, and sacred texts—and reveal its remarkable impact on western religious history. - The Holy Land Revealed
Visit the birthplace of Judaism and Christianity in this comprehensive tour, taught by an archaeologist, that will take you deep beneath the pages of the Bible. - The Dead Sea Scrolls
Unearth the spellbinding story of the greatest archaeological discovery of the 20th century—a 2000 year old library of historical, religious, and linguistic significance. - The Apocalypse: Controversies and Meaning in Western History
Decipher the most mysterious and controversial of all biblical works—the book of Revelations—in this spell-binding course by an acclaimed professor. - Buddhism
Explore new spiritual paths in this introduction to the precepts of Buddhism—an intriguing world religion that is utterly unlike any other. - Religion in the Ancient Mediterranean World
Take a deep dive into the ancient roots of our culture as you explore the religious history of the ancient Mediterranean world. - Fall of the Pagans and the Origins of Medieval Christianity
Join a historically focused discussion of the dramatic interaction between Judaism, Christianity, and paganism presented by an award-winning teacher, classical scholar, and one of the most esteemed historians at The Great Courses. - Ancient Greek Civilization
Discover why the ancient Greeks occupy such a prominent place in Western culture and identity in this engrossing course taught by a historian and archaeologist. - The Great Tours: Greece and Turkey, from Athens to Istanbul
Tour of one of the world's most exciting and interesting destinations in this course that goes on location in Greece and Turkey with a brilliant archaeologist as your guide. - Customs of the World: Using Cultural Intelligence to Adapt, Wherever You Are
Avoid costly mistakes and faux pas when traveling abroad with this course that helps anyone—businesspersons, tourists, and more—navigate other cultures. - The History and Achievements of the Islamic Golden Age
Learn about the many scientific and cultural achievements of one of the most important periods in all of world history, led by an acclaimed lecturer. - Great World Religions: Christianity
Get an overview of the history and practice of the world's largest religion in this concise and accurate course taught by an award-winning professor of New Testament studies. - Great World Religions: Islam
Gain an introduction to the history and practice of the world's fastest growing religion in this course taught by an award-winning professor from Georgetown University. - Great World Religions: Buddhism
Get an overview of the history and practice of a highly influential religion in this concise and accurate course taught by an award-winning professor. - Great World Religions: Hinduism
Get an overview of the history and practice of the oldest living religion in this concise and accurate course taught by an award-winning professor. - Great World Religions: Judaism
Get an overview of the history and practice of this ancient and important faith with this concise and accurate course taught by a professor of Jewish history.
View the complex relationship between development and faith when you choose a course that explores the role of religion and its tremendous impact on evolving cultures.
- Biblical Wisdom Literature
Delve into a rich and complex body of writings that have influenced theologians and philosophers for millennia in this course on the wisdom literature of the Bible. - Death, Dying, and the Afterlife: Lessons from World Cultures
Explore how great faiths, philosophies, and cultures all over the world perceive death (and life), guided by a religion scholar and award-winning professor. - The World of Biblical Israel
Get a better understanding of the peoples and events described in The Old Testament with this interesting and helpful course taught by a professor of biblical studies. - Reading Biblical Literature: Genesis to Revelation
Get comprehensive, book-by-book analysis of the Bible from the fascinating perspective of literature and narrative. Delivered by a religion scholar and acclaimed professor. - St. Augustine's Confessions
Analyze one of the foundational texts of both Christianity and Western philosophy in this course that covers St. Augustine's most impactful work. - The Great Works of Sacred Music
Discover the greatest masterworks of the sacred music tradition, from early church music to the modern era, in this engrossing course taught by a professor of musicology. - The Black Death: The World's Most Devastating Plague
Taught by a celebrated medievalist, go on an unforgettable excursion into the time period of the plague, its full human repercussions, and its transformative effects on European civilization. - The Cathedral
Explore the evolution, majesty, and intrigue of cathedrals worldwide, as you embark on 3-D tours with a noted medieval historian. - Turning Points in Middle Eastern History
Go beyond the headlines to reveal the true Middle East. Gain surprising insights about the world today based on this dramatic history led by a professor, US Consultant, and explorer. - The History of Spain: Land on a Crossroad
Join a seasoned expert on Spain and witness the dazzling history of the Spanish culture and its unique role in the West. - A History of India
An award winning professor takes you on a breathtaking survey of South Asia from its earliest societies to the modern challenges. - The Spiritual Brain: Science and Religious Experience
An award-winning scholar and practicing neuroscientist offers you 24 riveting lectures that explore the new and exciting field of neurotheology, a discipline aimed at understanding the connections between our brains and different kinds of religious phenomena.
