Caveat Academy course · Grades 7 to 12

World Religions

How scholars study religion fairly, then Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism and Sikhism, Confucianism, Daoism and Shinto, Judaism, Christianity and Islam, Indigenous and smaller traditions, and religion in public life today. Six modules at your own pace, with a check in every lesson and a certificate at the end.

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$19one-time · every device you sign in on
Buy · $19

Included with the Caveat Academy pass and Whole-school licenses. Or get it in the High school electives library, $119 for 66 items.

6 modules · 18 lessonsabout 12 hours$19

Six modules, eighteen lessons

Each module ends with a practice set that tracks mastery, an explain-it-back prompt, a short written response and a module exam. The final opens when every module is proficient; passing it earns a certificate with a verification code.

  1. Module 1: Studying religion

    Explain how the academic study of religion differs from religious instruction and describe a practice fairly, using insider and outsider terms. Analyze a tradition through the dimensions of ritual, story, teaching, ethics, community, experience and material culture.

    • What religion is and how scholars study it
    • Seven dimensions of religion
    • Sacred time, place and text
    about 2.1 h

  2. Module 2: Religions of South Asia

    Compare the core beliefs, texts and paths of Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism and Sikhism.

    • Hinduism
    • Buddhism
    • Jainism and Sikhism
    about 2.1 h

  3. Module 3: Religions of East Asia

    Explain the key ideas of Confucianism, Daoism and Shinto and why many East Asians draw on more than one tradition.

    • Confucianism
    • Daoism
    • Shinto and blended traditions
    about 2.1 h

  4. Module 4: The Abrahamic religions

    Compare the beliefs, scriptures, practices and branches of Judaism, Christianity and Islam.

    • Judaism
    • Christianity
    • Islam
    about 2.1 h

  5. Module 5: Indigenous, smaller and changing traditions

    Describe Indigenous, Zoroastrian and Baha'i traditions and interpret survey data on religious change accurately.

    • Indigenous religious traditions
    • Zoroastrianism and the Baha'i Faith
    • Religion and change
    about 2.1 h

  6. Module 6: Religion in the world today

    Apply federal religious freedom principles to school situations and build fair comparisons across traditions.

    • Religion, law and freedom
    • Comparing traditions
    • Religious literacy in practice
    about 2.1 h

Try it before you start

This is how every lesson works: step through a worked example at your own pace, then answer a check and get the reason right away. Nothing here is saved; the course keeps your progress.

Module 4 · Judaism

Worked example: reading a seder plate

  1. Bitter herbs recall the bitterness of slavery.

A lesson check from each module

The checks need JavaScript turned on. The course itself works the same way.

What you get

Academics · High SchoolAlso for Academics · Middle School$19 · included with the Academy pass and Whole-school licenses

What you finish with
A finished course in world religions: you can describe any religious practice fairly in its members' own terms, analyze a tradition through its rituals, stories, teachings, ethics, community and material culture, explain the core beliefs, texts, practices and branches of the major traditions of South Asia, East Asia and the Abrahamic family, describe Indigenous, Zoroastrian and Baha'i traditions accurately, read survey data on religious change with care, and apply federal religious freedom principles to everyday school situations. Passing the final earns a Caveat certificate of completion.
Who it is for
Students in grades 7 to 12 taking or preparing for a world religions, comparative religion or world cultures course, students who want the religious literacy that history, literature and current events assume, and homeschool families who want a complete, even-handed unit. It teaches about religions and asks no one to adopt or reject any belief.
Format
An online self-paced course: 6 modules and 18 lessons with worked examples you reveal step by step, 144 practice and exam items (multiple choice, numeric, fill-in and ordering), an explain-it-back prompt and a rubric-checked short response in every module, module exams with one retake, a 24-question final and a certificate with a verification code. About 12 hours in all; works on a phone or a computer.
Access
$19 one-time, yours on every device you sign in on; the course opens once you are signed in with it. Included with the Caveat Academy pass and Whole-school licenses. Also in the High school electives library ($119) and the Academics Suite pass ($149), and 1 more bundle. Progress is saved in this browser on this device, and the certificate page lets you download your record.
Where it lives
The High School space in Caveat Academics; also listed for the Middle School space in Caveat Academics (the same course serves the World Religions & Cultures title for middle school).
Support
Access, a receipt, a refund or a correction to the course: team@caveatacademic.com.

How it works

  1. Open the course and start Module 1. Each lesson takes about 25 to 35 minutes; two or three a week finishes the course in about a semester.
  2. Answer the checks as you read. Every answer shows the reason, and a miss links you back to the lesson that covers it.
  3. Finish each module with its practice set and exam. Proficient on every module opens the final; 70 percent passes it.
  4. Print or download your certificate and record from the certificate page.

Start the course

Sources and accuracy

The lessons are original writing by Caveat Academic Services. Facts were checked against these free, open references, which are also good places to read further.

  1. Pew Research Center, studies of the global religious landscape, for the rough population figures: pewresearch.org/religion
  2. Harvard Divinity School, Religion and Public Life program, religious literacy resources: rpl.hds.harvard.edu
  3. Ninian Smart, The World's Religions, Cambridge University Press, the source of the seven dimensions used in Module 1
  4. United Nations, Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Article 18: un.org
  5. U.S. Department of Education, guidance on constitutionally protected prayer and religious expression in public schools: ed.gov

World Religions is a self-paced course from Caveat Academic Services. It teaches about religions academically and does not promote or criticize any faith. Population figures are rounded and change over time. Descriptions of U.S. law are general federal principles for learning, not legal advice. It does not replace a school course and awards no credit. Support: team@caveatacademic.com.