Philosophy of Religion: Faith & Humanism
Understand, deepen and live faith in dialogue
For adults 18+. A faith-affirming course about God, spirituality, conscience and meaning – open to Christian, Jewish, Islamic, Buddhist, Hindu and other religious traditions.
A Course That Strengthens Faith
This course is explicitly faith-affirming. It honours faith as a valuable source of hope, support, meaning, community and responsible action. Religions and spiritual traditions are not presented as opposites to humanism: faith and humanism can together strengthen human dignity, compassion and peace.
The course encourages you to deepen your own faith consciously, respect the religious convictions of others and live responsibly from faith. It is not missionary and does not favour any single denomination.
6 Lessons – The Complete Course
Each lesson follows our NIL method: Story → Learning Goal → Task → Reflection → Transfer
Faith as a Source – The Question of God
Lesson 1
Faith as a Source – The Question of God
Lesson 1
«A physicist stands beneath the stars in deep wonder. For him, the beauty of the cosmos points to a creative power. In conversation with a philosopher, he discovers that reflection and faith need not be opposites – philosophical questions can deepen faith.»
Learning Goal: Explore classical ways of thinking about God and understand how reason, experience, trust and revelation can enrich personal faith.
Practical Task: Faith workshop: In small groups, choose an idea from a religious tradition and respectfully present the hope and orientation it offers people.
Reflection Question: What image of God or the divine sustains me? How can faith and humanism strengthen human dignity together?
Transfer to Everyday Life: Have a respectful conversation with a believer from another tradition about what gives them hope, support and courage.
Eastern Wisdom – Confucius, Buddha, Laozi
Lesson 2
Eastern Wisdom – Confucius, Buddha, Laozi
Lesson 2
«A businessman from Zurich travels to Japan. In the Zen monastery, the monk says: 'Empty your cup before pouring new tea.' The businessman only understands days later.»
Learning Goal: Understand the spiritual and philosophical core ideas of Confucianism, Buddhism and Taoism and recognize their power for a mindful, compassionate life.
Practical Task: Wisdom workshop: Choose an Eastern text (Analects, Dhammapada or Tao Te Ching) and respectfully apply its message to a modern everyday situation.
Reflection Question: Which Eastern wisdom speaks to me most? Why?
Transfer to Everyday Life: Try an Eastern practice for one week: meditation, conscious silence, or 'Wu Wei' (non-action).
Faith & Humanism – United in Human Dignity
Lesson 3
Faith & Humanism – United in Human Dignity
Lesson 3
«Shalva Amonashvili speaks of a pedagogy of love and faith in the child. Rudolf Steiner connects education with spiritual development, and Confucius with humanity and responsibility. Together they remind us that education addresses the whole person.»
Learning Goal: Understand that faith-affirming humanism can unite spirituality, human dignity, freedom, responsibility and compassion.
Practical Task: Values bridge: Collect statements from religious and humanistic traditions and reveal the shared values they carry.
Reflection Question: Where does my faith strengthen my respect for every person's dignity? Which shared values connect different traditions?
Transfer to Everyday Life: Choose one concrete action through which faith and humanity become visible this week.
Faith, Conscience & Ethics – Guidance for the Good
Lesson 4
Faith, Conscience & Ethics – Guidance for the Good
Lesson 4
«A woman faces a difficult decision. She takes time for prayer, listens to her conscience and seeks counsel in her faith community. In dialogue with others, she recognizes that ethical maturity grows when conviction, compassion and responsibility work together.»
Learning Goal: Recognize how religious teachings, conscience, virtues and philosophical ethics can together contribute to responsible action.
Practical Task: Ethics café: Explore one dilemma through several religious traditions as well as virtue and care ethics. Appreciate common ground and distinctive emphases.
Reflection Question: Which belief helps me recognize what is good and take responsibility?
Transfer to Everyday Life: Consciously examine an ethical decision in light of one's faith values, conscience and its effects on others.
Meaning of Life – Religious and Philosophical Answers
Lesson 5
Meaning of Life – Religious and Philosophical Answers
Lesson 5
«Viktor Frankl survived Auschwitz. His conclusion: 'He who has a why to live can bear almost any how.' How does one find their why?»
Learning Goal: Explore religious and philosophical answers to the question of meaning and discover how faith can offer hope, trust and inner direction.
Practical Task: Meaning collage: Create and present a personal meaning collage from magazines, quotes and own texts.
Reflection Question: What gives my life meaning? Has my answer changed through the course?
Transfer to Everyday Life: Start a 'meaning diary': Every evening note 3 things that gave the day significance.
My Faith, My Values – A Life of Responsibility
Lesson 6
My Faith, My Values – A Life of Responsibility
Lesson 6
«At the end stand three connected questions: 'What do I believe? What sustains me? How do I want to live from this faith?'»
Learning Goal: Formulate a personal understanding of faith and values that honours one's own tradition, respects other convictions and assumes responsibility for people and the world.
Practical Task: Final project: 'My Faith and My Values' – a personal credo in free form (text, video, artwork or talk).
Reflection Question: What hope do I take from this course? How can my faith contribute to peace, compassion and responsible action in everyday life?
Transfer to Everyday Life: Keep the personal credo in a safe place, put it into practice and revisit it calmly in six months.
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Every course helps.
For every booked course and every book sold, the Humanistic School Switzerland donates CHF 5 to selected humanitarian projects as part of our international initiative.
"Learning and responsibility go hand in hand. Every course contributes to enabling concrete help on the ground."
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